Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-29
Monday, May -, 1922.
MEXICO STILL WoBRLY

While Russia has not gotten away
with its bolshevik program of con-
fscation, the prospect evidently. as
presented by the propagandists to
the Mexicans. is having its effect.
The Washington Post. which by
the way is very friendly to the pres
ent administration, declares that the
state Of affairs in Mexico goes from
bad to worse.
THE DISCUSSES adopted by the OBJ
RECON regime to cover bolshevist OPP
erations have been thrown off in
many instances. and 1t is now evil
dent that Mexico Is in the hands of
individuals who are as rapacious and
as communistic as the Russian reds.
Their method of operations is the
same in some cases. Russian agents
have taught Mexican officials many
tricks Of communism. The element
of honest communism. which makes
zealots of some Russians. does not
appear in Mexican bolshevism. In
Mexico communism is not so much
a political belief as it Is method
OF confiscation of property for the
benefit OF the confiscators.
THE United States government
has received abundant reports OF the
spread of bolshevism throughout
Mexico under the Obregon regime
Mexicans OF good standing have
made confidential reports showing
the ruthless methods of depriving
owners of their properties. which are
then divided among the officials and
their friends. Haciendas, ranches,
mines. forest and grazing ranges,
factories, oil properties, and other
valuable properties are in process
OF connscation. The owners may be
Anne ricans, Mexicans. or Europeans
hut the process of spoilation is the
same. There is sometimes an ap-
pearance of legal procedure under
the so-called agrarian law. and
sometimes a concocted claim OF dis
puted title. and sometimes fraudu-
lent strike or claim Tor laporers
wagaA. but in all cases the result Is
the Nonfiscation of the property ana
its division among the parties who
hold official position. The officials
Installed for the protection OF the
ncople are the despoilers. There Is
No recourse. as an appeal to other
officials brings nothing but further
oscillation If there is any property
left.
."Thc conditions in which Mexlcans
End themselves are so intoleraple
that uprisings against Obregon >
rule are reported in many parts Oh
the country. These movements are
snontaneous and disconnected. Ihus
far the Obregon organization mas
been able to suppress these revo'ts'
hut as they grow more numerous
and formidable the defectlons from
obregon's army threaten to weaken
his military power to the point where
he may be overthrown. The lack
~ leader who can bring revolu-
,ion,ry movements into one effort
.ooms 10 be the only reason for OBJ
,eron's continued lease of power.
The other day it was announced
that the Mexican supreme court hao
rendered a very important decision
which wa. likely to lead to recognl-
tion by the United States. The &c
cision was to the effect that a lessee
Of lands. the lease dating prior to
the adoption of the Mexican constl-
tuition. March /, 1917, has an ac-
ouired right which is unaffected oy
the naturalization of the petroleum
resources. This being the fifth de-
cision of like character, and hve de-
cisions being considered to establish
a precedent under the Mexican prac-
tice it has been thought by some to
meet the objections which have re-
strained the United States from &C
cording Mexico recognition. 1t was
significant that the state department
officials at Washington were reticent
and refused to comment until fur
ther advised.
All along those officials have In
sisted that all they ask is assurance
that the rights of Americans legiti-
mately acquired in Mexico shall not
lie conhscated. Secretary Hughes
words were:
Whenever Mexico Is ready to give
assurances that she will perform her
fundamental obligation IN the pro-
lection both OF persons and OF rights
of property validity acquired. there
will be no obstacles to the most ad-
yantareous relations between the two
peoples"
Mexico has been asked to sign
treaty in which she would agree to
safeguard those rights. This she has
not done. one reason advanced by
friends OF the Obregon government
being that for the present at least
it must not appear that Obregon is
yielding to any pressure from the
United States. otherwise he would
lose his political grip on the situa-
ton. Furthermore. the decision
above referred to isn't comprehen-
sive enough to provide safeguards
against confiscation Of other than oil |
lands. the owners of which in many |
instances are said to be having ex-
ceedingly difficult relations with the
Oregon government.