Public announcement of the intentions of the president elect respecting Mexico would be improper and probably premature. But from what may be known it safely may be inferred they are practical and constructive. Peace in Mexico as elsewhere must rest upon an economic basis rather than a political or sentimental one, and it seems likely that the new Mexican regime realizes this as well as the necessity for negotiating help from the United States. If this be true we see no reason why we should not be able to assist Mexico to escape from the revolutionary morass and go forward on firm ground. Mexico greatly needs foreign capital and we cannot afford that other foreign capital than ours should predominate. We can afford to provide capital for Mexican development and thereby serve both Mexico's welfare and our own. There need be no exploitation, in the evil sense of the term. We have no imperialistic designs. What we want is a peaceful, prosperous, and friendly neighbor.

That the Obregon government is informally sounding the Republican leaders rather than the outgoing government is only common sense in the circumstances. But the situation is embarrassing and illustrates again the need for a constitutional amendment which shall shorten the period between election and inauguration. In 1860 that weakness nearly destroyed the union, for it permitted traitors in the government to use the government's resources to build up the strength of the secessionists. In 1916, if Mr. Hughes had won, we should have had a very serious situation, with our policy as to Germany suspended for four months. The present interregnum is both costly and dangerous, unavoidably confusing and retarding action when it should be definite and energetic.

In fact, this useless interregnum will be costly and dangerous whenever it occurs in troublous and critical times. In normal times we may overlook the waste it involves; but it becomes a matter of first rate moment in such times as this. We ought to take advantage of the present demonstration of its unpleasant possibilities to end it. Congress should submit an amendment to the states without unnecessary delay. Chicago Tribune