step in the development of American policies consequent upon the Monroe
Doctrine by passing an act authorizing the President, whenever he should
"find that in any American country conditions of domestic violence exist
which are promoted by the use of arms and munitions of war procured
from the United States," to prohibit trade in such articles. Under this
authority, President Taft promptly forbade the export of such articles
to Mexico except to the Government.

Real revolutions, however, seldom result simply in the transfer of
authority from one group to another. The breaking of the bonds of
recognized authority releases all sorts of desires, represented in the
state by separate groups, each of which sees no reason for accepting
the control of another. All seek to seize the dropped reins. The
inauguration of Madero, therefore, did not result in a new and popular
government but in continued disturbance. Factions with differing creeds
raised revolts in various sections of the country until, in February,
1913, Madero was overthrown by one of these groups, led by Felix Diaz
and General Victoriano Huerta, and representing a reactionary tendency.
Madero and his vice president Pino Suarez were killed, it was believed
by order of Huerta, and on the 27th of February, in the City of Mexico,
Huerta was proclaimed President. Don Venustiano Carranza, Governor of
the State of Coahuila, straightway denied the constitutionality of
the new Government and led a new revolution under the banner of the
Constitution.

It was in such a condition that President Wilson found the affairs of
the continent when he took office on March 4, 1913. The American policy
in the Caribbean was well defined and to a large extent in operation.
Pan-American sentiment was developing, but its strength and direction
were yet to be determined. Mexico was in chaos, and upon the
Government's handling of it would depend the final success of the United
States in the Caribbean and the possibility of effecting a real and
fruitful cooperation of the Americas.

CHAPTER XVII. World Relationships

It became increasingly evident that the foreign policy of the United
States could not consist solely of a Caribbean policy, a Pan-American
policy, and a Far Eastern policy, but that it must necessarily involve
a world policy. During the years after the Spanish War the world was
actively discussing peace; but all the while war was in the air.
The peace devices of 1815, the