The daily times., 1921-09-03
MEXICO THINKS
The Contention of the United
States That Article Twenty
Seven Ought Not to Be Re-
troactive Has Been Upheld
by the Mexican Supreme
Court Decision.
(By David Lawrence)
Copyright 1921, by The Daily
Times.


Washington, Sept. 2.-Mexico's
chance of recognition are better to-
| day as a result of her Supreme
| Courts decision on the famous ar
| ticle twenty seven CT the Mexican
constitution.
The United States had proposed
that a treaty be signed by Mexico
absolutely safeguarding American oil
rights. President Obregon felt that to
concede Americas request would
give the impression that he was
yieldingeto foreign influence. Never
theless the American government in
sisted that either article twenty sew
en- was retroactive or it was not and
that Mexico should say formally sld
! irrevocably which was the case
America suggested a treaty because
it would always be binding. Mexico
however has found another way
namely a Supreme oCurt decision.
Heretofore oil men have not had
much faith in the decisions of Mexi-
cos supreme court because of the
frequent reversals of Judgment Now
however, the Mexicans claim their
! is appointed by the executive but all
the judges are elected by Congress
and only one third is elected at one
time so the court maintains a certain
ir,d nf oh
This method of election was provided
under the new constitution and deci-
sion just handed down is really the
first of it's kind. 1t will have an i'm
cause if the Supreme Court does not
reverse itself there will be much
more faith in its integrity.
1t is true that America asked that
treaty which had to be signed be-
fore recognition would be extended.
The American government will not
stand on technicalities. 1t is inter
form. In effect the contention of the
United States that article twenty
seven ought not to be retroactive has
been absolutely upheld. The Supreme
Court 70 Mexico agrees entirely with
the United States in pointing out
that lands obtained prior to the max
ing of the constitution are safe from
confiscation
nhroOnn'S h N O
he would not sign treaty is taken
to mean that he refers to the points
cleared up by the Supreme Court de-
/ cision. The Mexican President, how
lever, had previously indicated his
willingness to adjust by treaty a
number of pending questions such as
claims growing out of the revolutions
in Mexico. An agreement on these
points will not be difficult to accom-
lplish and it may be that some broad
reference to the protection of lives
! and property in the future may be
urged as a means of satisfying pub
lie opinion on this side of the Rio
Grande for while the United States
government wants to be as consider
ate as possible in making it easy for
President Obregop to handle his own
political situation there is also a
problem in Washington. For inside
the Republican administration are
men like Secretary Fall who reflects
an extreme attitude toward Mexico,
men like Secretary Hughes who is
interested in seeing legal questions
adjusted on a sound basis and Presi-
dent Harding who is eager that
; Americas relation to Mexico shall be
friendly so that complicatinos with
European countries may be avoided.
The situation is in such shape that
a standing on forms and pride may
drive the two nations apart whereas
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