The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-12
FLETCHER WARNS
AGAINST HUERTA
Urges Colby to Recognizes Re,
gime Only as De Facto
Government.

GREEN CASTLE, Pa. July 70
Warning against premature recognition
OF the new Mexican government was
given the administration yesterday by
Henry T. Fletcher, former Ambassador
to Mexico.
In a letter u ia nhridge COLI, Sc, %
retary OF state. he urged that IN no
cas- should The recognition Of the De Ia
Huerta regime be other than that OF Il
de facto character with the under
standing that even this would be win
drawn should subsequent events, prove
that Il was prematureN extended
MIR. Flctchers letter resulted from
negotiations In progress between tne
state department and l1r. lgtcsih~ '"l-
deron, Mexican high commissioners l"
the United States, regarding rSIosnl-
tion of the new government al MeA'C"
City.
Dr Iclesias Calderon has assured the
American government OF the dtSlr' o.
the new regime TO live up TO IN" onn-
cations OF government bui Mr..
Fletcher In his letter suggested taAt
before any recognition was cNteAord
an informal agreement be made WIN
the Mexican authorities that Amer ,
can citizens would not be deprived oil
their property rights without compeh-
sation and that such property as thcy
were deprived Of during the CAriahLa
returned to them.
Mr.. Fletcher was the American am
bassador to Mexico during he E3rrania
administration, but resigned s'VeraI
months ago because OF Disagreement
with the American governments pplcy
toward Mexico. His letter TO ScErt-
tary Colby follows:
I'm my capacity as private citIEeh
Interested IN good relations between tie
United States and Mexico may suH-
gcst for such consideration aa they
may deserve the following regarding
the recognition OF the new government
OF Mexico.
Suggests Program.
without animadverting to past diff
culties and with view to avoiding a
repetition OF them I would respectfully
suggest:
"First--That the United states should
not recognize the new government OF
Mexico until II IL reasonably lear that
said government is not only wiling.
but able to regard the Fundamental
duties of government, 4 g, to Wuln-
tain law and order and to afford ade-
quate protection to The lives and III
terests OF foreigners in Mexico.
'Second--That the .'sw regime should
be recognized, II at all merely ny the
de facto government ana II should be
informed that such recognition was
1t should subsequently prove to have
been prematurely extended.
''Third--That before extending such
de facto recognition We should take
steps TO secure an informal agreement
ito later be made formg II desirSll
covering the following pending matters
"tal That the constitution % 1917 and
the law passed In pursuance thereof
shall not be given retroactive tffctt
as to property lawfully acquired rrovl-
GUS TO its prmoulgat ton and that Amer.
lean citizens shall not be deprived Of
their lawfully acquired properties With
out compensation.
'tb) Return to American citizens and
corporations OF sucn property teNclud-
ing taxesl as they were deprived OF dur
Ing the Calranza regime without cont
pensation by either national or state
governments Of Mexico.
'fcl Immediate constitution OF a
mixed Mexican American claims Ccm.
mission to adjust all claims OF Amnri-
can citizens aaginnt the Eo|""nmen!
OF Mexico and OF Mexican CilizenE
against the government OF the United
States.
I'D Appointment II commissioners
to settle definitely the Cmltadl and nj
other boundary question: Including the
DETECTION canaliEation and protection OF
the waters uf the Colorado ger for
the Irrigation of the Imperial valley
IN McNlco ana IN the INT ri states
mate no mention of ttnlnclli or eco
nomic matters believing they should
form the subject matter OF negotiations
subsequent to recognition
We should make II clear that these
conditions are attached t. our rerog
milton merely because our unfortunate
experiences with the CarranZt govern
ntant make them appear necessary. To
FNoid future trouble and 9 hovc az
that we are not ast,inR for nur IA
items privileged position out Simpiy
justice"