Page:Hands off Mexico.djvu/71

 "A few American periodicals, including 'The Nation,' have aligned themselves on the side of the Carranza Government, and therefore in opposition to their own. The Carranza Government will not insist upon its plan of confiscation if it is convinced that foreign nations will insist upon the observance by Mexico of the precedents of international laws. The only certain way to bring about intervention is to create in this country a divided opinion as to the propriety of the Mexican programme of confiscation, which will encourage the Mexicans to put it into effect."

What does this mean except that the government of the United States has assured the oil kings that they will be successful in their rebellion against the Mexican Government, even if it requires the employment of American armies to make good the assurance?

 

16.

MANEUVERING FOR WAR

We have been taking, to a considerable extent, the word of the oil men on these matters. But the Government of the United States has not prosecuted any oil operator for perjury nor in any way contradicted what they have said as to its understanding and cooperation with them.

Moreover, the word of the oil men is supported by circumstances almost too numerous to mention. It is supported by the Note of April 2, 1918. It is supported by the earlier record of the Administration, which I have outlined. It is supported by official pronouncements and news reports down to the present writing.

Although, during the war, we asserted our right to embargo any commodities we cared to embargo, we denied the same right to Mexico. April 12, 1917, we were informed from Washington that an oil embargo contemplated by Carranza would not be put into effect. "Definite assurances received by the State Department," said The Times report, "relieves a very delicate and serious situation." It was reported that British officials had asserted that England would not tolerate a Mexican embargo, and that it would be considered an unneutral act by both England and America.

August 15, 1918, we were informed that the United States and Great Britain had "joined in diplomatic representations to the Mexican Government against the oil land decrees of 