Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-08
HUGHES MODERATE
. TOWARD MEXICO.
r,saty of "Amity and Com
merce" Offered obregon
Avoids Fall Demands
clIARANTEEs FOR PROPERTY
By CLINTON w. GILBERT
C.,r..popdcnt, Evening Public Ledger

tyation 1s nOpelui tho' A'o0'"o"s WV
- of Mexico, will agree TO the treaty
.mity and commerce which Secre-
.,rv Hughes has offered to him. So far
,ho President of Mexico himself lie
carned the information brought
e.no nv Charge d'Affaires Summerlin
ne,S1 hy various Mexican agents has
s.sr snu that he would sign any agree
WI that was in accordance with in
national law, but that he would re-
u,sa 70 sien one that impaired the SOW
esTH Wr Hughes has been scrupulous In
,,s repard for international law. As
~ nointed out by the State Depart
sont ali international relations rest
nron the recognition Of property rights
scouired by the nationals OF one coun-
try within the. territory OF another
rSen those rights have been acquired
according to the law of the country
where they exist. 80,
Taken in conjunction with the an
po,incement of the prospective with
5rawal of our troops from Santo Do
wingo and the ratification of the CO.
iombion treaty paying Colombia for her
losses through the alienation Of the
Panama Canal zone, the Mexican policy
indicates the intention of the Admins
tration to conciliate Latin America
and win its good will.
Latin America Would Approve
The rest of Latin America cannot
fail to approve Mr.. Hughes proposal
70 Mexico. All the Secretary Of State
asks of Mexico is what the rest of
Latin America grants, namely, security
Of property legally acquired. Mr..
Hughes demand applies specifically to
property acquired previous to the pro-
mitigation of the constitution of 1917.
Secretary Hughes policy with respect
proposed by Secretary Fall in his report
to the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mlttee. 1t is very different thing to
propose recognition to Mexico in the
form Of treaty of amity and COM
merce and to say to Mexico ION such
and such conditions we will recognize
you." To propose treaty Of amity
and commerce Is to treat Mexico as a
sovereign State entitled to all the con-
siderations Of diplomatic usage. To
suggest conditions and penalties IL the
conditions were not fulfilled, was to
treat Mexico as sort of international
bad boy.
Moreover, so far as law Is concerned,
what Mr.. Hughes proposes to Mexico
differs as far as the East is from the
mand from Mexico. All the Secretary
Of State asks of Obregon is to sign an
agreement to respect existing American
property rights in Mexico. The Fall
report contained this provision that
none of the provisions of Article 27 of
the Mexican Constitution with reference
to limitations upon the rights of prop
erty heretofore acquired by Americans.
Or which may hereafter be acquired by
Americans, shall apply to Americans
except where the limitation is written
IN the deed, lease or other instrument.
That the prohibition against the own
etsnip OF property In lands. waters or
tneir appurtenances. or against the con-
cesslons for the development of mines.
waters or mineral fuels in the Republic
lean citizens =" W e
Wanted Constitution Waived
The Mexican Constitution, as this
Wotatlon suggests, vests the title of oil
ana mineral lands and rights in the
Mexican Government and provides thut
concessions shall not be granted to
foreigners. Mr.. Fall in his report de-
manded that Mexico should not only
guarantee existing American rights in
mexico, but that 1t should waive this
Raft OF its Constitution and that public
ands should be open to Americans ns
wxeu wxeu as to Mexicans. To dictate to
;Me1ico what she should do with public
ereignty. ~"" '''
Ihe Secretary of State is much less
Mh. nslsh. lie recognizes the illegality of
snIs proposal and confines himself to the
protection of existing rights in Mexico
already legally acquired.
Inc Fall report also held q threat
:ver Mexico If she did not sign a pro-
'ocol not only recognizing existing
american rights, but also open public
.snus 70 Americans as to her own citi-
;nehs. II she did not, there was to be
intervention In Mexico, American no.
tOg thelng Of Mexican waters and Mexican
Secretary Hughes proposal contains
no threats. He proposes a treaty of
smity and commerce. No penalty at
,srhes to failure to sign. No reward
S a. neia out for signature, though Incl
SSeutaliy the signing of the treaty by
DS'n governments will be a recognition
,,, Mr. Hughes is firm, however. AL
thSoasn no threats are made, it is plain
ta sat this Government will not tolerate
Cauai e actual putting into operation of the
STaiza 81 as M DEGREES based upon Article
corss ne. .ne Mexican Constitution and the
Ws1;Sa W;seat'on of American property in
Ws~;ooo' such an act upon the part of
,aetico wou Id in all probability lend
10 Intervention.
s.;io ;nino difference between the Hughes
vo,lsy and the Fall policy in this re-
S1pNt Is this: Mr.. Hughes would wait
hat, b eonnscation of American property
;ntor ;tore intervention. Mr.. Fall advocated
an n%aention % II Mexico failed to sign
6soo.a agreement abrogating the con
ovsr ovTry DEGREES and waving control
tbs ands still in the possession of
Ne Mexican Government.
", Obregon Now in Difficulties
and @ men obregon first attained power
donht% %as 40 at ms strongest. there is little
approached him with a nronosaI os
tttSEardful of Mexico's soyereientv ne
sjas m present one, it would have been
ioSnq and Mexican relations would
d;tse9een ase 9een adjusted. Obregon is now in
alona u'tles' is' He may not be able TO carry
of tSo us I Government to the signing
Amo.iuS AaiilouS forces in Mexico which seek
start ah tr intervention there may now
gon,s tsTnole which will lead to Obre-
tween iall t rather than see relations be-
\ on n .. .ne Two Governments established
nnt;onn1 friendly basis according TO inter
itiai Il is ;%w law; If Obregon is overthrown
from 'thhposSlble to say what will result
MI NJ, the ensuing confusion,
satisfy tttugheS moderation will not
'he American oil interests in