The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-26
Coolidge in Tribute to United Press

ments to afford protection to the
persons and property of their
citizens, wherever they may be. This
is both because it has an interest
in them and because it has an
obligation toward them. 1t would
seem to be perfectly obvious that If
it is wrong to murder and pillage
within the confines of the United
| States, it is equally wrong outside
our borders. The fundamental laws
of justice are universal In their
application. These rights go with
the citizen. Wherever he goes these
duties of our Government must fol-
| low him.
Reasonable Regulation
1t is all right to say that when
our citizens enter a foreign country
they should do so with the under
standing that they are to abide by
the laws of that country. They
should, and they do, and our Gov
eminent would be the last to inter
fere in the just application Of the
law of his domicile to our citizens.
But this is only partial statement
OF the case. The admission of our
citizens within their territory is a
voluntary act of foreign govern
ments. 1t is a tacit invitation.
When we permit foreigners to come
here, and when other countries adj
nit our citizens, we know and they
know that such aliens come and go
not only under the rights and duties
imposed by domestic law, but also
under the rights and duties i'm
posed by international law. There
is nothing unfair, nothing i'm
perialistic, in this principle. 1t has
been universally adopted and
recognized as right and just and
is the only reasonable method by
which enlightened humanity can
safeguard friendly intercourse
among the citizens of different ma
lions. This policy has been adopted
in furtherance of the humanitarian
desire for a universal reign of law.
These principles are involved in
some of the difficulties that We have
recently been trying to work out
with foreign nations, especially with
Mexico. We have had claims
against that country running over
long series of years, growing out
Of the death Of many of our citizens
90 I'll
ming into hundreds of millions OF
dollars. A very considerable portion
Of these cases has been due to
revolutionary activities and other
forms of public violence. Public
order has never been entirely COM
plete in that country. But lately
our difficulties have been increased
by the enactment of laws by the
Government itself. which we feel
| threaten the virtual conf1scation of
the property of our citizens, even
where their holdings are under
titles which have been established
for scores of years.
Mexican Invitation
In 1857 Mexico adopted a constita-
ton. In its relation to the protec-
ton of acquired property it provided
ample security. Under its terms,
many of our people acquired hold
ings both through individual and
corporate ownership. During the
more than thirty years Of President
Diaz we were especially encouraged
to make investments, to promote all
kinds of development of the natural
resources, transportation and indus
tries After he was driven from Of
flee by revolution much disorder ex-
listed. with Presidents following one
another in rapid succession.
! In 1917 a new constitution was
adopted with provisions affecting
agricultural, mining and oil lands,
which we thought threatened the
holdings of our nationals with confis-
cation. Their constitution is not
self-enforcing, bat requires the pro-
mitigation of laws to put it into ef-
feet. While this was in process of
being brought about a government
was established which we hdid not
recognize. In 1920 General Obregon
was chosen president and sought
recognition. In negotiations for that
purpose it was repeatedly pointed
out that we feared that the new con-
stitution, although one of it's pro-
visions expressly prohibited the en-
actment of retroactive laws, might
| be interpreted as retroactive in its
effect upon the holdings of real es-
tate which our people had secured
prior to it's adoption. We sought as
surances from the Mexican govern
ment that such was not the case.
In order to prevent misunderstood
| ing we sent two commissioners to
Mexico City in 1923 to confer upon
this subject, and also on the ques-
ton of our claims with two Mexican
commissioners. Charles Beecher
Warren and John Barton Payne rep
resented our Government. They had
a series of conferences and kept
written records of their proceedings,
in which are set out the recon-
mendation for the appointment of
two claims commissions and the UNI
derstanding that the constitution of
1917 was not to be given retroactive
or confiscatory application. These
records were duly signed and attest
ed by the commissioners and were
submitted to the President of Mex
leo and the President of the United
i States for their mutual approval,
which was given. 1t was Solely be-
cause of our understanding secured
in this formal way that our prop
erty rights would be respected, that
recognition of the government of
President Obregon was granted on