Evening star., 1923-04-21
Protection of Rights of For
eigners Pledged, Removing
Main Bar to Recognition.
OFFICIAL Statement
is EXPECTED SHORTLY
Months of Negotiations Believed
About to Bear Fruit as u. S.
Views Are Given Obregon.

Tie long controversy between the
United States and the Obregon gov
ernment IN Mexico has reached a
stage regarded in some official quar-
ters as forecasting an early complete
agreement.
Renewed assurances regarding the
protection of the rights of foreigners
in the southern republic, all along the
chief stumbling block in the way of
recognition of Obregon by this gov
ernment, have been sent to Washing
ton and apparently have been receiv-
ed by officials here as an important
step in the right direction.
The views of Washington on the
subject have been made known to
tCharge Summerlin of the American
embassy in Mexico City and discus
sions are in progress there which are
expected to lead to public an
nouncement within Il few days.
Treaty Is Ready.
Ever since 1921 draft treaty pro-
posing a renewal of good relations
between Washington and Mexico and
involving recognition of the Obregon
regime by the United States has been
In Mr.. Summerlins hands awaiting
signature at the moment satisfactory
guarantees have been given in re-
gard to American rights. Whether
that time has come officials here will
not say.
It is known. however. that legisIa-
tion pending in the Mexican chamber
of deputies, designed to so apply ar
ticle NXE1 of the Mexican constitu
tion that it will not be retroactive.
is regarded by Obregon officials, at
least. as embodying the sort of guar
antee the United States has request
ed. That opinion has been made
known to this government through
the Mexican embassy here in COM
prehensive reStatement of the whole
Mexican side of the case.
Article ~ Involved.
For many months the controversy
which has prevented recognition has
revolved about article ~. which has
been regarded here as confscatory of
American holdings in Mexico unless
it were SO interpreted by statute as
TO exclude any possibility OF its ap
plication retroactively. Without that
positive interpretation, it has been
felt, the article might easily be in
voked to cancel American concessions
granted before the constitution was
adopted.
Recently a number of Mexican su
preme court decisions bearing on the
disputed clause were forwarded to
Washington by Mexico City as evi
tory policy was contemplated. These
fecisions were found unsatisfactory.
however. and 1t was reiterated that
the guarantees to be given must be
of a different character.
President Is Hopeful.
The draft treaty submitted by the
United States in 1921 contained ex-
plicit provisions for the protection of
American rights against confiscation,
but heretofore President Obregon has
taken the position that he could not
sign under existing circumstances.
Some changes in the wording of sew
eral parts of the document have been
,suggested and these, together with
the legislation recently brought for
ward in the Mexican congress. are
said to have brought the viewpoints
of the two capitals much nearer to-
gether.
Yesterday at the White House it
was said that President Harding re-
earded the Mexican situation as i'm
proving daily, and it was learned
today that he had formulated that
opinion after being fully informed by
Charge Teller of the Mexican en-
bassy regarding the latest moves at
Mexico City. In addition to personal
conferences with the President and
Secretary Hughes, Mr.. Teller is un-
GerStood to have presented recently
in a more concrete way a detailed
exposition of the position and inten-
tions of President Obregon and his
advisers.
In response. the views of the United
states were communicated to Charge
Summerlin at Mexico City several
days ago. The nature of the COM
munication has been guarded closely.
Meantime however, both at the State
Department and the White House the
attitude has been one of growing
optimism that the whole trouble
~
rapidly toward a final solution.
During the preparation of legisla-
ton to carry article XXVII into effect
charge Summerlin has been in con-
karence repeatedly with Mexican Off
cials, although it is emphasize here
that he has in no way attempted
TO interfere with any Of the internal
affairs of the southern republic. He
merely has given his opinion, it is
said. as to whether the language of
The law proposed would be regarded
by the United States as embodying
a proper guarantee of American
rights.
Some time ago conferences of this
character regarding a law then under
debate led to an outburst of anti
american feeling on the floor of the
Mexican congress. and Secretary
hughes issued a statement explaining
in detail the position Of the Washing
ton government.
we nave repeatedly SAID, the
statement said. that we are not par
ticular as to the form Of the assurance
against confiscation.
THE Mexican congress Is entitled
to pass its laws. But if they resort
TO legislation to interpret the constf-
tuition of 1917 with the idea of pro
cludiEg confiscation and obtaining
recognition by this government it is
only fair that they should know the
views of this government as to the
efficacy of the legislation for that