El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-18


president Wilson's position can
not be said TO have changed
though he Is being urged to do
something more than write pro-
tests to the Mexican government
The murder Of John W Correll in
the Tampico district has seemed 70
bring matters to a head Tie Wash
ingtOn government is insistent that
the bandits be punished. but this is
substantially what has been said IN
every case II the United States gov
eminent feels satisfied that the cam
paign against the northern bandits
had been energetically pushed. II
would be inclined to regard the Cor
rel case as isolated, but. unfortunate
y, it is one of series OF such hap
penings, the responsibility for which
is being placed on the recognized gov
eminent OF Mexico
Besides the protection OF foreigners
N Mexico, another controversy has
caused i'll feeling II is the attempt
OF the Carranza administration to
compel American owners OF oil prop
erty TO yield ownership Of their leases
TO the Mexican government The
United States government fatty de-
clares such a proposal TO be confisca-
ton.
Fault at Mexico City.
One high official Of the American
government said frankly today that
if the situation between the govern
ments OF Mexico and the United States
was gain becoming tense, the fault
was IL Mexico City He cited the
sending Of troops 10 prevent an Amer
lean from drilling for oil on his prop
erty- II was suggested here that pos
slbly the Mexican government Itself
did intend at the outset 70 bring the
oil controversy TO a head, but that
some subordinate official may have
exceeded his authority
In any event. the position
adopted by the Mexican govern
ment in refusing to issue pro-
vIsIonaI permits enabling oil own
erS 10 continue business while the
legal questions are threshed out,
is one in which IL Is confidently
expected that some change Will be
made by Mexico herself.
The state department has agreed
that Aiexico's legal claims viii not in
the least be dispsraged by the issu-
ancs OF provisional permits. and. on
the other hand. II Carranza should
justify his legal contention, then It
would be to his advantage to have
more wells drilled and in production
Considered judicial Question.
It IS unlikely that anything amount
ing 10 armed Intervention viii issue
from the oil question alone The gov
eminent OF the United States is in
question ana as such subject TO the
usual legal processes ultimately wind
ing Up with International arbitration
Should Mexico refuse 70 arbitrator
should she insist on denying provis-
ional permits at the same time she
enforced her own legal contentious.
this would be considered q denial OF
justice and result IN an embarrassing
situation for Mexico in the iSmiiy OF
nations For It probably would mean
\ basis for continued refusal to ad-
NIT Mexico to the league Of nations,
o efh n a
the powers on policy OF economic
aloofness-
These circumstances. however, are
more Or less remote lnIn ed lately II
front OF president Wilson today il Tie
question OF insisting that American
oil property be given legal protection
pending the outcome OF the dispute
and that the lives Of American eiri-
zsns in Mexico be safsgrarded- Il is
considered very unlikely -hat these
problems viii be permitted TO 90 by
as before.-Copyright 1913, The FL
Paso Herald