The labor world., 1922-03-25
MEXICAN Government SHOULD Be
RECOGNIZED, DECLARES COMPERS
BY SAMUEL GOMPERS.

BY SAMUEL GOMPERS. -
Gin the American Federationist.)
For more than a year the present
government of Mexico, elected in
what was undoubtedly the fairest
election Mexico has ever had, has
been in power and has maintained
in Mexico degree of public order
that. compares favorably with the
degree Of public order maintained
in any other country.
If the state department of the
United States is operating under the
formula laid down by former Presi-
dent Wilson in his refusing to rec
ognize the usurper the dictator
Huerta, as it seems to be, the admin
istration Of President Obregon has
undoubtedly met all the require
ments of that formula and is en-
titled to recognition.
1t is true that the Uniteds States
government, through the state de-
'partment, has asked the government
of Mexico to enter into a treaty prior
to the extending of recognition. 1t
must be admitted, however, that the
the better of the argument on this
point. 1t sets forth that it cannot
in honor enter into an agreement
which would compel it to do those
things which it intends to do and is
doing. This position is one which
commands the respect of those who
are not in downright opposition to
everything Mexican,
1t is contended, furthermore, that
such a treaty even if entered into
would be ridiculous proceeding, in
asmuch as a treaty with an unrec-
ognized. government-and that is
What the American state department
is seeking-would be, after all, a
worthless instrument unless ratified
by the Mexican government follow
ing recognition.
Americans who are not prejudiced
one way or another by a desire to
get possession of Mexican natural re-
sources upon the most, favora BILE
terms and conditions, are coming
more and more to the conclusion
that there has been something more
than diplomacy at work in the re-
lations between the two countries
1t is ae.fact beyond dispute that
American capitalists have sought to
shape the policy of the United States
In such a manner as to bring to
American investors the largest DOS
sible return. When these investors
felt that intervention in Mexico
would be a~good thing for them, they
for IN
ly it evidently has been their con-
vlction that by attempting to retard
the granting of recognition they
could wiring larger concessions. and
more favorable investment terms
from the Mexican government.
1T is quite possible that the COM
plete story of the intrigues of Amer
ican bankers, American oil inter-
ests~ and American investors and
would-be investors in Mexican min
eral, land and timber resources, will
never be known. Sufficient is
known, however, to make certain
the fact that the amount Of intrigue
has been much larger than that Of
which we have knowledge.
In this connection it is interesting
to note the curious conduct of Will
lam Randolph, Hearst. through his
various newspapers. in now attack
ing and exposing the National AS
sociation for the Protection of Amer
lean Rights'in Mexico, the principal
organized exponent of American i'm
perialism in Mexico and the prin-
cipal organized appetite for -Mexi-
can oil and other natural wealth.
1t is being shown that represent
tatives of this organization engaged
in an intrigue for the fomenting of
an armed rebellion against the gov
ernment of President Obregon, the
leader of which was to have been
General Pablo Gonzalez. OF course,
If this plan had succeeded, Gonzalez
would have become president Of
Mexico and the service tool of the
American investment interests.
At about the time when the Ma
tional Association for the Protection
of American Rights in Mexico is
shown to have engaged in conversa-
ton with General Gonzalez, with a
view to the overthrow of the estab-
lished government in Mexico, the
American Federationist published a
detailed expose Of that association
and made clear its purpose and the
chara cter Of it's operations. In the
A M or>ica n -TCc1oro fionis% for r,,-n