Wilson’s Plan for Pacifying Mexico
President Wilson has made public his policy for the pacification of Mexico. He proposes to exhaust every possible means for the peaceful settlement of their troubles. To this end the good offices of the United States are tendered to assist in preserving order while both parties to the revolution cease hostilities and hold a general election for president. This will allow the people to decide the matter by their votes, and their decision is to be final. Permission is asked that the United States oversee this election, to insure that it be fair to all concerned; all this work to be done in the open, before all the world, so that the powers of Europe and the Orient may not be in the dark. If Mexico refuses this plan, then all embargo to furnishing arms and other military equipment is to be removed, and all parties be permitted to buy as they please, and fight it out, the United States holding all factions responsible for the safety of the lives and property of all our citizens and of foreigners. No foreign power will be permitted to have any voice in the program marked out. In case of the failure of mediation, and the continuation of the revolution, the United States will step in with armed intervention only when it becomes apparent that neither party can succeed in establishing order and law.