The New York herald., 1921-02-06
MEXICAN TANGLE
WILL FACE NEXT
ADMINISTRATION
Mexico City Declines to
Meet Colby's Request for
Joint Commission.
WANTS RECOGNITION
Washington Insists First
on Guarantees and Ad-
Indication of Claims.
ARTICLE XXVII. QUOTED
Conflicting Viewpoints on Its
Meaning and Effect
Compared.
ARTICLE XXvII. QUOTED
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., Feb. 3.

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Feb. 8.
With President Obregon of Mexico
and Bainbridge Colby. the American
Secretary of State, taking positions
that are Numerically opposed, there
is apparently little hope of the Mead-
can tangle being unravelled during the
life of the present Administration. Re-
ports reaching here to-day from Mex
leo city quoted Obregon as reiterating
that Mexico would not seriously con-
slider Mr.. Colby's proposal of joint
commission to negotiate treaty pre-
paratory to recognition of the Obregon
Government by the United States.
when Mexico is recognized there
must be no strings attached to the
recognition" Obregon is reported to
have said. Secretary Colby's proposal
that commissioners be appointed to
negotiate a treaty will not be consid-
cred. Mexico will prove to the world
her honesty of purpose, not by words
but by deeds"
Obstacles to Recognition.
Inasmuch as Secretary Colby's last
letter to Roberto V. Pesqueira, confid-
dental agent of Mexico, left no room
for doubt that the United States con-
siders II necessary that verbal promises
of Mexico's representatives be reduced
to the more tangible form of a treaty,
1t would seem that the problem OF Mexi-
can recognition is to be added to the
already lengthy list of international
questions which will confront Mr.. Har-
ding when he assumes the Presidency.
The obstacles in the way of recogni-
ton are Mexicos apparent unwilling
ness to give satisfactory guarantees Tor
the protection of the lives and property
of Americans in Mexico and her failure
to cooperate In the formation OF joint
commission to adJudicate claims OF hun
dreds of Americans for damages already
incurred.
Though prominent Mexican officials
have repeatedly asserted that Mexico Is
ready to do anything the American Gov
ernment may require In the way OF CIV
ing such guarantees, three months have
passed since Secretary Colby's letter
went forward. and no reply has yet been
received
sIt only remains" said Mr.. Colby In
concluding his letter TO Pesqueira, ito
give these understandings a form which
is usual in dealings between friendly
States, and / have the honor to sug-
rest. as our fruitful discussions draw to
a close, that commissioners be promptly
designated by both Mexico and the
United States to formulate treaty en-
bodying the agreements which have been
reached as the result of your successful
mission
Pesqueira's Viewpoint.
In a previous letter to Mr.. Colby. Pes
uueira had lauded President Wilson's
Mexican policy as a noble and pationt
ideaiis:n; asserted that both De La
Huerta and Obregon had repeatedly de-
clared publicly that Mexico will respect
all rightful claims duly proved as such.
submitting herself to the recognized
principles Of international law" and had
stated that Mexico "is prepared 10
establish a Joint arbitration commits
sion to pass upon and adjudicate the
claims presented by foreigners on ac-
count OF damages occasioned during
the revolution"
Reports to the state Department show
that approximately 900 American citi-
gems have been killed in Mexico since the
resignation OF President Porfirio Diaz.
May 25, 1911, and unofficial figures place
the number as high as $50. In the same
period more than 1000 claims have been
filed by American citizens against the
Government of Mexico. OF these more
than 40 per cent. were for damage to
property. In many instances no claims
were filed as the result of Americans
being killed.
Owing TO the fact that the amount of
damages often is not stipulated, IL is diff
hcult to estimate the total amount
claimed by Americans who represent
themselves as having suffered at the
hands Of Mexcans For example out OF
a group OF 772 claims alleging damages
70 property 11S did not specify the
amount The remaining 654 claimants
asked damages to the amount OF S22.-
s35,592 OF a group OF % claims filed
for alleged killing of American itizens
25 did not specify the amount OF dam
ages expected. The remaining as claim
ants asked for $2,s17.375 damages.
Eighty-sevcn claimants alleging injury
to the person asked damages totalling
s1,476.629. and 10 other claimants in the
group failed to specify the amounts they
believed to be due them.
Thus on a basis OF these incomplete
figures II appears that a total OF s2G-
629.597 is claimed in the 7s9 cases
wherein the amount OF damages was
specified. These figures. however. rep
resent only small part Of the total
claims held by Americans against Mex
leo. and II Il believed that an announce
ment OF the selection OF claims COM
mission would be the eignal for an
avalanche % claims to come down upon
the state Department
As the length OF time since the com.
mission OF the alleged crimes increases
Il will naturally be more and more diff
cult TO produce evidence IN support OF
these claims. IL is entirely probable that
many OF them eventually will be thrown
tut 10 Is the contention OF the United
states. however. that claimants must be
riven an opportunity TO present their
cases for adjudication. and until Mexico
formally agrees 10 this Il is extremely
unlikely that the Obregon Government
win be recognized. at least by the pres
ent Administration.
Confscntion OF Property.
Though negotiations have not pro
gressed far enough for details Of the
proposed joint commissions to be decided
upon. II Is probable that IL would be
small body with equal representation for
each OF the two countries. Two or three