Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-03-11
MEXICO WILL
NOT PROVOKE
WAR ON i. S.
viii Do Anything Required
To Maintain Permanent
Peace
By PAUL HANNA

Federated Press Stan Correspondenfl
uexico city - War between the
rated States and Mexico will not
- nrevoked by any arrogant defiance
~ American capitalists by the Obre-
e.. administration Within the limits
- modest national dignity. and short
~ surrenaering the vital elements of
sayareignty. Mexico viii do anything
,eso,ired TO maintain peace and carry
,oryara her program of social and In
dnstrial democracy
article ~ Of the constitution will not
he discarded nor altered in writing.
mt il will be interpreted, ] believe,
with a generous regard to the more
violent and dangerous prejudices OF
American investors. Mexico will 60
more than halfway TO satisfy the rS
paeity of the wolf pack.
The substance of this famous Ar
hcle 81 OF the Mexican Constitution
& contained in the following brief
quotations:
arhe Nation will at all times have
the right to put private property to
sneb uses as the public interest may
demand. such as regulating the use Of
natural elements so as to insure an
eou;table distribution of the public
riches. and to conserve the same
The Nation shall have d.
rect control over the minerals or sub
stances which in veins. masses or ore
bodies form deposits OF nature dis
,inct from the soil itself such
as the phosphates which can be util-
ized as fertilizers, coal, petroleum and
all the solvent, liquid and gaseous car
donates of hydrogen.
Provisions are set forth in the same
article for the leasing OF the above
mentioned sub-soil riches to private
individuals and corporations.
BY executive decree, former Presi.
dent Carranza made this article ret
roactive in effect, that is. applicable
to private titles acquired prior to the
adoption of the constitution In 1917.
Storms of protest arose Immediately
from foreign investors, principally
Americans. Presidents De Ia Hnerta
and obregon, succeeding Carranza.
have permitted the CarFanxA decree
70 stand and it is at the present hour
lively stimulus 10 war.
From this dangerous situation there
is one possible escape. unless the
American capitalists are bent upon
war and conquest withouumercy. For
many months there has been before
the Mexican Court a case which chal-
lenges the power Exercised by Car
ranza) to make Article retroactive.
Should the Supreme Court, this
month or later, declare that Article
mn m r,x~fuo 20 ar aft W
acquired before May 1, 1917, then the
foreign capitalists would be nullified.
II war should still come it would have
TO be on some other pretext.
or equal Importance among the de-
mands of American capital which
steer toward war is the insistence.
voiced most passionately by Senator
Fall, that the Obregon administration
or Its possible successors, shall sign
written document conceding every
thing desired by foreign investors or
else remain unrecognized by the
United States.
That demand has no place in inter
national law, but it enjoys very
nigh and familiar place in the prac-
uees OF imperial powers toward weak
er countries. And here again the Obre-
gon administration. believe, will do
us null part to placate the encircling
foe.
demand to stand and deliver is
an insult that no Mexican administra-
non could comply with and expect
70 endure 1t would be another thing.
IN the diplomatic sense, II the Hard
ing administration should invite the
administration of President Obregon
10 enter into formal treaty outlining
advantages to be shared by both ma
tions.
Mexico has something to. ask. as
Wen as much to give For example,
MEXICO produces some of the finest
fults and vegetables known. These
PRODUCTS once enjoyed lucrative
market IN the United States. Early
~ ~ PRESIDENT Wilson's quarrel with
oarranza, however, the u. S. health
euthorltles placed a barrier against
such Mexican products destined for
Tue United States. 1t was excused as
q measure to protect Americans from
ussease 1t really protected" tens
oi thousands of Americans from cheap
ana wholesome food. And il is still
in force. 1 - . %"
: Perhaps it is no part of Senator
Gu role TO mention what the United
,b 1'stes is willing to give Mexico in
sne treaty which he demands as
s1aiahtee ! prior to recognition. But
ai,, ah assure him that the Mexican
o,pioHlats ~ VIII have in mind some acts
- Iusuee by the United States which
aa..s. .uss.S DE pledged in any covenant of
eeuily between the two countries.
lMlnME ThY M0TInE