The Washington times., 1924-02-11
FULL RELATIONS
WITH MEXICO
IMMINENT
Oil Lease Scandal Limits
Choice of Possibilities
For Ambassador.
BY GEORGE e. DURNO, !,
International News Service.


President Coolidge is preparing to
resume full diplomatic relations
with Mexico. a
Within the next two weeks he IL
expected to appoint an ambassador
TO Mexico City and two Americans
TO represent this Government on
the two claims commissions pro-
vided Tor in the conventions drawn
up at last summers recognition"
conference and recently ratified by
the Senates Of both countries.
Naming Of the members of the
claims commissions 10 expected to
come first. Some difficulty il being
experienced in securing an accept.
able man for the ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
The Obregon government will act
simultaneously, announcing its am.
bassador to Washington and desig.
mating its claims representatives at
the same time. Ramon Ross, one
OF the two MexicanB who partici.
pated In last summers conference,
probably will be Mexico's envoy.
Oil Scandal to Blame.
Odium Of the naval oil scandal IL
responsible in some measure for tho
Presidents difficulty in finding a
suitable man for the Mexican post.
Several OF the candidates most Der.
sistently urged on the White House,
ana most desirable from q political
viewpoint, either are, or have been
Identified with oil interests, and as
such would be acceptable neither
to the American Senate nor to the
Mexican government.
Others - more acceptable -- have
eliminated themselves because of q
disinclinatiOn to enter the diplo-
matte service. These include
Charles B. Warren and John Barton
Payne, who negotiated recognition
last fall, and r. B. Creager, Repub.
lican national committeeman for
Texas, John Hays Hammond, null.
ti-millionaire mining engineer, has
stated he would not serve because
of his large holdings in Mexico.
One name that has been men,
toned frequently of late Is that of
the American embassy in Mexico
George T. Summerlin. counselor OF
City for seven years, and charge
d'affRires since 1920. 1t is argued
that a complete accord with Mexico
II so important that politics must
be sacrificed for ability, and that
Summerlin, with his intimate knowl.
edge of Mexico, should get the
call. Further. 1t is pointed out
that Summerlin, with fourteen
years service in the diplomatic
corps, is eligible If President Cool
idge adheres to his announced in.
tention of promoting career men,"
SummerIin Lacks Wealth.
The fact which weighs heavily
against him, however, and which
may prevent his appointment, is his
lack of wealth. The SIT 900 salary
that goes with an Enthusiastically
Ia inadequate to meet the social
expenses that fall on a major dip.
lomat.
No fnkling has been given as to
whom will be appointed to the
claims commissions. 1t is known,
however, that a virtual decision
has been reached on these posi-
tions.
These commissions will adjudicate
all claims and counter-claims be.
TWEEN the two countries dating back
to 1858. One will be Of a general
nature, and the other will deal
specifically with claims arising cut
of the so-called revolutionary period
which began in 1910 with the over
throw of Diaz. The later body will
also consider counter-claims lodged
by Mexico for the occupation of
Vera Cruz and the Pershing expedi-
ton after Villa under President
Wilson.
The total OF the claims is variouslv
estimated at between 800, 00O, 900
and 500,000,000. An indication of
settlement, however, may be OBJ
tanned by reference to the last Joint
claims commission of the United
States and Mexico which sat from
1868 to 1876. The United States
entered claims totalling $47O, 900 900
and retrieved $4,125, 900; Mexico
claimed damage to the extent of
SS7,OOO,OOO and recovered $150,OO0