Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-24
u. s. AND MEXICAN
| RELATIONS BETTER
Administration Holds Off
Recognition Looking to a
Permanent Settlement.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Mexico and the United States are
getting closer together.
Out Of the mass of misunderstand-
ings which has Characterised the re-
lations between the two countries
there will emerge soon an agreement
81 eater in its significance than mere
ly the extension of recognition
by one government to another
treaty of permanent friendship and
good will.
So much emphasis has been placed
upon the points of controversy Of
the past that an understanding of
what the Harding administration has
been striving to achieve in the Mex
lean situation unfortunately has been
impossible on either side of the inter-
national boundary.
The problem can be best understood
when It Is explained that, SO far as
milton, few people will doubt that
the Obregon government has brought
order out of chaos and that substan-
tial progress has been made toward a
return of normalcy. If 1t were mat
ter Of according recognition to 2 re-
Obregon would be recognized in
stantly. There is the friendliest dis
position toward him and his admin
istration.
On Broader Plane.
But President Harding and Secretary
Hughes are endeavoring to place the
whole matter on "a broader plane than
the settlement of affairs of the moment.
They want a settlement for all times
an understanding which will be so inn
pressive to the whole world that Mexico
and the United States will be considered
just as intimately related as if they
were bound by an alliance. Indeed the
meaning of the treaty which is under
consideration today Is one of friendship
between the peoples first of all, execut-
ed, of course, by their respective gov
ernments
Administrations change in the United
States as they do in Mexico. Recogni-
tion by a republican regime under Mr..
Harding might be withdrawn by dem
ocratic administration of a later day or
by another republican President. who
might be swayed by future contingencies.
Recognition is at best temporary
thing, dependent upon the development
of good or bad relations and the accu-
States government is asking Mexico to
sign Is reciprocal treaty of friendship,
which will cover all the fundamentals in
controversy today and make an enduring
settlement treaty which nobody on
either side OF the Rio Grande can af-
ford to disregard.
Would Remove Bugaboo.
The bugaboo of military interven-
{or
the part of Americans in Mexico
has kept relations between the two
countries unsteady. It is sought to
remove once and for all these fac
tors SO that. every Mexican admin
istration will be sure Of equitable
treatment at Washington.
There are, of course, many persons
in the United States who feel that
President Obregon's record is not
OF the best They have been trying
to persuade the American govern
ment that recognition should be
withheld. And it is explained by
those In authority that the situation
is viewed on an Impersonal basis.
for the agreement is to be between
the peoples of the two countries and
oA6AASN W "AA0SSSSi ASAoh 40
in. supreme authority at the time.
Recognition was accorded the Car
rama government in the past when
1t had much. less control of the situa-
tion than the obregon government
has today.
From the American governments
viewpoint, the question Of recognition
IL incidental. II Mexico and the
United States shall sign the pending
treaty OF apity and commerce, recog-
milton automatically will go into ef-
feet. The signing of the reciprocal
treaty Is recognition and ambassadors
will be exchanged promptly even in
advance Of ratification by the Ameri-
can Senate. No difficulty may be an
ticipated on that score, for the senti-
ment in Congress here is such that II
Mexico and the United States could
sign a treaty of friendship it would
be assured of ratification.
Time has worked changes both IN
Washington and Mexico City. There
is no disposition here to stand out for
one form as against another. 1t Is the
substance which is sought. And in
Mexico the fact that the United States
government seeks no privilege BY
l treaty which It. IL not willing to give
to Mexico 10 being made apparent
with every day. of waiting. The All
has been cleared by the lapse OF time
and tho two governments are ap-
preaching an understanding at, last.
tOepyrisht. as22l