Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-06-14
ARBITRATE MEXICAN MATTERS?
Suggestion Made That Arbitration
Would Settle Many Questions.

Washington, June 8.-A proposal
to Gen. Carranza that the United
States and the Mexican de facto gov
ernment submit the whole subject of
their relations to an international
commission is being seriously consid-
cred by the administration.
Such proposal, If it is made, will
serve as reply to the Mexican note
demanding withdrawal of the Ameri-
can troops and may contemplate ad-
justment Of many unsettled differ
ences that for years have embarrass-
ed the relation of the two nations.
Settlement by commission Is pro-
yided for expressly by the treaty of
1848, which provides further that
should such course be proposed
by either party, 1t shall be acceded
to by the other unless deemed as al
together incompatible with the ma
ture of the difference or the circum-
stances of the case"
President Wilson and Cen Carran-
"a would appoint an equal number
of commissioners under the plan, and
the meeting probably would be held
somewhere outside the territory of
both countries. There was no indi-
cation last night that the President,
with whom rests decision as to whe-
ther the proposal shall be made, had
yet reached decision, or that the
reply would go forward within the
next few days.
In view Of the fact that the Mexi-
can note demands withdrawal Of the
troops as evidence Of good faith, it
is possible that this question would
have to be considered, although
prior to the meetings of the commits
sion no step toward withdrawal prob
ably would be taken. In addition to
military questions there are economic
considerations, now greatly compli-
Gated by the European war;
Coming down from bygone years
are unsettled questions as to certain
portions Of the international bound
airy. Out of the Vera Cruz incident
arose new problems which must be
cleared up sooner or later, including
disposition of the customs revenues
collected by Gen. Funston, amount
ing to more than $1,000,00O, and
now deposited in this country. There
are also claims for property damage
at Vera Cruz, long pigeon-holed in
the Navy Department.
Most far-reaching of all, however,
is the question of indemnification for
American lives lost and American
property destroyed or damaged dur
ing the years OF revolution in Mex
leo. No attempt ever has been made
to set an estimate upon the amount
involved in these claims; but all are
recorded at the State Department,
awaiting restoration Of order and
peace in Mexico for a day of settle
ment.
While the commission suggestion
may not propose to go into broad
discussion Of all these matters, it
seems likely that each will have it's
bearing upon the deliberations. For
this reason it is thought the men,
bership Of the American commission
would be so chosen that the military,
commercial and financial interests of
the nation would all be represented.
Out Of such deliberation, which
it is believed Con. Carranza would
welcome, officials believe there might
come SO definite an understanding as
to the purposes Of the Washington
government that 1t would have it's
effect not only in Mexico, but also in
all Latin-American countries, and
make toward furtherance Of the
neighborly relations between the ma
tions Of the Western Hemisphere.
Aged Citizen of Oconee Dead.