Evening star., 1923-06-25
MEX|CANS To CLEAR
AGRAR|AN PROBLEM
Land Question Alone Now
Delays Conference With
Americans.
By tie Aesociated Press

BY tie Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, June 25.--While
President Obregon was understood
to be considering the formula for the
solution of the subsoil question as
drawn up by the recognition commits
sion last week the Mexican commits
sioners today planned to present
concrete offer covering the agrarian
issue. which is the remaining obstacle
before the conference.
The United States commissioners
are known to have stood for the
recognition of the rights of ali Amer
lean land owners to titles in their
property regardless Of whether they
had previously declared an intention
Of tx rsxpioiting II for petroleum:
tended that the rights of petroleum
companies and individuals who had
sought oil or who had declared their
,he s swe Of f for s : nass sn
1909, were still intact and that all
others were without petroleum rights
except those who had complied with
legislative deorees subsequent to the
adoption OF the 1917 constitution.
Represents People.
Charles B. Warren. for the United
States. insisted that his government
was not championing the rights of
the oil companies. but was repre-
senting the American people. 1t
therefore could not discriminate be-
tween the land owners who had ex-
ercised the right TO explore for oil
and those who had not.
The Agrarian problem still hinges
on the method of compensation to
persons whose properties have been
appropriated.
Mexico up to this time has insisted
/, Hat n nj ~ To- IN
of national debt and should there
fore he paid with bonds. Mr. Warren
contended that the President OF the
United States Is incompetent, as trus-
tee for the properties Of Americans,
to accept bonds. inasmuch as this
would establish = precedent jeopar-
dfztng American interests through
out the world. He pointed out that
any country might then appropriate
property of United States citizens,
onering In payment bonds which
would possibly be worthless.
Seizure of Lands.
Although not objecting to expropri-
alton Legislation bestowing COM
munal lands on villages, Mr.. Warren
objected to excesses committed
throughout the republic under the
color of agrarian laws. pointing to
estimates that two-thirds of the
American properties seized had thus
DeeH taken liiesaliy. tOllOWlnS clta-
tions of numerous Illegal seizures. the
Mexican government, at Mr.. warren's s
request, has already ordered restora-
ton of number of such holdings,
the most notable being the Corralitos
ranch at Chihuahua
When the agrarlan petroleum ques-
tions are cleared uo finally it is felt
here that recognition will follow
within fortnight after the American
commissioners have reported TO Presi-
dent Harding
The extension of recognition would
be with the understanding that Mex
leo conclude soon thereafter two
claims conventions. one providing
for settlement of American claims
arising from the revolution. the sec
ond, for an adjustment of Mexican
claims against the United States be-
fore a competent tribunal.
In contrast to the atmosphere of
hostility toward the United States
that has prevailed here in recent
years, the press today Is displaying
an air of hopefulness. and there is
evident desire for a composition of
tho differences between the two ma
tions.