Evening star., 1921-06-15
Editorial Digest
Putting It Up to Obregon.

Secretary Hughes frank statement
concerning the State Departments
proposition now laid before President
Obregon for the signing of q treaty
which would assure American prop
erty rights Is looked upon by the ma
jority of the newspapers as fair
condition upon which to base recog-
milton Of the Mexican government.
oil' in the transaction and look upon
the American policy as brusque at
tempt to force Mexico to alter her
constitution to suit special interests.
A milder tone is taken by others. who
State Department's position is due.
not to doubt as to its sincerity on the
part Of President Obregon. but to
fear lest some. elements in Mexico
might make capital OF it to secure his
downfall.
The Brooklyn Eagle Gndependent
democratic) Is among those who feel
that 1T Is obvious that Mexico can
not expect recognition' until the
American conditions are met. While
appreciate the justice Of the United
States demand that the righs OF our
citizens be protected" 1t thinks the
question at the moment Is whether
obreson is strong enough to chai-
Without attempting ito guage the
correctness of the policy" before its
fruits are realized, the Baltimore
News dndependenD also reminds ITS
readers that obregon is between the
pearance Of having altered the ma
lions constitution at the behest of the
hated 'gringoes' will probably not
strengthen his position"
The New York Call (sociaiist1 m
meaning. .in plain English" that
foreign Investments are fixed in per
petuity and any attempt OF tne natIVe
government to- recover the rich; re-
sources in the hands Of aliens stsiSeS t,lxeS
intercourse Without accepting the
allegation that American oil interests
are back of the move, the Baltimore
Sun independent democratic) SOUNDS
the warning that the government has
effort Of such interests as 1t mas 60
safeguard the bona fide property
rights Of Americans in Mexico.
The New York "1es W0eia dogn iasmoG5astsy pseiey
much to this: II Mexico will meet the
demands of American oil interests
voiced through washington all VII
be lovely. the old friendship OF tne
United States viii De patcnea nHa-noant up M
win be placed the stamp OF omcai
recognition BY the Harding adminis-
AS to "concealing" the oil issue.
the Chattanooga Times Gndependent
democratic) is certainly not guilty.
Why shouldn't we say. IT ASKS: re
want the oil locked up In your niliS
and valleys and as we had once mao
the concessions for getting ~ We
the new administration before me agree
to recognize it as the de jure govern
ment."
But all this talk Of oil seems to the
New York Tribune (republicanl 70 os
IAN attempt to divert attention from
the facts of the case" which the
Tribune presents as follows: Article
XVII Of the Mexican constitution
permits Mexican authorities to conns.
cate the property OF foreigners IN
or mines. Such a power OF conhsca-
, tion is a direct violation OF interna.
tional law Why should Mexico. II II
lis not her purpose to exercise tnis
power. not say so!
American rights" upon which so mucn
stress is laid by the department ana
the supporting newspapers. Is not as
important just now. in the eyes OF ..t me
St. Louis Star dndepenoen.I s ~ ~
newal Of domestic chaos" On TINS
theory the Star urges recognltion'
which will assure stability to Oore.
gon's government. with the threat OF
Severance Of relations II. later; q
SATISFACTORY agreement is not reacnea:
The sentiment quoted above. for the
roet mart unsympathetic with the
state Departments policy. is. however.
in the minority. The greater part
NJ the press. without rehearsing the
case in detail. registers Its unlned ap-
! proval of the course OF Secretary
Hughes. Typical Of this comment IS
that of the New York Herald dn-
denendent). which praises the Secre-
tary's efforts as ION a par with the
other prompt, able and wholly. ad-
mjrable work he has done" since he
took the portfolio:
The New York Times Cndependent
democratic) declares that mo finer
example of open diplomacy could be
asked" sentiment to which the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat irepubllcanl
agrees, citing it as a policy "in the
spirit of the times" Frank. un-
! Adorned and decent" is the comment
Of the New York Globe independently
on the Hughes statement, which
"could not be improved upon" the
Chicago Tribune independent repub-
lican) asserts. The Chattanooga News
(democratie) finds it moderate and
reasonable"
The Boston Transcript independent
republican, is stin more emphatic:
american diplomacy swings back to
the level of Bayard, of Olney. Of Hay
and of Root in the statement of the
Secretary of State on our relations
with Mexico. There is in this mastery
utterance no bluster. no .shirtsleeyes'
diplomacy. Nor is there any shifting.
any weak evasion. any watch-and-
pray smugness of pusillanimity."