Artificial War Scare

Last week Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg went before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and talked for two and a half hours from a prepared memorandum. Mexico is fomenting the Liberal revolution in Nicaragua which is trying to overthrow the U. S.'s protege, President Diaz; and behind Mexico are the Bolshevists of Russia, said Mr. Kellogg. He produced documents: 1) a resolution of the Red International of Trade Unions in Moscow, appealing to "the toilers of Latin America"; 2) a speech by an unnamed representative of the American Communist Party, urging his fellows to become "the defenders of the oppressed peoples of Latin America"; 3) instructions and theses of the Executive Committee of the Communist International in Moscow on the same subject; 4) reports on the activities of Chicago Communists among their comrades in Mexico; and other Reds' emanations. Mr. Kellogg had nothing to prove that the Mexican government took any part in the Red plot. His obiter dicta gave the press an opportunity to drag out war scare headlines and touched off some frenzied speeches in Congress.

Reading the newspapers next day, Mr. Kellogg must have realized that his stern and vigorous efforts had caused trouble. Walter Lippmann, able chief editorial writer of the New York World, who had recently talked with President Coolidge, said: "What can be the mentality of a Secretary of State who will sponsor such balderdash as this memorandum? Here we are in the midst of the most delicate international crisis that has arisen since the War, and we find the Secretary of State engaged in slanderous insinuation against a friendly government. Could anything be meaner? . . . This is a crime against the peace of the world. This is a crime against the honor of the United States."

For the rest of the week, Mr. Kellogg said nothing more on the subject of Bolshevism. Really, Mr. Kellogg does not want any war with Mexico-- nor does President Coolidge--nor do nine-tenths of the U. S. Hence, the artificial war scare prepared to die.

On U. S. policy in Nicaragua, however, Mr. Kellogg issued a stern statement: "From the beginning of the trouble a year ago, the United States has offered its good offices and exerted its influence to compose the difficulty. The same attitude has existed ever since Diaz was elected president, nor is any change contemplated."

Meanwhile, President Diaz of Nicaragua, who, with the aid of U. S. marines, saw a victory over the Liberals looming, outlined a peace plan for his citizens. (See p. 13.)