Evening star., 1921-06-11
|MEX|CANS prove
j. S. CONTENTION
Forced to concede Constitu.
ton Confiscatory Is
View Held Here.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The Mexican situation has simply
resolved itself into a question of time.
The United States government con-
fidently expects the Mexican authori-
ties to come round to the viewpoint
expressed in the proposal for a new
treaty Of amity and commerce. The
Mexicans have begun arguing, but
eventually they must accept the pro-
pesai made or remain outside the
family of nations.
The Mexican officials whose state
ments have been published do not yet
know how firm Is the attitude of Sec
retary Hughes. They imagine it is a
subject in which there can be end
sists on one fundamental. Failing to
gasq that fundamental may cost
Gen. Obregon a good deal. The fun
damental is simply that the Mexican
constitution is or is not conf1scatory.
II it isn't, then a treaty should be
the Mexicans persist in refusing to
interpret or change their constitution
SO as to remove all doubt about con-
fiscation Of foreign property lawfully
acquired. then recognition will not be
extended until government arises
which does feel capable of making
the desired treaty.
Admission in Rejection.
What Mexico has just done in re-
fusing to negotiate a treaty on the
ground that no pact or international
convention can conflict with the
Mexican constitution is regarded here
as absolutely proving the American
contention. The mere fact that Mex
leo says a treaty would be IN contra
diction Of certain articles in the con: on
stitution is an admission that the
Mexicans construe the famous article
"a complained Of by the United States
as confiscatory. Hitherto the Mexi-
cans have declined to admit that the
Mexican constitution was as drastic
as that in actual operation. but Sec.
retary Hughes has maneuvered the
Mexicans in the position Of proving
his point. In a nutshell. the situa-
tion has progressed point. The
Mexicans now admit that their con-
stitution confiscates foreign property
They have a way out, however: TneS
need not change their constitution
They can have their supreme courl
interpret the article in dispute as not
retroactive. Even then the United
States would insist on a treaty so as
to prevent any return to earlier In
terpretations.
Officials here aren't disturbed over
the situation. They believe the Mexi.
cans will eventually see the point and
give the requisite assurances. Talk OF
intervention proceeds as usual from
those with whom the wish is father to
the thought. But it can be stated
positively that coercive measures OF
military character are not even con-
sidered here as an alternative to a
Mexican refusal The real alternative
! is refusal to deal with the Obregon
regime and a patient waiting for a
new administration. President Wilson
waited till Huerta got out. The Mexi-
cans didn't believe it would be pos
sible for America to withhold recogni-
tion. Now it appears inevitable that
unless the Obregon administration
| makes treaty there will be another
period of watchful waiting.
internal Troubles Pend.
OF course. the danger of dissolu-
| ton inside Mexico is always presen,
finance itself or consolidate its domes.
tic elements And in such a period
Of tension untoward acts are likely
| to occur which may force the Ameri.
can governments hand In that sense
the interventionists may be pleased
over the turn which things have
! taken. for 1t looks as II the negotia.
ton will be prolonged. The uncertain
| factor is Gen. Obregon. II he proves
as stubborn as Carranza, the situa.
ton may be regarded as one that will
lead to eventual friction and grave
trouble. If he proves as flexible as his
friends claim he is. there will be a
solution proposed from the Mexican
end which will make article twenty
seven forever imperative SO far, as
lands held prioTto 1917 are concerned
When once that obstacle is overcome
the making Of the treaty would be-
come a routine affair and recognition
would be automatic
Copyright tsH.)