Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-20
j, 5. And MEXICO
REPORTED
|, NEAR ACCORD
Only Present Hitch is Qua
rantee of American
Rights in Mexico
WANT TREATY FIRST
President Harding Insists on Under
standing But Mexican Executive
Balks at Any Sort Of Advance Pact

Washington, March 90 Rccogni-
tion by the Harding Administrators of
the Obregon government OF Mexico,
long delayed through refusal on the
part of that government to give guar
ant>cs for the protection Of American
property rights, now seems to be near.
1t has been learned from an unim-
pcachable authority that Washington
and Mexico City are in agreement as
to what need be done to assure recog-
milton and resumption Of diplomatic
relations, but they are ut odds only
upon the formula.
This Government insists that Mex
;. 20 give its guarantee in writing,
%lther by treaty or by protocol, that
American property in Mexico is not to
be subject to coniiscation on any pre-
text, and that guarantee be signed ana
delivered before recognition is ac-
corded.
General Obregon consents to this
program in part He is willing to
safeguard American rights and to do
50 by written compact, but he insists
that his regime be recognized in ad-
vance and that the treaty or protocol
be negotiated between his government
and that in Washington, each recog-
Eizing the sovereign status OF the
other.
Il is learned. furthermore, that this
stage of the informal negotiations has
been reached as result of direct com
munications which have passed be-
tween President Obregon and Presi-
don't Harding. Diplomatic relations
between the two countries having been
suspended, the Mexican Executive
felt at libertys.it lis now known, to
lay his case before Mr.. Harding per-
sonally.
1t can be stated with assurance,
however, the Harding Administration
is still disinclined to accord recogni-
ton to the government Of General
Obregon until the proposed treaty has
been signed This treaty, if it is
signed by the two governments, in
itself will constitute recognition, and
II will be followed almost immediate
by the dispatch of an ambassador
- Mexico City and by the formal
Heception of a Mexican ambassador
in Washington.
1t appears that General Obregon
hesitates to meet the demands of the
United States for the reason that he
IS not sure Of his strength with his
own Congress and his own people. 1t
seems confident that if he is recog-
nized by the United States in advance
of any concluded negotiations, and if
he is buttressed at home by that fact,
he will be able successfully to deal
with any opposition that may assert
itself against compact with the
United States involving property
rights.
1t ais oappears from advices that
have come to the White House and
State Department that General Obre-
gon will probably find himself strong
enough at home within a reasonably
short time to assent to the American
proposals. and, having achieved rec
ognition, will face his domestic enc
mics with q more than even chance to
beat them down.
As may be recalled, the whole issue
between the United States and Mex
leo at the present time is the clause
IN the Mexican constitution which au-
;horizes the contscation of all mineral
properties which the State may wish
n appropriate for the common good
l. : United States has never held
IL pc Mexican people could not
Hor and could not enforce any con-
Ititution which they might desire, but
= IL is held in Washington that no con-
!iscatory law such as is now in effect
should be retroactive. 1t is contended
for example, that Americans who
have acquired property in that coun-
try since the adoption of Mexican con-
stitution of 1918 naturally assume all
risks that might be involved and they
have no claim upon this Government
for protection.
But those Americans who held title
to property before the adoption Of the
constitution should not, in the view of
the American Government, be com.
PEELED to surrender any of their
rights as they existed before the new
organic law went into operation.
a recent decision of the Mexican
Supreme Court, holding broadly that
the constitution was not retroactive
and that the rights of foreigners were
not affected by the confscation clause
was thought for time to be sufficient
guarantee of American rights. 4
careful examination of this decision
however, plus the fact that the Mexi
can court might at any time reverse
the decision. caused the Adminstra
ton to hold back and to renew its de-
mand for a treaty before giving it:
moral support to the Obregon regime