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 on the question of the withdrawal of the "punitive expedition."

Mr. Lane's position in the Wilson cabinet, the importance of his statement, and the fact that it was issued immediately after a long conference with the President, make it reasonably certain that the views represented were those of the President. Although, in explaining the dispatch of the expedition to the public (March 25, 1916) the President had warned the country against a conspiracy "for the purpose of bringing about intervention in the interest of certain American owners of Mexican properties," and had asserted that: "This object cannot be attained so long as sane and honorable men are in control of this government," the Lane statement is virtually a threat of war in the interest of American owners of Mexican properties, and an admission that the troops were being retained in Mexico for the very purposes which the President had so categorically pronounced against. Read the following sentences carefully and see if they do not justify this assertion:

"The border troubles are only symptoms. Mexico needs system treatment, not symptom treatment. . . The world has great respect for rights that are vested, and we shall go along with the rest of the world in protecting such rights. . . We shall uphold him (Carranza) if he is sensible of the duties of his nation to other nations. Mexico will either do right without our help—or with it. This is her choice. . . We do not wish to be forced into intervention or any other course until this opportunity is exhausted. To this end we must pass from the border matters to the conditions of Mexico which affect the lives and property of our nationals. These must be made secure. . . "This country is pacific, but it is not pacifist. It will fight willingly when it can fight for something worth while. . . We have jumped only two or three of the hurdles. . . The proposed reduction of the new export taxes on ores and bullion and the postponement of the decree as to the forfeiture of mineral lands. . . are all indications of the growing desire of the Constitutionalist Government to meet those standards which the United States and Europe have a right to expect."

The Wilson policy of serving vested interests went so far as to involve a general opposition to Mexican economic reform. Although the President had declared for “the eighty per cent" and had promised: "Eventually I shall fight every one of these men (foreign capitalists) ''who are now seeking to exploit Mexico for their own selfish ends. I shall do what I can to keep Mexico from their plundering. There shall be no individual exploitation of Mexico if I can stop it''," yet every item of the revolutionary program