The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-06-28
PLEASED But
NOT SATISFIED
Obregon's Published Dec
laratiOn Pleasing to
Administration
SHOULD GIVE US.
BINDING TREATY
II Maxic0 VIII Pledge Itself Not to
MIKE Article 81 Retroactive This
Government VIII Recognize ObregOn-
Can't Escape This Condition.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer) |
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON. June 2S.-Anexico' S
pronouncement of policy just made by
President Oregon through the medium
of a signed statement in the New York
World had been carefully studied by the
United States government and while
there has not been and will not be any
official comemnt. nevertheless the view
point of the department of state turns
entirely on one paragraph in which
Obregon says:
Not only have we made repeated and
official declaration that article ~ would
not be given retroactive effect but we
have forbidden any action whatsoever
that might give any such appearance.
If President ObregOn is Sincere in
making that statement. what objection
has he to Incorporating its substance in
a treaty with the United States! Upon
the answer to that question rests the en-
tire American contention and officials OF
the department of state insist that there
is no other obstacle in the way of recOg-
milton of Oregon and the re-establish-
ment of friendly relations with Mexico
than actual understanding of that one
point
The Washington government expressed
itself informally today as highly graft
fed with the assurances given by PreSl-
dent Obregon on the paragraph quoted
above as indicating Mexican policy but
until such a declaration Is made in sub
stantial form to the United States gov
eminent it can have no validity. 1t was
not denied at the department of state
that Mexico had once before given aSSur-
anCc that article - of the Mexican con-
Stitution governing oil leases would not
be retroactive but it was also pointed
out that since that assurance was given
the CarranZa regime issued DEGREES which
were plainly retroactive. While those
DEGREES were never enforced 1t Is also a
fact that they never were withdrawn and
that they stand on the records as a club
that can be used by any Mexican preSi-
dent at any time he desires. Tt is pre-
CiScly because one Mexican executive
would interpret the constitution in one
way and another would feel free to in
tcTpret in another way that Secretary
Hughes has asked for a treaty between
the two countries 50 that a violation of
it could not be regarded as the mere re-
pudiation of previous administration
but the breaking of a solemn pact be
tween the two countries.
The department of state wishes to
know why it is that the Mexican gov
eminent is so ready to give assurances
to American newspapers that article %
is not and will not be construed as retro
active but is unwilling to make such a
declaration t. the United States govern
ment in a form that will be permanently
bearing on Mexico. The inference which
officials are inclined to convey is that Mex
leo wishes to have American public opin-
ion believe the hard-hearted American
government is depressing her while at the
same time the Obregon regime processes
to be willing to meet every demand made
by the United States government. The
state department here is not interested
in the form of any declaration that may
be made but in the substance. There
may be a way out when Mexico enacts
law actually giving the meaning of the
famous article ~. In President Obre
CONS statement he promises in effect &c
have a law passed which viii Include
no destructive nor .cOnfiScatory feature.
in Interpreting the constitution. The
government here is pleased to note that
promise but prefers to await the actual
fultillment of the promise before play
ing the one card at the disposal cmfwyT
ing the one card at its disposal at pres
ent, namely formal recognition of the
Obregon regime as a dc facto or de lure
government. The ObregOn statement in
dicates that there may be more delay in
passing the law. That means also de
lay at this end in extending recognition