Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-01
FAILURE To Protect
AMERICANS WOULD
BRING INTERVENTION
Foreign Relations Commit
tee Directs That Report
Be Presented to the
Senate

I
until an agreement to revise the con-
| treaty is entered into, was made by
| Senator Fall to the foreign relations
committee today in his report of the
subcommittee which has been inves-
| tigating conditions in Mexico.
Should the Mexican government re-
fuse to accede to such condition
of recognition it was suggested that
the American government renew the
| notice that it would hold ITO a def
mite reckoning those in Mexico re-
sponsi5le for the sufferings and losses
sustained by American citizens.
Failure of the Mexican government
| to restore order and peace in Mexico
and effectively to protect American
citizens would be followed in the plan
suggested by the subcommittee, by
! the dispatch of an armed force into
| that country "to open and maintain
open, every line of communication
between the City Of Mexico and ev-
cry seaport and every border port
of Mexico
j
de La Huerta, now president ad in
term of Mexico, should not be rec
ognized until it was assured that
his selection was approved by the
Mexican people and until 1t was
shown that his administration was
of a stable character and was dis
posed to comply with the rules of in
ternationa1 comfy and the obliga-
tions of treaties.
After receiving the report the for
eign relations committee directed
Senator Fall to present it to the sem
ate and the senator planned to do
this later in the day.
Should Request Assistance
"In giving notice that we are
not warning upon the Mexican peo-
ple,' the committees report added,
"we should request their assistance;
or at least that they refrain from
joining any armed bands in any at
tacks upon our troops OF forces
whose purpose would simply be the
restoration of peace and order; pro-
lection of our citizens; protection
of Mexican citizens; restoration of
American citizens to their proper
ties; the affording Of opportunity OF
opening Of mines, fields and fac
tories, and land, the affording of
opportunity for the Mexican people
themselves, in whatsoever manner
F they desire to constitute "a Mexican
government of serious, competent,
honest and honorable men who will
meet the civilized world upon a
friendly ground and bind themselves
+ to deal with other people as they
themselves would be dealt with"
The outstanding feature of the
agreement which the committee rec
ommends should be the basis for the
proposed treaty between the United
States and Mexico is that constitu-
ton of 1857 be substituted for that
of 1917. The committee also pro-
poses that Mexico agree that none
of the provisions of the new con-
stitution commonly regarded as con-
fiscatory should in any event
apply to American citizens, that the
restriction against the work of any
minister of the gospel Or any rellg-
ious body in that nat country snould nr o.
viding for the expulsion Of unde-
sirable foreigners, known under tbs
old constitution as "article 49," be
revised or eliminated.
Follow One Policy
The report covers some 5000
pages, and includes evidence taken
by the committee at hearings in
Washington, New York and along
mentary evidence to support charges
m de nv Witnesses
The committee points out that a
new regime has come into power in
Mexico, and says:
1--WE should first follow one policy,
"(A) Wait before recognizing Gov
ernor de la Huerta as president of
Mexico until it shall be assured that
is election is approved by the Mex
ton possessed a stability to endure
and of the disposition to comply with
the rules of international comfy and
the obligations of treaties.
cob We should let every one who
assumes to exercise authority in any
part of Mexico know in the most
way that we shall Wig
ilantly watch the fortunes of those
Americans who cannot get away, and
shall hold those responsible for their
sufferings and losses to a definite
recokning. That can be and will be
made plain beyond the possibility of
a misunderstanding. president Will
sons Wilson's address to congress On
Mexican conditions, August 81, 1879
First Duty Of Government
"(C) Repeat to the MeXicans now
what Evarts said in 1878:
1.-The first duty or government
is to protect life and property. This
is a paramount obligation. For this
governments are instituted. and gov
ernments. neglecting or failing to
perform it become worse than use
less. This duty the government of
perform to the extent of tbs power
toward it's citizens on the border. 1t
is not solicitous; it never has been,
about the methods or ways in which
that protection shall be accomplished,
whether by formal treaty stipulation
Or by. informal conventions; whether
by the action of judicial tribunals or
that of military forces. Protection,
n fact, to American lives and proper
y is the sole point upon which the
United States are tenacious
Then if satisfied as to (A) recog-
lize De la Huerta Cor successor)
lpon conditions plainly expressed
md aftirmatively accepted, that:
Article 100 of the constitution of
917 shall not apply to Alperican mis- "
'ionaries, preachers, minis ters,. teach D..
periodicals, but that Amer
can missionaries, ministers and
eachers shall be allowed freely to
inter-, pass through and reside in
Mexico there to freely reside, preach,
each and write and hold property,
md conduct schools without inter-
erence by the authorities so long
ionaries do not participate in Mex
notifies rPVOl11tiOnS.