The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-09-03
RECOGNITION Of
MEXICO. PROMISING
Supreme Court Decision
That Article u Isn't
Retroactive Helps
.OBREGON WILL NOT
MAKE ANY TREATY
Decision of Court Lessons Necessity for
Ons-United States Will Not STAND
on Technicalities but Wants Definite
Agreement ON Some Points.
BE DAVID AWRENtF.
Special Dispatch to The Reformer.
Copyright 1921.

Be DAVID WRENCE.
I (Sprcial Dispatch to The Reformer.)
! Copyright 1921.
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.-MexicO' $
chances of recognition are better today as
la result of her supreme courts decision on
THE famous article - of the Mexican con-
stitution.
The United States had proposed that
! a treaty be signed by Mexico absolutely
safeguarding American oil rights. Presi-
ktent Obregon felt that to coneede Ameri-
cas- request would give the impression
that he was yielding to foreign influence.
Nevertheless. the, American government
insisted that either article 81 was retro
active or it was not and that Mexico
should say formally and irrevocably
which was the case America suggested
a treaty because it would always be bind
ing Mexico, however, has found another
wav-namely a supreme court decision.
+ Heretofore oil men have not had much
faith in the decisions of MeXicO's supreme
court because of the frequent reversals of
Judgment Now. however, the MeXlcans
claim their judiciary is independent. 1t
no longer is appointed by the executive
but all the judges are elected by congress
and only one third is elected at one time
so the court maintains certain independ-
ence of political changer. This method
of election was provided under the new
constitution and the decision just handed
down is really the first of its kind. 1t
will have an important bearing on the
future because if the supreme court does
not reverse itself there win be much more
faith in its integrity.
1t is true that America asked that the
oil question be adjusted in a treaty
which had to be signed before recognition
would be extended. The American gov
eminent will not stand on techRicalitieS.
1t is interested in the substance rather
than the form. In effect the contention
of the United States that article ~ ought
not to be retroactive has been absolutely
upheld. The supreme court of Mexico
agrees entirely with ting United States IN
pointing out that lands obtained prior to
the making of the constitution are safe
| from c0nfiscatiOn.
May Treat on Other Questions.
President Obregon's speech saying he
would not sign a treaty is taken 70 mean
| that he refers to the points cleared up by
the supreme court decision The Mexican
president, however, had previously indi-
Gated his willingness to adjust by treaty
number of pending questions such as
claims growing out of the revolutions in
! Mexico. An agreement on these points
will not be difficult to accomplish and il
may be that some broad reference To the
protection of lives and property in the
4fuutre may be urged as a means of salts
\ flying public opinion on this side of the
bRio Grande for while the United States
Y government wants to be as considerate a
Possible in making it easy for President
| Obregon to handle his own political situa-
! ton there is also a problem in Washing
ton. For inside the Republican admins
/ tration are men like Secretary FAN. who
reflects an extreme attitude toward
| Mexico. men like Secretary Hughes, who
| is interested in seeing legal questions adj
! iusted on sound basis and President
Harding, who is eager that Americas re-
lation to Mexico shall be friendly so that
complications with European countries
may be avoided.
4 Easy TO Agree Now
/ The situation il in such shape that n
i standing on forms and pride may drive
| the two nations apart whereas a spirit of
4 reconciliation and compromise will bring
them together. There is no evidence here
of the rafting of sabres but a desire to
get a definite agreement in black and
white on a number of vexatiOuS points so
| that the extension of recognition by the
EUnited States government. followed as it
4 will be by similar action from the Euro
/ pean powers, viii not be the basis for po-
litical attack in the United States.