The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-28

Wasli sliIleto1 GoueTn.
y,aes,f Wants Real
Guarantee.

Especial to The Argus.)

Especial to The Argus.)
Washington. June zS.-Mexico's
pronouncement Of policy Just made
by President obregon through the
medium Of . signed statement In
the New York World has been care
fully studied by the United States
government and while there has
not been and will not be any Of
icial comment, nevertheless, the
viewpoint Of the department Of
state turns entirely ON one para
graph in which Obregon says:
Not only have We made repeated
and Official declaration that article
q would not be given retroactive
effect but We have forbidden any
action whatsoever that might give
any such appearance"
Is Mexico Sincere3
II President Obregon is sincere
in making that statement, what OBJ
lection has he to Incorporating its
substance In . treaty with the
United States? Upon the answer
to that question rests the entire
American contention and officials
of the department of state insist
that there Is no other obstacle in
the way Of recognition Of Obregon
and the reestablishment of friendly
relations with Mexico than q clear
understanding on that one point.
The Washington government ex-
pressed itself informally today as
highly gratified with the assurances
given by President Obregon in the
paragraph quoted above as indicat-
ing Mexican policy but until such
a declaration is made in substan-
tial form to the United States gov
ernment it can have no validity. It
was not denied at the department
Of state that Mexico had once be-
, fore given assurance that article u
OF the Mexican constitution govern
ing oil leases would not be retro
active but it was also pointed out
that since that assurance was
given the Carranza regime issued
DEGREES which were plainly retro
active. While those DEGREES were
1nayaEssRfeseed u is also 0 fact that
they never were withdrawn and
that they stand on the records as q
club that can be used by any Mexi-
can president at any time he de-
sires. It is precisely because one
Mexican executive would interpret
the constitution in one way and an
other would feel free to interpret It
IN another way that Secretary
Hughes has asked for a treaty be-
tween the two countries SO that a
violation of 1t could not be regard
ed as the mere reputation Of q
previous administration but as the
breaking of a solemn pact between
the two countries.
G. s. Is ~Curious to Know
The department Of state is cur-
ious to know why it is that the
Mexican government is SO ready to
give assurances to American news
papers that article q is not ana
will not be construed as retroactive
but Is unwilling to make such q
declaration to the United States
government in form that will be
permanently binding on Mexico.
The inference which officials are
inclined to convey is that Mexico
wishes to have American public
opinion believe the hard-hearted
American government is oppressine
her while at the same time the
Obregon regime processes to he
willing TO meet every demand made
by the United States government
The state department here is not
interested in the form OF any decla-
ration that may be made but in the
substance.
Must Interpret Article q.
! There may be q way out when
Mexico enacts a law actually Civ
ing the meaning of the famous ar
ticle 81. In President Obregon,s
statement he promises in effect 10
have a law passed which will 'in-
clude no constructive nor confisca-
tory feature" in interpreting the
constitution. The government here
Is pleased to note that promise but
prefers to await the actual fulfill
ment OF the promise before playing
the one card at its disposal al
present. namely formal recognition
OF the Obregon regime as a d.
facto or de jure government. The
Obregon statement indicates thai
there may be more delays in pass.
Ing the law. That means also de.
lay at this end in extending roco~.