The Washington herald., 1921-06-08
Hughes Demands Guar
antee from People of
Nation.
RECOGNITION MAY
FOLLOW PARLEYS
Says Nation Must Revoke
Policy of Usurping
Foreign Claims.
~ ROBERT J. BENDER.

The United States government
has proposed 30 the Mexican people
that the two nations enter into a
treaty of commerce and amity such
as will stabilize their relations ana
terminate the protracted period Of
mutual distrust. IL was announces
yesterday.
The treaty. now the subject OF
negotiations between the two gov
ernments. would embody assurances
by Mexico to safeguard American
property rights. establish a claims
commission to settle losses Of life
and property. provide for settle
ment Of boundary matters. and.
finally, would include conventional
stipulations as to commerce and
reciprocal rights in both countries
Speaks 20 whole Nation.
In announcing its advances. the
state department made Il clear IL
was talking to Mexico as a nation.
and not alone TO the Obregon re-
gime. The question Of recognition
should be subordinsted. the admin
istration believes. II hopes for an
immediate restoration Of cordial re-
lstions with Mexico. and is willing
to negotiate the treaty in question
the provisions suggested II Obre-
gon refuses to accept the suggested
terms, this government will simply
wait until there lis a government
in Mexico willing to bind Itself &C
the discharge Of primary inter.
national obligations"
The whole dificuity in the path
of a satisfactory settlement Is en-
braced in the Mexican constitutions
of 1917. This declared that SUBJ
surface resources were the property
OF the nation.
Makes Position Clear.
The state department announce
ment on the relations of the govern
ments of the United States and Mex
leo. said:
The fundamental question which
confronts the government Of the
Cnited States in considering its re-
lations with Mexico is the safe
guarding Of property rights against
confiscation. Mexico as free to
adopt any policy which she pleases
with respect to her public lands.
But she IL not free TO destroy with
out compe nsdtion valid titles, which
have been obtained by American
citizens under Mexican laws. con-
the interests Of particular individ-
uals. but at the foundations OF in
intercourse, for IL lie
only on the basis Of the security OF
property validly possessed under the
laws existing at the time Of IT'S
acquisition that commercial trans
actions between the peoples OF two
countries and the conduct Of activt-
ties in helpful cooperation. are
possible.
Must Perform Obligations
This question should not be con-
fused with any matter Of person
aIitics or Of the recognition Of any
particular administration. when
ever Mexico is ready to give assur-
auces that she will perorm her fun-
damental obligation in the protec-
ton Of both OF persons and OF rights
Of property Validly acquired. there
will be no obstacles to the most ad-
vantageous relations between the
two peoples.
This question is vital because OF
the provisions inserted in the heNi-
can constitution promulgateo ~
1917. II these provisions are 10 oe
put into effect retrosctiVely' the
properties Of American citizens viii
be confiscated on a great scale
This would constitute an interna-
tionaI wrong Of the greatest char
acter. and this government couio
not submit to its accomplishment
II il be said that this wrong Us not
intended. and that the constitution
of Mexico Of 1917 will not be con-
strued to permit. or enforced so as
to effect confiscation. then Il is i'm
ha
clear by guarantees in proper form.
The provisions Of the constitution
and the executive DEGREES which
have been formulated with confiscs-
tory purposes make IL obviously
necessary that the purposes Of Mex
leo should be definitely set forth
Treaty is Proposed.
Accordingly this government has
proposed a treaty OF smity and COM
merce with Mexico. in which Mexico
will agree to safeguard the rights
of property which attached before
the constitution Of 1917 was pro-
mulgated. The question, IL will be
observed. is not one of a particular
administration. but Of the agreement
of the nation in proper form which
has become necessary as an inter-
national matter because Of the pro-
visions of its domestic legislation
II Mexico does not contemplate q
confiscatory policy the government
OF the United States can conceive of
no possible objection to the treaty.
The proposed treaty also con-
tains the conventional stipulations
as to commerce and reciprocal
rights in both countries. IL also
provides for the conclusion Of q
convention for the settlement of
claims for losses Of life and prop
erty, which, of course, means the
prompt establishment Of a suitable
claims commission in which both
countries would be represented. In
order to effect a just settlement
There is also a provision for a Just
settlement OF boundary matters
Recognition 20 Follow.
THE question OF recognition is q
subordinate one. but there will be
no dificulty as to this. for II Gen.
Obregon is ready to negotiate q
proper treaty, and IL is drawn so az
to be negotiated with him. the
making OF the treaty in proper
form will accomplish the recogni-
tion Of the governmept-th>rrxz~x
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