The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-22
j. s. READY TO
RECOGNIZE new
MEXICAN REGIME
For First Time in Decade
Southern Republic Has
Government Which Realizes
Necessity Of Friendship.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
Especial Correspondent of The News
Scimitar.l

Scimitar.)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The
United States government stands
ready to recognize the government
of Mexico over which President elect
Aware Obregon will rule next
month provided the legal questions
pending between the two govern
ments can be satisfactorily adjusted.
For the first time in more than a
decade a government has arisen in
Mexico which appears to realize fully
the necessity of cooperation with
the United States, but public, opin-
ion below the Rio Grande is still as
sensitive about any attitude that
might seem cringing. or suppliant.
This accounts for the official state
ments insisting that Mexico can not
afford to accept any recognition
which has conditions attached to it.
Naturally, the American government
has no desire to impose conditions
as SUCH Moreover the Washington
administration realizes that Ameri-
can public opinion will not he salts
fled with mere promises and that
actual performance is necessary.
Some start must be made toward the
settlement of Spending difficulties
and when enough action has been
taken by the Mexican government to.
warrant a belief that the poiDts
which the United States wishes
cleared up will be eventually settled,
then recognition will be gladly ex-
tended.
There is some suggestion that the
new Mexican government is trying
to play as between the Wilson and
the Harding administrations. There
are those who are eounselling Mex
leo that other terms will be secured
from the Republicans than the Dem
ocrats. In 1912 practically the same
situation existed. Secretary Knox
was ready to recognize the Huerta
government but wanted the Chamj-
zal dispute about boundaries in Tex
as settled, The Mexicans got the
idea that they would get recognition
easier If they delayed beyond March
4, but they were sadly mistaken, be-
cause Mr.. Wilson refused absolutely
to recognize Huerta on other
grounds.
1t so happens that among the
friends of Senator Harding are many
who believe military Intervention
alone will solve the Mexican ques-
ton. There are others who have a
feeling that recognition of the Obre-
gon government will mean a new era
of peace and prosperity with our
Southern neighbor, yet, if the ques-
ton is left to be taken up after
March it will be the first step in
the assumption of responsibility for
Mexican affairs on the part of the
new Washington administration. Any
action, on the other hand. by the
Wilson regime will still be charged
up to Wilsonian policy. Under that
4A fVNar n n - n
friends hope the problem will not be
on the White House doorstep after
March 2.
Unquestionably there are some in
terests which are counselling the
Mexfcans to delay settlement be-
yond March because the interests
really believe military Intervention
can best be brought under a Re-
publican administration. Our state
department is aware of some of
these subtle processes which are not
at all friendly either to what is be-
lieved to be the real desire of a
man like President-eleet Harding.
On the trip to the southern border
the dispatches have conveyed the i'm
preston that Mr.. Harding, too, wants
an amicable settlement of disputes
with Mexico.
President Wilson's viewpoint
throughout the last eight years has
been, that eventually the MeXicans
wonld themselves straighten out
their affairs and that the chaos of
revolution was not likely to be re-
moved in a decade as witness the
slow processes by which Russia is
q struggling for possession. There
Is no doubt that the present occu-
pant Of the White House would like
to round out his term with Mexican
problems on the road to settlement
Men who are planning new business
enterprises and development are
waiting, moreover, for the act of rec.
ognition. Nevertheless. the depart
ment Of state is firm in Its determi'
nation that something better thar
promises must be forthcoming this
time before recognition is extended
If tho MeXicans are misled into
thinking they can get easier term:
with the next administration il
b. washington especially when it prob
, ably wiR take long time before thu
Harding administration will be read.
to tackle Mexican matters on &C
count of the press of other ques
tions, the disposition here is to lie
the MeXicans who advise such
course bear tie Consequences. Thu
whole thing is up to the Mexicans
There are no insuperable obstacles.
Copyright, 1920, by David Law