The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
Delegates Representing Both Countries Have Ground
 for Propositions
NEW MEXICAN LAW
 FACILITATES MATTER
Mexican Chamber Passes Measure Creating New Tax of Land Hold ings-Reason to Believe
 Adjustment Probable

Niagara Falls. Ont. May 25--The op- posing delegates at the Mexican peace conference. clearly are coming into closer accord on the vexed land problem. Tb
 mediators today were able to take a notably forward step. Delegates repre- senting both sides have ground. one from the view that the problem was for internal solution and not the subject of mediation. the other that the thing must be settled here and now in conformity with the views of the Washington government.
 For several days the diplomatic tribunal
 despaired of finding common meeting
 place, but finally both sides have comy
 to see that if the mediation is to be a
 success this question must be viewed in
 spirit of conciliation.
 The strong declaration of President
 Wilson on the subject published in an
 interview as the mediation conference
 was about to assemble. aroused a good
 deal of feeling and for two or three days
 threatened a disastrous outcome of the
 whole effort at peace. The Mexican dele
 gates firmly declared that it was untrue that the feudal system of Mexico was the single or indeed the chief cause of
 the recurring revolutions. They said that personal ambition had played much more important part. They insisted that in the existing condition of Mexico it was idle to talk of wholesale sub division of estates for the benefit of an ignorant and improvident class lacking
 both energy and thrift to profit by such humanitarian scheme.
 Exclude Land Question Finally they held that the whole land question lay without the field of media of Mexico alone to deal with. And they asked, even if they should engage to adopt some form of reformatory plan, what assurance is it possible to give that the plan will be faithfully and persistent ly carried out by constitutional gov ernnent such as is contemplated? The delegates representing the United States held firmly to their ground. The grave situation in Mexico City demanded prompt action. As a preliminary step. and as an earnest of their purpose to do whatever was in their power, last Thurs day the Mexican Chamber of Deputies precipitately passed law which the Mex ican delegates announced in the following terms:
 This law creates new tax or lanu holdings and it is nov intended to in crease the governments revenue. It's purpose is to favor the small land owner. Taxes in Mexico go to the various state treasuries and the federal government col- lects 30 per cent from above from the state for the federal treasury.
 Relieve Small Owner ",rhe new law is framed to relieve the small land owner from the burden of | this extra 30 per cent and to distribute the same amongst the large landed pro- prietors thereby improving the situation of, the former and giving the latter an indhcement to break up large estates
 From this point the discussion has pro- ceeded until now it may safely be as- serted that by mutual concessions there is
 reason for hope that the matter will be l adjusted by the mediators putting on rec ord their earnest advice. the Mexican
 delegates giving the pledge in their power and the Americans accepting as in good faith, the assurance thus rendered. l The Mexican delegates are preparing a. l statement expressive of their views upon the land question and will issue 1t tomor- row.