The New York herald., 1921-01-18
HARDING OBTAINS
| INSIDE ADVICE ON
MEXICO PROBLEM
w. s. Dickey, who Con-
ferred With 0bregon.
Gives Latter's Views.
RECOGNITION AS BASIS
Southern Executive Willing
to Accede to U. s. Terms
AfterWard.
HAYS Is ALSO A CALLER
President-Elect Has Not De-
cided on Date of Calling
Special Session.
RECOGNITION AS BASIS
HAYS Is ALSO A CALLER

Special DeSpGtch TO TIE New York HERALD,
! MARION, Ohio. Jan. 17.-One of the
first problems with which Mr.. Harding
will have to deal when he assumes
office will be Americas relations with
Mexico. Interposed with further con-
sideration OF Cabinet plans to-day he
got some first hand information on
economic and social conditions in the
southern republic.
One of his callers was Walter S.
Dickey of Kansas City. one time Re-
publican State chairman of Missouri, a
man OF large business interests. who
has been mentioned for a place in the
Cabinet, either as Secretary Of the In
terror or the Department of Commerce.
Mr. Dickey was in Mexico City, ,at the
time of the Inauguration Of President
Obregon. He had two conferences with
the Mexican Executive at that time, in
which he had opportunity to learn in an
unofficial way something of Obregon's
feelings toward the United States Gov
ernment and the American people gen.
orally. President Obregon talked with
Mr.. Dickey quite frankly, not only as n
representative American but as a busi-
ness man with extensive interests I'm that
country, and Mr.. Harding had the bene-
fit of Mr.. Dickeys information and in
depreciation of President Obregons atti-
tude.
Summed up. this is that Obregon is
intensely desirous of early recognition
by the United States. He is willing TO
accede TO the obvious conditions that
America would exact but cannot ap-
preciate why America should insist on
proof OF his ability to meet those con-
ditions before recognition is granted.
He would be willing to repeal or nulify
the Objectionable retroactive clause in
the Mexican constitution with respect
to subsoil rights if recognition is given,
but he wants the recognition first
The difficulties in the situation. Mr..
Dickey believes are not insuperablc.
Obregon, he believes, is well inten-
toned. respected and capable Negotil-
tions undertaken with a full knowledge
of facts and conditions, he thinks, might
remove Mexican affairs from the list of
foreign relationships that have to be ad-
justed
viii II. Hays, chairman Of the Re
| publican National Committee, was here
at Senator Harding's invitation. Mr..
Hays took occasion TO deny emphatically
! reports that have been published to the
effect that friction existed between HIM
self and Harry Daugherty over party
affairs.
Never has there been finer coopera-
tion between two men than between Mr..
Daugherty and myself" Mr.. Hays said.
Mr.. Harding. when asked regarding a
report from Washington that he would
call Congress in special session on April
4, said no date had been decided. and he
would not fix a date until he had con-
ferred with Congressional leaders. The
tariff bill and other measures that call
for immediate consideration will make
an early session necessary. but the actual
date viii not be announced until after
Inauguration, although doubtless it will
/ be some time early in April.
Senator and Mrs. Harding went to
+ Cleveland this afternoon to make pur-
chases and attend to personal affairs
before leaving for Florida the end of the
week. They were accompanied by Mr..
I Hays and Charles ID. Hilles of New
! York who, with ex-Gov. Frank o. Low
den, made up the days visiting list.