Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-25
MEXICO NOT READY
To BE RECOGNIZED

CITY OF MEX1CO.-Recogn
is the one thing that Mexico talks
about. Yet Mexico is not yet ready
to be recognized.
Nine out of ten Americans here
talk recognition to the stranger. The
tenth man hits at it. When a vis1-
tory meets a Mexican the chances
are that s::1e Mexican brings up the
topic. The editorial pages are full
Of it. Not long ago there was a ire
mendous furry in the papers. 1t
was suggested that recognition was
only a few days away. Events later
proved there was no foundation for
the report. 1t had been made on the
premises for political reasons.
There are two major reasons why
recognition by the United States &C.
cupies so large a place in the Mex
lean public mind.
The first is that it has been made
a plaything Of Mexican politicians.
The Mexican politician is about the
same sort that politicians every
where else are. He makes capital
out of whatever comes his way. To
say that another politician is pro-
Gringo is in Mexico about what it
was to say that another politician
was pro-German. The facts in the
case are not examined. The man
stands condemned.
Prosperity Awaits Recognition
The second reason is that Mexico
has been taught by her politicians
and newspapers to believe that a
flood Of prosperity will follow recog-
milton. 1t is perfectly understood
that Great Britain and France will
recognize Mexico as soon as the
United States does. 1t is assumed
that enormous sums Of money can
be borrowed to set MeXico's more or
less moribund industries on their
feet. Her railroads need rails and
rolling stock. The foreign bankers
are believed to be anxious to supply
the money with which to meet the
needs.
''Then why not accept the terms
upon which Washington has indi-
Gated that recognition will be grant
ed?" one asks.
"They are insulting your Mex
icon friends say. "These terms are
a slap in the face Of sovereign
nation"
AS a matter of fact, Washington
has merely demanded that Mexico
pledge herself to the same observa
ton of the rights of property and
the protection Of life that civilized
nations grant everywhere. This fact
has been misrepresented by many of
the Mexican politicians, precisely as
Senator Whoosis may misrepresent
the action of the opposite political
party in our own United States. But
the underlying reason for this mis-
representation-in the opinion of
many Of the Americans here's the
Mexican conviction that under Car.
rama Mexico definitely got the bet
ter OF the United States.
Had Best of Notes"
Mexico had the best of every ex-
change Of notes under the Wilson ad.
ministration," your Mexican friends
will tell you.
It is not important whether or not
this belief is well based. 1t is i'm
portant that all Mexico believes it.
Luis Cabrera, who wrote Carranza's
notes, was a skilled controversation.
alist. His replies to Mr.. Wilson's
notes were adroit warnings Of Mex
: lean susceptibilities. Not one Amer
lean in a thousand remembers any
thing about these notes. Almost
every well-educated and Intelligent
Mexican remembers the exchanges
well enough to talk upon them well.
MexicanS Assume Victories
To the Mexican mind this as
sumed victory is of great import
ance. The average man and editor
believes that the case of the Gringo
was not only weak but poorly set
forth. Add to this the conviction Of
the average Mexican that the Amer
lean military efforts during the Will
son administration resulted in Mex
lean victories and you have the lrea-
son for the cockiness with which he
regards the United States today. He
believes, for he has been told, that
the reason why General Pershing's
expeditions dried up after advancing
few miles across the Mexican bor-
der was that the American military
chiefs dared not go farther. He
firmly believes that the unfortunate
Vera Cruz affair resulted in the
same sort of Mexican victory.
Obregon knows better, of course.
So do the chiefs of his administra-
ton. But the man in the street
does not, and some cabinet members
do not hesitate to play anti-Gringo
politics. The average Mexican be-
Heves that as his country's chiefs
out-generaled the United States both
in diplomacy and in the field the per-
formance can be- repeated. He sees
no reason why any concession should
be made to country like the
United States, which can by turns
be fooled and whipped. If this at
ritude seems absurd, rer1lem that
four men out of five in Mexico are
abs: lutcly unedIcated Indians, who
are helpless in the hands CT expert
demae ogues.
Mare than that, the demands
which will be made by the United
States are unp!easing. There are
something like 1900 American lives
to be accounted for, and American
property to the value of millions to
be paid for. Mexico is poor today.
Her various business enterprises
have gone to pot and her government
is not getting enough money to pay
the running expenses. Any debt is
unwelcome to a debtor confronted by
such conditions. Especially is a debt
due the Gringoes for life and looted
property unwelcome, for it must not
be forgotten that the Mexican does
not like the American. And he can
give chapter and verse for his fail
ure to love, too.
Mexico's Refusal Popular
For these reasons the refusal of
the Obregon government to assent
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