Turning to China and Mexico, Mr. Asquith said that Great
Britain was naturally anxious to see a stable central govern- ment existing in China. As for Mexico, the commercial interests of that country called for vigilant care. There never had been, and there never could be, any question of political intervention by Great Britain in the domestic concerns of Mexico or of any Central or South American State. It was no part of our right or duty to prevent revolution or to attempt to put a stop to civil war there. The utmost that we could do was to give possible protection on the coast to British rights and property. There had been a rumour that when the Government of the United States were taking matters into their hands with regard to Mexico, Great Britain had attempted to thwart them. There was no foundation for the rumour. It was on the 31st March of this year, before the present Administration in the United States had any opportunity of making any declaration of policy, that the British Govern- ment recognized General Huerta as President ad interim of Mexico. Since then there had been an exchange of views with the United States, expressed with perfect cordiality. With regard to military and naval expenditure, was it not time for statesmen and men of business to take counsel together to seeure a saner and more fruitful appropriation of the common
resources of man ? The task was the more urgent because the slackening of trade had already begun.
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