The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-07-15
LET MEXICO WAIT
ABIJ" THE ADVICE
Fletcher Warns Against Premature
o. X, on New Regime-Urges DE
La Huerta Be Forced TO Guar
antee Good Faith to L. S.

Greencastle. Pa, July Warning
against premature recognition of the
new Mexican government was given
the administration today by Henry p.
Fletcher, formerly ambassador to
Mexico.
In letter to Bainbridge Colby, sec
retary of state, he urged that in no
case should the recognition of the De
La Huerta regime be other than that
of de facto character, with the un-
derstanding that even this would be
withdrawn should subsequent events
prove that 1t was prematurely extend
ed.
Mr.. Fletcher's letter resulted from
negotiations now in progress between
the state department and DR.. Iglesias
Calderon, Mexican high commissioner
to the United States. regarding recog-
milton of the new government at the
City Of Mexico.
Fletcher Urges Restrictions.
Dr. Calderon has assured the Amer
ican government of the desire of the
new regime to live up to the obliga-
tions of government, but Mr.. Fletch-
er in his letter suggested that before
any recognition was extended an in
formal agreement be made with the
Mexican authorities that American
ciizens would not be deprived of their
property rights without compensation
and that such property as they were
deprived of during the Carranza re-
gime without compensation would be
returned to them.
Mr.. Fletcher was the American am
bassador to Mexico during the Car
rama administration, but resigned
several months ago because of dis
agreement with the American govern
ments policy toward Mexico. His let
ter to Secretary Colby follows:
In my capacity as private citizen,
interested In good relations between
the United States and Mexico, may |
suggest for such consideration as they
may deserve the following regarding
the recognition of the new govern
ment of Mexico until it is reasonably
clear that said government is not only
willing, but able, to regard the funda-
mental duties of government--i.' e.,
to maintain law and order and to af-
ford adequate protection to the lives
and interests of foreigners in Mexico.
Wants a String on o. X.
90. That the new regime should be
recognized, II at all, merely as the de
facto government, and it should be in
formed that such recognition was pro
visions1, and would be Withdrawn II II
should subsequently prove to have
been prematurely extended
ss3. That before extending such de
fac, recognition we should take steps
to sec re an informal agreement Ito
later be lsade formal, if desired), COW
ering the following pending matters:
.'fa) That the constitution of 1917
and the law passed in pursuance
thereof shall not be given retroactive
effect as to property lawfully acquired
previous to its PRONUNCIATION. and that
American citizens shall not be depriv-
ed Of their lawfully acquired rights
without compensation.
(b) Return to American citizens
and corporations of such property
(excluding taxes) as they We're depriv-
ed Of during the Carranza regime
without compensation by either ma
tional or state governments OF Mexi-
co.
An Adjustment Commission.
tc) Immediate CONSTITUTION OF u
mixed Mexican-American claims COM
mission to adjust all claims of Ameri-
can citizens against the government OF
Mexico and of Mexican citizens
against the government Of the United
States
.(d) Appointment of commissioners
to settle definitely the Cmaizal and all
other boundary questions, including
the DETECTION, canalization and pro
, lection of the waters of the Colorado
/ river for the irrigation of the Imperial
valley in Mexico and In the United
States. | make no mention of finan-
cial or economic matters, believing
they should form the subject matter
of negotiations subsequent to recogni
tion.
I'VE should make 1t clear that these
conditions are attached to our recog
milton merely because our unfortunate
experiences with the Carranza govern
ment make them appear necessary, tc
avoid future trouble and above all
that we are not asking for our nation
ais a privileged position, but simple
/ iifeficas