Page:Hands off Mexico.djvu/72

 Carranza." Two days later we were informed that a "threatened crisis in relations between Mexico and the Entente allies and the United States had apparently been averted" by the modification of one of these decrees.

Meanwhile, American warships were continuously maintained in the Tampico harbor. April 12, 1919, Colonel James R. McLean of the British army, who was reported as being on his way to Mexico, on a diplomatic mission relating to oil, said in an interview at New York: "Carranza will talk now, because he is frightened. If the United States would send some of its new ships into the Gulf of Mexico and let their shadows fall on Mexican soil, it would clarify the situation." The shadows of American warships were then on Mexican soil and had been for a long time. February 6, 1919, Ambassador Fletcher asserted that no decrees had as yet been enforced and no taxes collected under Article 27 of the new Constitution. The repeated postponement of the application of the decrees can only be due to an earnest desire of the Mexican Government to avoid war.

Again, the word of the oil men is supported by the Note of July 22, 1919, threatening a "radical change of policy" because of the lack of protection given to American lives in the oil region. Singular disorder in the oil region would inevitably result from the state of War between government forces and the rebel forces supported by the oil corporation.

The oil men are not satisfied with the "protection" for which they pay Pelaez, but appeal to their home government for further protection. It is obvious that the Pelaez "protection" does not safeguard American lives, but only adds to the danger, especially as Americans are continually traveling over hostile ground. It is obvious that the Mexican Government cannot guarantee the safety of Americans either in "Pelaez territory" or anywhere in the zone between "Pelaez territory" and Government territory, and should not be asked to do so. It is obvious that when a Carranza force scatters a Pelaez force there is certain to be some indiscriminate looting and killing by the fugitives.

It is obvious that if Carranza should make a serious effort to destroy Pelaez the temporary danger to American lives and property would vastly increase. Somebody might touch off an