Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-12
PRESIDENT URGED
/, TO END RELATIONS
! WITH CARRANzA
White House Giving Serious
Consideration of Proposed
/ Drastic Move.
BY DAvIDLAwRENCE.

By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Now that the little furry betwee
the executive and legislative branche
of the government as to the handling
of affairs with Mexico has passed an
both sides are agreed that PreSiden
Wilson shall have the sole power t
say whether recognition shall b.
withdrawn from the Carranza govern
msnt, the true friends of Mexico il
the United States are beginning Il
fear that such a step will be taken
The fact is that serious considera
to the arguments being presented Il
him in favor Of a withdrawal o
recognition 1t is regrettable tina
matters have come to such pass. fol
it had been hoped by the friends o
Mexico that the Carranza government
of criticism and proceed with its wori
of reconstruction in rebelhon-torI
Mexico.
Carranza Record Discour1xeS.
But the record of the Carranza gov
eminent, which is now being exam
ined at the White House. covering
the relations of the two governments
tober, 1915, is such that friends OF
Mexico here have become discouraged
and downcast
- The grievances may be divided into
three classes those affecting the
lives of foreigners, those affecting the
property rights of Americans ane
those which may be described az
plain irritation over the manner IT
which the Department of State feels
that its notes have been treated anc
its representations ignored
Z Ambassador Henry P. Fletcher. who
has been given a free hand in dealing
with the Carranza government, has
reported on every occasion the diff
Guilty he has had in making the Next
can government understand that
friendly disposition toward the United
States and willingness to unbend
would aid materially in friendly
resolution of controversies between
the two countries. But even Ambas-
.sador Fletcher's efforts have been in
vain, and now the President is con-
fronted with the task of answering
this question: Has the Carranza gov
eminent fulfilled the promises 1t gave
when recognition was extended?
List of Murders Compiled.
1t is being urged that inasmuch as
Mexico has enacted retroactive legisla-
ton affecting American oil properties.
that the recognition may be looked at
from a retroactive point Of view and
withdrawn. The Department of State
has compiled a list of Americans killed
in Mexico during the period of the Car
rama administration. 1t has made up
also a case showing that the rights of
American property owners, particularly
the Oil companies, have not only been
taken away, but that discrimination in
favor of the oil interests of other coun-
tries and against those of the United
States has been practiced-
Here, however, are the explicit and
hv he
rama government, which are being ex-
amined to determine whether reco1-
milton which was given upon the full
nllment OF certain conditions and obli-
cations now shall be withdrawn:
Carranza's Promises In Past.
June IL, 1915-Carranza's proclama-
tion-"First, the constitutionalist gov
eminent shall afford to foreigners resi-
dent in Mexico all guarantees to which
they are entitled-and shall amply pro-
tect their lives. their freedom and the
ENJOYMENT Of their rights of property"
sador Designate Arredondo to Robert
lansing, Secretary of State. giving
the following assurances: The gov
eminent he Wenustiano Carranza)
represents in it's capacity of political
entity. conscious of it's international
obligations. has afforded guarantees to
the national and has done likewise
to foreigners. and shall continue to
see that their lives and property are
respected in accordance with the prac-
tees established by civilized nations. q
October 10. 1915-De facto recogni-
ton based on above. among other
assurances. is conceded to the Car
United States government
U. s. Protest I'm 1916.
January, 1916-State Departmen,
OrOteSfS
through Silliman against confiscation
OF Oil rights. Mexico gives assur-
ance no such step is contemplated.
February, 1916-Communicatfo from
Secretary of State Lansing to United
states Senate informing the Senate
1913, and receipt Of Arredondo's letter
OF october in reply to request for
Information as to assurances Ieadine
TO de facto recognition.
January. 1917-Protests by State De.
partment against new Mexican consti.
tuition.
March 3. 1s17-Mexican Fore;vn sec.
rotary Aguilar assured Ambassador
Fletcher that constitutional articles
would prevent confiscation.
March 3, 1917-Ambassador Fletche,
presented his credentials
August 2, 1917-FIetcher cab,ed
State Department. Carranxa assures
United States that no legislation nj
his government would 'absorb" oil
or mining properties being deyeloped
by Americans in Mexico
Another Protest In 1913.
January. 191s-Protest by United
states against Mexico's refusal tr
grant drilling permits to Amer;csS
companies
January. 1s1s-Reply from Mexico
saying provisional permits would be-
issued ">
February. 1918. to December %, 1915
-Excnange OF several notes protest.
ing against confiscatory DEGREES an6
notice to Mexican government that il
DEGREES were enacted into law or con.
firmed by congress they would NEE
same protest as existed against then
as executive DEGREES
December 81. 1s1s-Decrees con.
0rmed by congress.
More Protests in This Year.
March 20. 1919. to November -
1S19-More notes of protest and final
ly stoppage by Mexican federal mill
tary OF all wells being drilled b,
American companies, which, in har
mony with the State Departments at
tltude and with its full knowledge
had refused to acquiesce in confisca
ton of their properties.
November l9-Refusal by order o
Carranza government to permit tn
Gulf Refining Company to take OF
from wells already drilled withou
Permit.
The foregoing constitutes the cas-
with reference to private property
The details concerning failure to pro
tect American lives will subsequent,
be published.
Serious Hour In at Hand.
II is never too late for Cancellation
and friendly settlement of difficulties
as President Wilson is reluctant 4
take any step that would produce il
feeling between the peoples of Mex
leo and the United States
But if anything is to be done by tn
lEarranZa gOYerQmenf