Evening star., 1925-06-14
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

~ FFICIAL warnings to Mexico
to respect American rights
are the elimination of a
~ series Of t1outings Of our in
terests which the United
States Government has at length de-
.termined can no longer be tolerated.
For many months past American
property owners in Mexico have been
the victims of high-handed action
under the socalled "Agrarian laws. Fl"
Protests have been in vain. The
government at Mexico City has been
either unwilling or unable to protect
American property rights. The stern
admonition just issued by Secretary
kellogg is a sign that the patience of
the United States is about exhausted,
and that. unless President Gales takes
s.rompt and effective steps to remedy
Seatters. more peremptory action by
the Coolidge administration can hard
" be avoided.
fast and loose with land rights of
American citizens, but for the past
year the Mexican government has de-
.faulted on the international financial
agreement, in which American capital
is heavily interested. Washington has
been making appropriate representa-
tions at Mexico City, but negotiations
between the Gales government and
the bankers consortium have not pro-
gressed beyond the talk stage. In
view Of the failure of Mexico to give
to the international financial COM
mittee any indication as to when
service on the debt will be resumed,
American holders of Mexican bonds
naturally have become restive.
Treaty Not Concluded.
There is more at stake for Mexico
than mere compliance with the de-
mand for recognition of American
property and financial rights. AL
though we have fully re-established
diplomatic relations with the Mexican
government, the United States has not
yet concluded with 1t the customary
treaty of amity and commerce. Such
treaties, embracing full and general
relations between friendly nations, are
necessary to a complete understand
ing, and especially to normal trade
intercourse. Certainly there will be
no desire on the part of the Coolidge
administration to enter into such
treaty with Mexico while the ele-
are in jeopardy.
A treaty is actually under consld-
Grafton in Washington with the view
to negotiation. 1t is now for Mexico
to say and show whether a treaty
can profitably be effected. Other
treaties or conventions that will be
on the course of events
relate to the equitable distribution of
the waters of the Rio Grande and
Colorado rivers. There is also under
discussion a convention relating to
the protection of migratory birds.
The Unitcd States has just concluded
AT FL Paso preliminary negotiations
with Mexico regarding suppression of
of aliens, drugs and liquor
across the Southern border in con-
of the laws of either
country.
Rights of Americans.
The rights of American property
owners in Mexico arises under the
agreement of 1923,
for the United States by
Charles Beecher Warren and John
Barton Payne. This agreement pro-
vided that the maximum area that
might be appropriated from any one
property could not exceed
1,755 hectares approximately 1000
acres). In all cases it was provided
that due regard must be had for
the extent of the property from which
the land is taken, for the improve
hents thereon, etc. 1t was also agreed
that any area greater than 1000
acres could not be taken from any