The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-20
MENIClN RoI NDARr DISPUTE.
Ownership SG the ChamIEaI Tract AZ ~
Pase. Tex. 20 Re ArhltFated.

Ownership Sf the ChamlKai Tract a. ~
Pase. Tex. 70 ne ArhltFAted.
WASHINGTON. June Is.-Ths Ownership
Of the ChamiEal tract. which is located
et " Paso, Tex. on the boundary line
bctween the United States and MEXICO.
win be aEbitrated by a commission con-
sistinR Of the American and Mexican
members Of the international Boundary
Commission ard a Canadian iurist as UNI
pire This ia the most important bound
airy question pending between the United
States and Mexico. The decision Of the
commission will be final A proposal
that the dispute be arbitrated vas re-
Gently made by Secretary Knox and was
promptly accepted by Mexico. A modua
vivendi has also been agreed on by the
two Governments to handle the sitla-
ton caused by sqUatters on the tract.
The members Of the International
Boundary Commission are Brig Gen
Arson Mills. retired. representing the
Cnited states and Sehor Don Fernando
Beltran Puga OF Mexico. The Canadian
jurist mas not been selected
The Chamizal dispute has been pending
for many years In 1894 the Mexican
Government presented a claim 20 the tract
before the commission The tract forms
a par u the city 81 n Paso and Ia valued
at about t5.OOO.O00.
The State Department and the Mexican
Foreign once are enga ged IN settling the
details Of the convention. The neROtia-
tons are being conducted by telegraph
IN the hope that the treaty can be signed
by Secretary Knox and Sehor De La Barra.
Mexican Ambassador here. in time for
submission % the Senate before adjourn
meut Of the present session. When Preai-
dent Taft and President Diaz met at n
Paso last October the Chamixal zone Wa
by mutual Rgreement regarded an neutral
territory. no faEs Of either nation being
displayed there However. the United
States has always exercised civil and
criminal jurisdiction over Il and has
erected and maintained a custom house
and immigration station thereon.
In 1901 az the request Of the MEXICAN
Government tho United States, through
the Department Of Justice. interviewed M
several suits then pending In the Federal
District Court in which the title 10 the
Chanizh tract VAS in question, the suits
being between persons claiming under
American and Mexican titles and there
fore, although between private partios.
involving the question OF tho intsrna-
tlonal title. AZ the suggestion OF the At
torney- General the courts have postponed
action In these cases pending the dec-
sion by the political departments Of thu
two governments on tho question OF title
Many irresponsible squAttsrs have taken
Of this action on the part 81
the United States. 20 enter upon the Cham.
tzAl tract, sometimes claiming % have
titles. often without any claims
IT title " hatever This practice became
a s0urca Of serious damage and Annoyance
- the American owners Of the tract. who
have for years been In the peaceful an
jOyment u their property The State
Department accordingly brought this
aspect Of the situation 10 the attention
" the MEXICAN Government and has pro-
posed and the MeTican Government has
accepted. modus vivendi pending the
arbitration which will Obviafe this dif-
hcultv
This arrangement IL a. foIlowe Tia
Government Of the United States h Ia
continue 10 request In the courta the
stay Of proceedings IN oases of persona
showing that they are claiming Under |
'riina tacie Mexican title and that they I
Dr, their predecessors IN interest were m I
actual Occu patiOn % Land in the Chamizai
raCt on March IS. 1910. No other persons 4
lre 20 receive protection AZ the handa al
ne United States. but a. 10 an Othsrs
he ordinary Judicial processes are 10 1
AXE their course
In order that the United STATE. NAV /
intervene In behalf Of persons properly 1
Untitled under this Arrangement The j
Department ~ state IL % anpoint an
Nicer who shall 10 authonzed io pass
ron The QUESTION II tho existence of
'rrna facie MsNicsn titles and ~ actual .
~ session under such titles on March rs. .
tl". and 10 report 70 the Departments ~ .
.iafe Gases wherein eiectment pFucerdines /
houId Ia STAYED by virtue n intprnniionsi /
ymity and In accordance with the ar 1
angement win MsEioa.