Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-12
AMERICA SHOULD
PROCEED SLOWLY
IN RECOGNIZING
MEXICAN REGIME
Henry P, Fletcher, Former
Ambassador, Warns Sec
retary Colby Against Pre-
mature Action by b, S,
"SEIzED" PROPERTY
SHOULD BE RETURNED
Government Should Agree
That Our Citizens Won't
Be Deprived of Their Be-
IOngingS Without Pay,


Green Castle. Pa, July II tbv
the Associated Press. .)-Warning
against premature recognition of
the new Mexican government was
given the administration today by
Henry P, Fletcher, former ambas-
sador to Mexico.
In a letter to cambridge Colby,
secretary 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.
Mr.. Fletchers letter resulted
from negotiations between the
state department and Dr. Iglesias
Calderon, Mexican high commits
sloner to the United States regard
ing recognition of the new Mexican
government.
Mr.. Fletcher suggested that be-
fore any recognition was extended
there be an informal agreement
that American citizens would not
be deprived of their property rights
without compensation and that
such property as they were thus
deprived of during the Carranza
regime would be returned.
Mr., Fletcher was the American
ambassador to Mexico during the
Carranza administrator, but re-
signed several months ago because
Of a disagreement with the Ameri- |
can governments policy toward
Mexico
Flctcher's Letter.
His letter to Secretary Colby |
follows:
In my capacity as private |
citizen interested in good relations
between the United States and |
Mexico. may ! suggest for such |
serve the following regarding the
recognition of the new govern
meEt of Mexico; | would respect
fully suggest:
"First-That the United States
should not recognize the new gov
ernment of Mexico until it is rea-
sonably clear that said govern
ment is not only willing but able
to regard the fundamental duties
of a government, /. e., to main
tain law and order and to afford
adequate protection to the lives
and interests of foreigners in
Mexico.
"Second-That the new regime
should be. recognized, if at all.
as the de facto govern
ment and it should be informed
that such recognition was provis-
ional and would be withdrawn II
1t should subsequently prove to
have been prematurely extended.
"Third-That before extending I
such de facto recognition we
should take steps TO secure an !
Informal agreement Ito be later
made formal if desired) covering
the following pending matters
"(a) That the constitution OF {
1917 and the law passed in pursn- {
ance thereof shall not be given
effect as to properly
lawfully acquired previous TO lts
and that American (
,itizens shall not be deprived OF +
heir lawfully acquired righ's
Without compensation.
should Return Property. Q
(b) Return to American cit- $
,ens and corporations of such h
property (excluding taxes) as 'hes 7
we're deprived of during the Cac-
ANA regime without compensation u
" either national or state so'- n
rnments of Mexico. .In
,"(c) Immediate constitution oi
mixed Mexican american claims Z
to adjust all claims OF
american citizens against the gov 4
of Mexico and of Mexican a
itizens against the government "
( the United States. p
"(d) Appointment of commis- u
toner's to settle definitely the "
ha mizal and all other boundary 81
uestions, including the oetiec II
on. canalization ana protection ol Ia
no waters of the Colorado river p
,r the irrigation of the 1mperlai CT
alley in Mexico and in the United p
tates. / make no mention OF IL u
ancial or economic matters pe-
ewing they should form the sub
,ct matter of negotiations subse- ~
uent to recognition.
eve should make it clear that y
,ese conditions are attached to -
ur recognition merely because u
ur unfortunate experiences with u
,e Carranza government make ~ "
lem appear necessary, to avoid - :.
iture trouble and above all that -
9 are not asking for our ma - -
onals privileged position. but - -
mply Justice" in