Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-14
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

When the Soviet Minister to Mexico
was asked If he were spreading Boil
chevist or communistic propaganda
among the Mexicans, he responded
that he was simply learning commu.
nism there.
Mexico has boosted of its great re
forms since its 1917 revolution. II
processes TO have freed the poems
and developed industry. Yet the
United States Government finds con
ditions SO unsatisfactory that there is
imminent danger that 1t may sever
diplomatic relations in protest.
Before President Harding would rec.
ognize the Obregon government-the
constitutional government developed
out of the 1917 revolution-he ap,
representatives of Mexico for the pur-
pose of securing American property
rights under its constitution. Mexico
agreed that in case any property be
longing to Americans should be eX'
propriated. 1t should be paid for in
gold yet, in violation Of that agree
ment, many American holdings have
been taken without settlement, either
in bonds or money.
1t was one OI the
cipleS of the revolution that the gov
eminent would appropriate the great
estates and divide them into small
farms, to be sold on long time to the
poems. The original owners We're 10
be compensated in government bonds
on the basis of a price 10 per cent
above the valuation put upon the land
by its owners for purposes of taxation
It Is now reported that while vast
acreage has thus been seized, no such
bonds have yet been issued, and the
owners have been robbed until a fu.
ture when enough political influence
can force the bonds. The situation is
complicated by the fact that there are
three distinct and conflicting authori-
ties controlling the land: An agrarian
commission appointed for each state
by the federal government, the federal
government department officials and
the several state officials.
If an owner feels aggrieved he may
appeal to the courts, but there his
case may lie for years while he IS
deprived of all use of his property
and receives no compensation. This
situation Is especially severe upon
aliens who lose their property and
must face nationalistic prejudice In
seeking their rights. The law now
STIMULATES that no alien may acquire
| land without first waving all rights
| to diplomatic interference in case OF
any dispute between him and the gov
eminent.
American holdings In Mexico are
estimated to amount to from 81 800
5000 to $500. 600, 900. covering oil
gas, mines and agricultural land
and. In spite OF the agreement made
| prior to our recognition of the new
goverpment-that titles held prior tc
| the revolution should never be jeop-
| ardized--it Is charged that, undo,
| commuuistic influence. the new laws
| do endanger all property. 1t is fol
| the protection of American citizens
| that the State Department has vigor-
ously protested. and even intimateC
| the probable severance of diploma tic
| relations unless the treaty provisions
| are adhered to.
In q magazine article, written BY
President Gales within the last three
months. the president said:
AT present Mexico, probably. DO.
| tentially, the richest land on eartf
! for its size, needs and welcomes the
| entry of foreign capital. 1t will fully
protect all capital that is willing tc
| obey the nations laws. These laws
are not drastic nor confiscatory as
some persons. hostile to our purposes
continue to allege. The laws do ain
| to make sure that the worker is not
| unconsciously exploited as formerly
and that he receives just proportion
of the fruits Of his labor. These
principles are fundamental with us
and no power on earth can induce us
to change or modify them. We know
that these very laws. If properly ap-
Dlied, not only do not damage, but