Evening star., 1919-08-29
MEX|CO'S SENATE
lessons FRICTION
Votes to Recognize Rights to
Oil and Minerals Acquired
Before May, 1917.
BETTER FEELING IN U. S.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Mexico has made move which may
mean a great deal toward a peace
full solution of the troubles that have
kept the relations between the two
countries on the edge of a break in
recent weeks. The Mexican senate
has voted to recognize the rights OF
all properties. oil and other minerals,
acquired 1egitfmately before May 1,
1917, when -ths-new constitution of
Mexico went into effect. =. :
should the lower house in the Mex
ican congress adopt the same attf-
tude and the bill become law, every
thing that Ambassador Fletcher and
the Department Of State have been
contending for in this most vital dis
pute between the two countries Will
have been granted. There will still
remain as a source of irritation the
protection of American lives in Mex
leo, and it is an open secret that the
Washington government is mucn
more concerned about that phase OF
the Mexican problem than the legal
questions involved in property con-
troverSies.
Have Moral Effect.
Nevertheless a recognition by Mexico
that her new constitution is not going
to be retroactive and affect titles acquired
previous to it's PRONUNCIATION, in May,
1917. would be step that would have
an important moral effect in official cir
cles here, for it would be looked upon as
a willingness at least to discover what
are the roots of Mexican-American
friction.
with a disposition on Mexico's part to
investigate the true causes OF the es-
arrangement which has been gradually
coming to the surface in recent weeks,
progress will have been made toward a
settlement without the use of force.
President Wilson and Secretary Lans-
ing are not sponsors, directly or lndi-
rectly, for the talk Of armed interven-
ton which has lately been filling both
American and Mexican press, but the in
roads on American public opinion made
by the repeated failure of the Washing
ton government to establish harmonious
relations with the Carranza government
are a factor that has not escaped at
tention.
For instance. it is significant that
Ambassador Fletcher remains in
Washington as a sort of counselor at
the Department of State. 1t is true
that he is taking Mr.. Polk's place at
the side Of Secretary Lansing and Is
advising on all Latin American af-
fairs, but were the Department of
State of the opinion that he could be
of more good in Strengthening out its
troubles with Mexico he certainly
would be in Mexico City. George
Summerlin, charge d'affaires, is we'll
able to care for American interests.
but Mr.. Fletcher's prolonged absence
has a definite meaning.
Wants Better Relations.
He is not going back to Mexico un-
til it is apparent that his efforts to
establish good relations are received
with better grace than they have
been. The action of the Mexican SEN
ate is the first step in that direction
and is of such an encouraging char
acter that it would not be surprising
to see Mr. Fletcher returning to Mex
leo as soon as the oil controversy is
settled and begin a negotiation in
person with the Mexican authorities
relative to the Importance of con-
centrating attention on the protec-
ton of Americans resident in Mexico.
So far as armed Intervention is con-
cerned, the oil people have repeatedly
denied both publicly and in their con-
fidential conversations with the State
Department that they are behind the
propaganda for armed intervention.
The existence of such a propaganda
inside the United States is recognized
by the Department Of State, but it
feels powerless to combat 1t so long
as Mexico's efforts to give protection
to American lives are without avail.
The sending of troops into Mexican
territory after bandits had become a
settled policy of the Washington gov
ernment. There is no intention to oc-
cupy Mexican territory for any length
of time. Indeed. it is doubtful wheth-
er anything as extensive as the PERISH
ing expedition will be sent into Mex
leo unless armed Intervention is de-
cided upon.
Pursuit of Bandits.
OPERATIONS on the border for the pres
ent will be confined to an immediate
pursuit of any bandits who attack