The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-11-22
RECOGNITION Of
MEXICO EXPECTED
Government Ready as Soon as
Legal Questions Are
= Cleared
DISPOSITION TO ~.
WAIT FOR HARDING
Apparently Mexico Believes 1t Might Sc
cure Better Terms from New Admins
tratiOn-AIany of Hardings Friends
Expect Intervention.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

..-... BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
Especial Despatch to The Reformer)
Copyright 1920.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The United
states government stands ready to rec
cguize the government in Mexico, over
which Prcsident-elect Aware Obregon
VIII rule next month providing the legal
questions pending between the two gov
crnments can be satisfactorily adjusted.
For TIE first time in more than dec
ade, government has arisen in Mexico.
which appears to realize fully the neces
alty Of cooperation with the United
states, but public opinion below the Rio
Grande is still as sensitive about anv ats
ttHde that might seem cringing or sup
lIliaut.
This accounts for the official statements
insisting that Mexico cannot afford to ac-
cept any relation which has conditions
attached to It, Naturally, the American
government has no desire to impose con-
dItons as such. Moreover. the Washing
ton administration realizes the American
puhHc opinion will not be satisfied with
mere promises, and that actual perform
ahce Is necessary. Some start must he
made toward the settlement of pending
difficulties, aud when enough action has
been taken by the Mexican government
70 warrant belief that the points which
the United States wishes cleared nm will
be eventually settled, then recognition
Will be gladly extended.
ihele Is some suggestion that the new
AIeNIcan government IS trying to delay
faction between the Wilson and the Hard
ing administration. There are those who
are cCur$eilug Mexico that easier terms
will be secured from the Republicans
lhan the Democrats. In 1912 the same
situation existed. Secretary Knox was
ready TO recognize the Huerta govern
ment, but wanted the Chamizal dispute
ABOUT boundaries IN Texas settled The
MeNlcaus got the idea that they would
get recognition easier If they delayed be-
youd March t. but they delayed beyond
March I, because, Nh. Wilson refused alb
souteIy to recognize Huerta on other
grounds. 1t So happens that among the
trends OF Senator Harding, are many
who believe military intervention alone
Will solve the Mexican question.
There are others who have a feeling
that recognition of the Oregon govern
ment will mean new era of peace and
prosperity with our southern neighbor.
yet II the question Is left to be taken up
after March I, It will be the first step m
the assumption Of responsibility for Mex
lcdn AFFAIRS ON the part of the new Wash
mgton administration. Any action. on
the other hand. taken by the Wilson re-
gIme viii be still charged M TO Wilsoniau|
-
some OF Harding friends hope the prob
lem viii not be on the White House door
steps after March 4.
tuquestonably, there are some inter
ests which are counseling the Aexieans
to delay a settlement beyond MARCH l.
because these interests really believe mil
ltary intervention can best be brought
about by a Republican administration
Our state department is aware of some of
these subtle processes, which are not at
all friendly either to what Is believed
here to he real desire Of a man like
Presldent-elect Harding. On the trip to-
the southern border the dispatches have
conveyed the impression that Mr.. Hard
ing, too, wants am amlcable settlement of
disputes with Mexico.
President Wilson's viewpoint through
out the last eight years has been that
eventually the MeNicans would them
selves straighten out their affairs, and
that the chaos of revolution was not like
" to be removed i'm a decade, as witness
the slow processes by which Russia is
struggling for self-possessiOu. There Is no
doubt that the present occupant OF the
White House would like to round out his
term with the Mexican problem on the
road to settlement. Men who are plan
ming new business enterprises and devel-
opment. are awaiting. moreover for the
act of recognition. Nevertheless. the de
paTtment of state is firm IN its determina-
ton that something better than promises
must be forthcoming this time before rec
ignition is extended If the MeXicans are
misled into thinking they can get easier
terms with the next administration in
Washington, especially when it probably
will take long time before the Harding
administration will be ready to tackle
Mexican matters. on account of press OF
other questions, then the disposition here
is to let the Mexicans who advise such a
course. bear the consequences. The whole
thing is up to the MeXicans. There are
no insuperable obstacles.