Evening star., 1921-09-14
Editorial Digest.
Is Obregon Right?

Is 0bregon Right?
The American press on the whole
is in hearty sympathy with the dec
laration Of President Obregon, in his
message to the Mexican congress,
that the treaty asked of him by Sec
retary Hughes is neither possible,
convenient nor necessary" Such
treaty. these papers feel. would in ef-
feet create special privilege for
American interests, and Obregon is
| therefore justified in refusing to ne
gotiate it. Most editors on this side
of the border take the view that the
recent decision of the supreme court
of Mexico. declaring that the pro-
vision of the constitution which re-
| serves subsoil rights to the Mexican
government cannot be regarded as
retroactive, substantially grants the
contention of American property
| holders in Mexico, and removes the
quently. a renewed demand in our
papers for recognition of the Obregon
government. A minority opinion
| holds that while the court ruling Is
gratifying and eases the situation
| considerably. it contains no guaran-
| tees for future development in Mexico
| by foreigners, and that q treaty must
be made which will fully protect
American investors.
clear in his message "that his ad-
ministration does not propose sur
| rendering the sovereignty which Mex
| leo as free nation must RETAIN, ana
the New York Globe Independently
feels that "disinterested American
]
American State Department. the New
| York World (democratic) thinks,
has only stiffened his determination
not to sign the treaty demanded Of
him." and he deserves the respect Of
He states explicitly. the Louisville
Courier-Journal (democratic) points
out, that his reasons for refusing to
| be part Of the suggested treaty Is
that "he will neither abase himself
the dictation of Washington"
| AS the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch
| independent democratic) sees 1t, I'm
sistence on recognition and protection
for the rights of our nationals Is one
thing; demanding special rights and
privileges and generally playing the
bully would be quite another thing:
and since special privilege for Ameri-
cans was what our diplomats were
after" the Minnesota Star (Minneap-
oils, independently is heartily glad
! termined not to yield" Besides, the
Chattanooga Times independent demo-
cratic) suggests, ''it might have oc-
Cured to Obregon that 1t Is bad form
to make treaties with governments
whose legal existence" is not recog-
nized.
| But nobody knows better than
Mexican politician" says the Detroit
Free Press independently. that there
are several ways of deprivins feline
of it's hide and it entertains "the
brought some benign influence to bear
on the judges" of the supreme court
| to accomplish by means OF decision
what he refused to concede in terms
of a treaty. since while the concession
is not in precisely the form demanded
by the administration, the substance
Of the thing required is to be found
| in the pronouncement OF the court.
The Sioux City Journal (republican)
speaks of this decision as "a crutch
limp into the effulgent light of inter-
national recognition" and the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer independent demo-
cratic) considers it "obliging" of the
Mexican supreme court to translate
| "Obregon's amiability' into terms of
u court decision.
The court ruling. the New York
Tribune (republican) finds. removes
danger of confscation under titles
secured in the past" But. it asks,
! has the decision gone far enough?
| Does it safeguard the future?' AS the
philadelphia Public Ledger( independ-
ent) interprets the decision, tt leaves
the policy of naturalization OF oil
| and other resources untouched. and
unsolved," and since that "bolshevist"
policy is the tallest hurdle between
| the Mexicans and recognition" the
l "dnpS dira0flv
in bringing Washington around to
| the recognition Of the Obregon gov
ernment." In fact. it may even have
made matters worse. the Columbus
lohio) Dispatch independently sus-
| still insist that the same principle
be explicitly recognized in treaty
form." the Mexicans may readily in
! terpret that ''as direct indictment
of the validity and good faith of
1 Mexican supreme court decisions" and
IF Obregon persists in refusing such
a treaty." the Buffalo Express Cnde-
pendent republican, remarks. 'he will
not be recognized His outbreak de-
| nouncing the proposals made by the
United States for a treaty of COM
meree and amity." the Baltimore News
Independently feels, docs not help the
situation" because it's effect lis to
diminish confidence in Obregon him.
SELF" His attitude in that matter,
however, the Syracuse Herald Gnde-
| pendent) interprets as q political
gesture" and it predicts that despite
this message and the feeling in Mex
leo, q treaty will be signed when the
time comes"
| But the Arizona Republican (Phoe-
nix. independent progressively de-
clares that 1.-The Mexican courts have
given to American petroleum inter-
ests all that they could reasonably de-
| mand." leaving US. as the st. Louis
Post-Dispatch independently sees us.
| 'in the position Of having distrusted
the other sides umpire. who never
| theless awards US the game by q
score Of 8 to o."