Evening star., 1922-07-21
AWAIT EXECUTION
|OF OBREGON POLICY
U. S. Welcomes Steps to
Make Presidents Views on
Recognition Effective.
DEFINITE ACTION LACKING
Agreement Negotiated With New
York Bond Holders Still Lack
ing Approval.

given that the administration would
welcome the Mexican governments
taking Z whatever steps it deems
necessary TO make effective the pol
icieS to which President Obregon has
gwen utterance on questions which
are impeding recognition of that
government by the United States.
officials discussing the situation
yesterday alter the recent visit to
Washington of Adoifo de la Huerta,
Mexican minister of finance, empha-
sized that the American government
security of valid American titles in
Mexico to property of whatever ma
ture.
1t was explained that this was the
chief aim sought in the treaty OF
amity and commerce suggested to
President OzreSon fifteen months ago
by Secretary Hughes, but which the
former declined to accept. II the
security sought is accomplished
through regulatory acts of the Mex
lean congress or through decisions of
the Mexican supreme court interpret
ing article 81 Of the Mexican consti-
United States would be as well met
it was said.
Definite Action Lacking.
1t was pointed out that beginning
| with the rejection by Gen. Obregon OF
The proposed treaty on the ground that
he had no power to bind his govern
inent by treaty. on what amounted to
| an Interpretation of ambiguous pas
sageS in the Mexican constitution, def
mite action in Mexico to confirm agree
ments reached with American interests
in Mexico had thus far been lacking
in every case. 1t was implied in the
discussion of the treaty proposal that
the Mexican congress would enact reg
ulatory statutes making it clear that
article q of the Mexican constitution,
! providing for naturalization of min
| eral and other natural resources in
Mexico, would not be retroactive or i'm
peach the titles held by Americans to
, oil or other resources in Mexico and
which existed before the constitution
was adopted. Such regulatory statutes
still We're lacking, it was said.
Agreement Awaits Approval.
| More recently Mr.. de Ia Huerta ne
| gotiated an agreement with American
/ financierS in New York representing
! holders of bonds issued by the MeXi-
! can government which recognized the
| liability of the Mexican government for
| MeNicos external debts. The Ameri-
| can government had no part in those
negotiations. although it was kept in
| formed of what occurred. So far as the
| American government now knows. it
| was said, that agreement still awaits
| definite action of approval by the MeXi-
| can government.
| The negotiations between the
! Mexican government and American
| holders of oil interests in Mexico, it
was said, was in precisely the same
| situation. No definite action to af-
| firm the agreement had been taken
SO far as known by the Washington
government.
| Five Decisions Required.
| Still another case where definite
| knowledge was lacking, it was point
| n arfjn
| of the Mexican supreme court. said in
| an official bulletin issued by the MeXi-
can government to have definitely
declared Article 81 not to be retro
active in its effect on titles to natural
| resources obtained before that con-
stitution was adopted. 1t requires
five similar decisions by the Mexican
supreme court to establish a legal
precedent on point of constitution
ality or in the Interpretation of a
clause of the constitution. The two
recent decisions reported were said
| to have completed these five necessary
decisions. The State Department has
been unable thus far to obtain the
text of anN except the first decision
and that action by the highest Mexi-
can tribunal in it's written form has
| not been found on examination here
to satisfy entirely in it's scope the
points raised by the American gov
| ernment in regard to Americana owned
| titles in Mexico.
Not Yet Available.
| The texts of four subsequent de-
| cislonS have never been as yet avail
| able to the American embassy in Mexi-
| CO City.
| In view of this sequence of situa-
| tions. in which there is lacking any
| official information to show that def
! mite action has been taken by Mexico
! to confirm the announced friendly poll
cies, the attitude of the Washington
government was said to be that no
steps toward recognition We're now
/ possible. There is no disposition. how
ever, to question, the good faith of the
| Mexican government or to believe that
the various steps necessary to make
all these matters effective, resulting
! in clearing of the situation, will not
ultimately be taken in Mexico, and
| administration officials are very hone
! full of early action.
No Desire to Dictate.
So far as the question of the policy
of the Mexican government in regard
to natural resources in that country or
| as to other internal matters Is con-
| cerned, where American titles already
J perfected are not concerned, there is
| no desire in Washington. it is said.
| to attempt in any way to dictate. If
| 1t should be the desire of the Mexican
| government to enact such laws as in
| the judgment of officials here would
1 tend to exclude foreign capital from
the development of Mexico, that is
| held to be wholly the business of
| Mexico.
The questions at issue, it was en-
| phasized. revolves solely about titles
| obtained by Americans in Mexico un-
der previous Mexican laws and the
validity of which is not, in the Ameri-
! can view. to be questioned under any
subsequent change of internal policy
| by the Mexican government