Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-12
j. s. MAY RECALL
ENVOY TO MEXICO
SheffieId's "Vacation" Seen
as Sign of DispIeasure at
Republics Attitude.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

James r. Sheffield, the American
Ambassador to Mexico, who is
scheduled to return to the United
States for a conference with Secre-
tary kellogg, may never go back to
Mexico.
No rupture in diplomatic relations
Is intended, for a charge dafaires
will manage the business Of the
American embassy. but the courtesy
which one nation extends to another
in times of real friendship Is not to
be given TO Mexico for the present.
Several things have prompted the
withdrawal of the American Ambas-
sador One is that public opinion
in the United States at the moment
Is aroused over the enforcement OF
laws and edicts against the Catholic
priests and the other is that the
United States Government has not
been able to obtain acquiescence to
its point Of view with reference to
the oil and land laws as they affect
American interests.
Many Notes Exchanged.
For several months there have been
notes galore exchanged, but the Mexi
can government has maintained Its
determination to apply the laws re-
troactively. something which is not
only against the spirit, but the letter
of the understa ndings reached when
the present government Of Mexico
was formally recognized.
There has been a movement in Con
gress, sponsored by Representative
Boylan of New York, and supported
by Catholic leaders in America, tc
have the United States formally with
draw recognition from the Gales gov
ernment. The resolution rested In
the foreign relations committees OF
Congress, and was not acted upor
particularly because it Is felt in con
gressional circles that the handling
of the question is solely within the
jurisdiction of the President and Sec
retary of State.
Ever since the controversy over the
treatment Of priests in Mexico became
acute there has been pressure ap
piled on the American Government to
break diplomatic relations as a sign
Of disapproval of Mexico's course. 1t
Is realized that Mexico has sovereign
right to enact whatever laws she
pleases with respect to religious af-
faiES, but, on the other hand, the
United States has on more than one
occasion In diplomatic history ex
pressed its approval or disapproval OF
movements In foreign countries which
violated the spirit of democracy.
u. S. Opposes AutOcracy.
The United States has especially
shown itself opposed to autocratic
forms Of government as we'll as efforts
! to suppress religious freedom. While
1t Is not intended here to argue the
merits of the charges which are made
that foreign priests in Mexico have in
terfered in politics and have in other
| ways shown themselves hostile to the
present administration in Mexico. the
general feeling in Washington Is that
progressive governments nowadays do
not make laws to abridge the freedom
Of worship whether the churches are
dominated by aliens or by nationals OF
a country.
The withdrawal Of Mr.. Sheffield or
the ground that he needs a vacation
Is believed to be more Of a gestur,
than an official act. But the test o
| its significance will come when tn,
American Ambassador begins post
poning his return. Mexico and th'
| United States have never exchanged
| at it's height. Indeed, when an i'm
passe in diplomatic correspondence i
| reached 1t Is not unusual to Withdraw
an ambassador as a sign Of dis
| pleasure.
fCopyright. 1921