The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-21
lEX|CO'S LEADER TELLS OF PLANS
 FOR DEVELOPMENT
Policy to Foreigners and Foreign Business to Be In Line With Action Re-
 garding Oil Business
By Associated Press


 Mexico City, June D.-Mexican troleum laws based upon Article <o the constitution, nationalizing deposits oil, which article will be interpreted lio- orally, will not be retroactive, declared Adolfo de La Huera, provisional presi- dent, to foreign correspondents today.
 Senor de La Huerta spoke freely in discussing problems before the country, being host at a luncheon to the news paper men.
 The policy of friendship toward foreign nations, especially the United States, to- gether with the assumption of all le- gally contracted debts of the Mexican republic, is part of the provisional presidents programme
 During the two hours the president talked with the correspondents he an- swered rapid fire of questions with amazing frankness. Once he had a sud- den attack of illness and was forced to cease speaking for several moments. This attack, which alarmed the guests, came when the provisional president was talk ing of the uprising against President car ranza and had said orders had been given Gen. Joan s. Torres at Hermosillo to arrest de La Huerta but that when the general arrived in Sonora, he refused to obey orders. The provisional president refused to leave the table because of his illness, and in few minutes resumed his narration of events. He did not throw any new light upon events attending the Sonora revolt, which spread to all parts of the republic and finally resulted in the flight and death of Carranza.
 Az ted specifically what he meant by "df s legally contracted" the president replied laughingly:
 Please do not confuse me with the former president (Victoriano Huerta). al- though our names are almost alike
 With regard to Mexican foreign loan. he evaded the issue by declaring
 These conversations with foreign Journalists are the first steps which have been taken in this direction"
 TWO PROBLEMS
 ..Mexico faces two problems at pres ent," he continued. '"rhese are the eco homie and military problems Mexico IS more completely paciifed now than during the time of Porforio Diaz. Villa, whose status is that of a mere bandit, IS not a military problem. Airplanes are being sent to locate Villa. who, pursued relent- lessly, will soon be eliminated.
 "The organization of the army, while difficult, will be accomplished without delay under the leadership of Plutarco Elias Gales, the war minister
 Asked regarding censorship of news dis patches. the president declared he had not been. aware a censorship existed
 ABOLISH CENSORSHIP Turning to his chief of staff, Coioiiei Romirez, he ordered that the uei'o.- ship be abolished immediately. He ex- ~,]ained the censors probably were tert- overs from the former administration.
 With regard to the administrator pol icy toward the banks, Senor de La Huerta said every assistance and guarantee would be given private banking enter. Jrises, but that the government woulo Establish a national bank with the sole Privilege of issuing secured paper cur rency. The same enlightened attitude to- ward banking would be assumed as had been assumed toward the petroleum in- terests, he stated, the government max ing an effort to meet them half way m order to gain the friendship and respect If the nations and take it's rightful place xith the civilized governments.
 President de La Huerta described Car ranza's death as the ''only blot upon the revolution" Continuing, he said:
 "An investigation of this tragedy n now in the hands of the judicial authori- ties, into whose proceedings l cannot le- gally interfere Personally and unofIE cialiy. think Adolfo Herrero should De arrested. but as I have explained. sa'd nothing.'
 The president was questioned regarding the reported treaty negotiated between Japan and the Carranza government.
 NO TREATY
 Among the government archives, ne said in reply "I have not encountered such a document. You say Japanese ship landed arms at Manzanillo for Car ranxa? Perhaps, if that is true, they ! were intended for the subjugation of the state of Sonora
 Present at the luncheon on the pres- dents invitation were ten representatives
 (Continued on Page Two)