Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-02
Going Ahead With Plea as
Only Course Open Except
Religious War.
GALES HAS VETO RIGHT
EVEN IF new LAW WINS
President Says Land and Oil De-
crees Are Just-Defends Stand
Toward United States.

Hope lOF I1OulllCdtlOu VI tne feSuld-
lions for enforcing the religious
clauses of the constitution, both Pres
ident Gales and the Episcopate again
have reiterated the unalterableness of
their respective positions.
Each again charged the other with
responsibility for the situation which
has caused a cessation of the func-
tions of Catholic priests in churches
throughout the country and an eco
nomic boycott which admittedly is
hurting trade.
In his message to Congress which
convened yesterday President Gales
said that the rebellious attitude of the
clergy had forced him to issue the
religious regulations. He announced
that he intended to proceed firmly
along the path he had chosen and that
he was convinced majority of the
people would support him.
Doubts Legislative Relief.
Later the Episcopate issued state
ment saying that congressional relief
was most doubtful. but that it was ap-
pealing to the legislators to aid its
cause, as the only other course open
was a religious war, which would be
contrary to the spirit of the church.
The episcopate announced that it
would submit to Congress a bill for
the enactment Of regulations for the
religious clauses of the constitution
to supplant those which President
Gales promulgated. The President
must approve whatever measures
Congress passes and therefore even
if Congress modifies the present
regulations, final decision on the
question rests with him.
Since the enforcement of the re-
ligious laws, the message of the Pres
ident said. AZ churches, 73 converts
and centers of religious propaganda
1ad been closed and S5 foreign priests
had abandoned the country for viola
ton of the law.
Alarm Helds Unjustified.
The message added that for 60
years the religious clauses had been
in the constitution. but had not been
enforced owing to revolutions and
and other incidents. His duty 20
enforce the religious laws, Gales
said. had been made necessary by
the hierarchy calling upon it's fol-
lowers to reject the constitutional
provisions.
The message said there had been
no prosecutions of creeds and that
alarm was unjustified and untimely.
The episcOpate's statement says:
I'VE believe our specific attitude,
although energetic and firm, has
taught lesson to those who believe
all conflicts should be settled by the
use of arms and revolutions. We
have given all the world an example
of how tyranny should be opposed
and how TO fight for liberty"
Defends Land Laws.
President Gales in his message
made special reference to foreign re-
lations, taking up the alien land aid
petroleum laws.
Il am pleased to inform congress-"
he said, that the application of the
alien land laws has not only been
settled in a definite manner with re-
spect to the specific cases presented,
in any manner the operation of the
companies and orga niZations affected
by them. and the government has
been able to carry out it's policy
clearly and agreeably on this subject.
"Promulgation Of the land and also
the petroleum law OCcaSiOned some
diplomatic representations on the part
of the United States Government
causing a controversy of a diplomatic
character, in which the United States
Government expounded various con-
siderations whereby in it's view the
laws interfered with the rights of
American citizens in Mexico and So
licited notifications of some of the
details of the laws. But these details
which the United States desired modi-
g ~,11r GVv,o of 0tl
Mexican laws and Of the Mexican
constitution.
Reply to U. s. Views.
MY government replied to the
United States representations, sustain
ing our right for enactment and en-
forcement of land and petroleum laws.
not only because they enacted what
was ordered in the constitution, but
fundamentally because enactment and
enforcement Of these laws could not
affect legitimately acquired rights fur
ther than what is permitted by the
principles of right, justice and equity.
Furthermore, the Mexican govern
ment has also been careful to direct
it's policy in respect to all acquired
rights, conforming thereby to the re-
quirements OF it's own laws. The gov
ernment has based all it's acts on this
policy without any foreign representa-
tions being necessary.
THE policy of my government has
not been other than to continue the
policy of my predecessors, but at the
same time. 1t has been necessary to
define in an unequivocal manner our
right to legislate and safeguard all
interests in Mexico. Therefore, the
Of thoSo Ia wS uaS nocaccacy
for the purpose of establishing clearly
the conditions under which the inter-
ests affected by the laws can operate
IN our country"