Evening star., 1923-12-30

merits as 1t arose, or that the present
situation in Mexico and the desire
OF the United States government to
see stable government maintained
there and insurrectionary outbreaks
discouraged. justified departure
from previous policy.
There isslittle doubt that the deci-
sion to sell arms to Mexico met with
some opposition in the War Depart
ment Army officials would not talk
Of the matter for publication. how
ever. Whatever they may feel as to
the policy involved, they have no
function Of advice except In purely
military matters, and in the present
case probably have not been called
upon to say anything more than that
the Army had in storage surplus
stocks Of arms sufficient to meet
Mexican requirements without de-
pIeting necessary reserve stocks for
the American forces.
Significance Is attached to the
clause in the State Departments brief
statement calling attention to the re-
cent restoration of diplomatic rela-
tions between Mexico and the United
States. The Obregon government
already has procured ratification by
the Mexican senate of the special
claims convention, one of the two
pacts worked out by a joint commits
sion to pave the way for formal dip.
lomatic recognition by the United
States.
Expect Early Ratification.
State Department advices today
said that the second convention,
known as the general claims conVen-
ton, had been taken up formally I9r
discussion by the Mexican senaie. e ae
was evident that early ratification or
the second convention also was eA-
pected in official circles.
Up to the present time the WASH.
ington administration has maintained
complete silence as to its views re-
garding the uprising against the
Ohregon government in Mexico. Al
the same time, however, great EN-
phasis has been paid In all recent
official communications with LAtin
American countries and in the pubic
addresses Of Secretary Hughes, whicn
touched on the policies of the United
States toward Latin America, upon
the extreme importance attaoheo IN
Washington to stability Of the other
governments of the Pan-American
group.
In this connection officials privately
have indicated their beltef that tne
de la Huerta uprising had never as
closed itself as being in any true
ican people, or any large portion OF
the people, were attempting 10
change either their form OF govern
ment or their government omclais.
The official reports reaching the
State Department from many parts
of Mexico on the progress of the
de la Huerta movement have In gen
eraI had a contrary view of the stu
alton, indicating specifically In some
cases the opini9pn o. Che consuia5 man IN the m
street" in Mexico was holding aloot
from the revolt, and that the strug,,
gle was one between political ana
military leaders and their Immediate
followers.
Best Government In Years
It also has been pointed out that
for the first time in many years Mex
point-w,th the entering OF the
Obregon regime into power ana It's
final agreement in the claims cor. .
yentions to meet the American point
ers in Mexico-where a reasonable
degree of peace and continued staoil-
| ity of government was to be expect
ed. The whole policy OF succe edlng
administrations In Washing ton: IL Is
curing such conditions beyond the
border, and the decision to make
available to the Mexican government
a reasonable amount. of war material
from American surplus Army stocks
is understood to be in accordance
with the feeling of the Washing
ton government that peace in Mexico
can hest be served by aiding TO this
! extent in the restoration OF order by
| the recognized government OF eha'
| country.