Evening star., 1926-06-06
Business and Religious Inter-
ests in America Squirting
Officials to Action.
GALES HAS SYMPATHY
IN DIFFICULT POSITION
Faces Big Problem in Radicalism
Rampant in His Administra-
tion of Affairs.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Mexican American relations are
steadily drifting from bad to worse.
The United States is getting. exactly
nowhere with it's demands for def
mite guarantees of American property
rights. Correspondence and negotia-
tions proceed endlessly. But cate
gorical requirements by the United
States continue to be met with either
equivocal or platonic assurances that
leave matters practically where they
were before. Secretary Kellogg is eX
hibiting almost unprecedented patience
and indicates no disposition to ter
inmate matters abruptly. But au-
thorities in touch with the unsatis
factory situation hazard the belief
that matters are approaching the
breakinS.off point. They go further
and assert that not until that point is
actually reached is there any real hope
OF securing from Mexico the reCogni.
ton of America S irreducible demands.
The Coolidge administration is be-
ing subjected to what is probably the
strongest pressure Tor a strong hand
with Mexico ever exercised at Wash
ington during the many years of
strained relations with that country.
Two powerful American factors join
in the pressure-big business and re-
ligious interests.
In the past 1t has been largely
American property-owning classes and
the oil industry that have clamored
for action designed to bring Mexico
to terms. Now these business groups
have an influential ally in the Roman
Catholic Church and other American
ecclesiastical elements, which are
finding their religious and educational
activities in Mexico practically blot
ted out Of existence.
Soviet Influence Seen.
The United States Government con-
tinues to place it's faith in President
Plutarch Gales as the man who, II
given time. may work things out to
American satisfaction. But it is well
known in Washington that Senor
Gales is not altogether 4 free agent
at Mexico City. The administration
over which he preSides is honeycomb-
ed with radicalism tantamount to
Bo,SheviSm. In certain directions
Washington authorities have detect
ed a pretty direct line of common
thought and policy between Moscow
and Mexico City. All of the new eco
nomic ideas now prevailing in Mexico
are of the Soviet tinge. The inter
probation of the 1917 constitution.
which lies at the bottom of all of
Americas grievances in the country.
is an Interpretation Of property rights,
religious freedom, educational activity
and other issues such as Soviet Rus
sia publicly subscribes to.
President Gales. while himself a
workingman by origin and in strong
sympathy with the proletarian spirit
that now rules in Mexico. has been
sobered by responsibility and Is cor
respondingly anxious, while propitiat-
ing his radical supporters. to do JUS
tice to foreign rights. But he could,
and probably would, be overturned
tomorrow if he yielded too freely to
such demands as America is putting
forth. Thus far Uncle Sam has had
comma ssionate consideration for
Gales delicate position and good ill
tentions. But how long the United
States, with the pressure piling up
in Washington, will feel called upon
to accept stone for bread at MeXico's
hands remains to be seen.
Oil Men Discouraged.
Senior Teller, Mexican Ambassador
at Washington, Is being acquainted
from time to time with this mounting
wave Of American resentment and
clamor for defensive action. The Am
bassador, who has been stationed at
Washington for a good many years,
is a "Callas man" and sympathiZes
with the Mexican Presidents desire to
bring about satisfactory relations
with the United States. Particularly
with regard to offensive Mexican ac-
ton toward American religious bodies
the ambassador is believed to have
done his utmost in the direction of
urging more considerate conduct. The
latest dispatches from Mexico City re-
veal no readiness upon the part of
the government to soften it's attitude
toward the ecclesiastics who are
barred by the present Mexican laws
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