of his writings and speeches, his oft repeated declarations that of the possessions of mankind justice was the most precious, that wrongs which existed were to be righted, his seemingly utter indifference to and ignorance of foreign affairs, and the composition of his Cabinet - a Cabinet "which abounded in pacific discretion" - were the hostages he gave to the world that under his guidance America would give no thought to war or aggression, that no hope of conquest would allure her, that in his dealings with other nations he would be scrupulously governed by principles of justice and morality. The statesmen who were even then walking blindfold to the precipice of war must have felt certain America would not disturb their fatuous vision of peace.

CHAPTER VI

THE FIRST YEAR OF LEADERSHIP

1

IT is ironical that the fame of the man who loved peace rests on war. Mr. Wilson was no less a lover of peace than his Democratic predecessor Madison and of him Mr. Wilson has written that he loved peace," and was willing to secure it by any slow process of law or negotiation that promised to keep war at arm's length." Mr. Wilson contemned war and to him strife was abhorrent; his thoughts were engrossed with domestic problems and he had selected his Cabinet - "which was wanting in daemonic element"

as the instruments to deal with them; he attached so little importance to foreign affairs that he did not consider it necessary to appoint a competent foreign adviser, and yet with ironical perversity it was ordained that from the first day of his Presidency international relations should press heavily upon him. They run through his Administration like a scarlet thread in a monotonous web of dull gray. Had there been no war Mr. Wilson's Administration would have been memorable; in the first eighteen months of his "Premiership" he brought his party to the enactment

of legislation so extraordinary that had he done nothing else it would have made of his Presidency an epoch in American politics and foreshadowed what was to be accomplished in the two and a half years still remaining. But his fame would have been uncertain for many years, his legislation would have aroused bitter political controversy; and domestic policies are the monotonous pattern of dull gray as compared with the flaming thread of war.

From his Republican predecessor Mr. Wilson inherited Mexico. It is unnecessary to go into details, and even less necessary to discuss whether Mr. Taft, by the recognition of Huerta, should have cleared the way for Mr. Wilson. To Mr. Taft it seemed proper that a matter of high policy affecting the intimate relations of the United States and its most powerful southern neighbor ought to be determined by the Administration fresh with the mandate of the people rather than an Administration that had forfeited the confidence of the people. It was the question of recognition that confronted Mr. Wilson, and one week after he came to the White House, on March 11, 1913, he made his purpose known in a statement which, in view of its importance as not only defining his policy toward the republics of Latin America but also his general foreign policy, the first time he had made his foreign policy known, is given in full:

"In view of questions which are naturally upper

most in the public mind just now, the President issues the following statement:

"One of the chief objects of my Administration will be to cultivate the friendship and deserve the confidence of our sister republics of Central and South America, and to promote in every proper and honorable way the interests which are common to the peoples of the two continents. I earnestly desire the most cordial understanding and coöperation between the peoples and leaders of America and, therefore, deem it my duty to make this brief statement.

"Coöperation is possible only when supported at every turn by the orderly processes of just government based upon law, not upon arbitrary or irregular force. We hold, as I am sure all thoughtful leaders of republican government everywhere hold, that just government rests always upon the consent of the governed, and that there can be no freedom without order based upon law and upon the public conscience and approval. We shall look to make these principles the basis of mutual intercourse, respect, and helpfulness between our sister republics and ourselves. We shall lend our influence of every kind to the realization of these principles in fact and practice, knowing that disorder, personal intrigue and defiance of constitutional rights weaken and discredit government and injure none so much as the people who are unfortunate enough to have their common life and their common affairs so tainted and disturbed. We can have no

sympathy with those who seek to seize the power of government to advance their own personal interests or ambition. We are the friends of peace, but we know that there can be no lasting or stable peace in such circumstances. As friends, therefore, we shall prefer those who act in the interests of peace and honor, who protect private rights and respect the restraints of constitutional provision. Mutual respect seems to us the indispensable foundation of friendship between States, as between individuals.

"The United States has nothing to seek in Central and South America, except the lasting interests of the peoples of the two continents, the security of governments intended for the people and for no special group or interest, and the development of personal and trade relationships between the two continents which shall redound to the profit and advantage of both and interfere with the rights and liberties of neither.

"From these principles may be read so much of the future policy of this government as it is necessary now to forecast; and in the spirit of these principles I may, I hope, be permitted with as much confidence as earnestness to extend to the governments of all the republics of America the hand of genuine disinterested friendship and to pledge my own honor and the honor of my colleagues to every enterprise of peace and amity that a fortunate future may disclose."

Until minor things were submerged by the universal chaos of the great war, Mexico was again and again