Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

Continued from First Page.)
they were specifically prohibited from
holding by the constitution.
Carranza did not enforce these regu.
lations.
He was deposed and murdered in
May, 1920. De la Huerta, his success.
treaty that the novel constitution
would not be applied retroactively
against property legally acquired by
Americans in Mexico. He was not
recognized.
In December, 1920, obregon sue
ceeded De la. Huerta. Secretary Colby
maintained the American position.
Obregon refused sto bind his govern
ment. The Wilson administration re-
fused to recognize him. Harding sue
ceeded Wilson. The policy of monroe
ignition of the Mexican government
was maintained. Secretary Hughes, in
May, 1921, sent to Mexico draft of a
treaty of amfty, commerce and naviga-
ton whereunder Mexico should bind
herself not to apply the conflscatory
features of the constitution to Ameri-
can citizens. Obregon refused to en-
gage his government. Butt impelled
by the need for recognition the SUI:
preme Court of the Obregon govern.
AhCAt hSC 0CNASAOiISs All SuAtG
brought by oil compa Mes to determine
their rights under the Carranza de.
crees, all favorable to the American
contention. The court decided the
constitution was not retroactive.
$s.OO0,000 for Propaganda.
But the Supreme Court of Mexico is
not bound by it's own decisions. 1t
may reverse itself. A tremendous
propaganda campaign in the United
States was then started by the Obre.
gon government. 1t has been said
that $S,000,000 was spent in convincing
the American people that the way
was now clear to recognition. The Leg
islatureS of 81 American States passed
resolutions favoring recognition. Junk
citing parties went to Mexico and were
lavishly entertained.
The Warren-Payne Commission was
sent to Mexico to strive for formula
satisfactory to the American govern
ment. Finally, in August, 1928, the
Mexican commissioners gave solemn
written assurances that the laws would
not be applied In II retroactive or con-
fiscatory manner. 1t was the price
of Obregon's recognition.
The American commissioners agreed
that they would recommend to their
Americans were taken under the land
laws it would accept bonds In payment
for lands taken from any one owner
up to a certain area 0,755 hectaresl.
provided the balance were paid in
cash. The Secretary of State subss.
quently wrote note to the Mexican
Ambassador making this agreement
(which is not embodied in the claims
convention). The Mexican govern.
this agreement is i'm force and is bind.
ing on the Government of the United
States, but that the concurrent agree.
ment of its commissioners, confirmed
by President Oregon. does not bind
Mexico.
Claims Conventions Fail.
The commissioners also agreed upon
two mixed claims conventions, the flu
tility of which in the protection OF
American rights has been abundantly
proved.
President Coolidge, mindful of the
assurances of Carranza. took pains tC
make record OF the fact that this
signed and solemn promise of the
Mexican government was condition
precedent not only to the adoption OF
the claims convention but to the rec
ognition which was TO come, and thai
continuing compliance with the signed
promise was a continuing condition Il
the subsistence of recognition whef
given.
In the note on the petroleum con
troversy arising from the last pc
troleum law, dated July 1926, thu
American Secretary of State said:
"My Government continues to re
gard the proceedings of 1923 as a ne
gotiation of the highest importance
upon which two sovereign states may
engage. The paramount issue wa
that of recognition. Without the as
sursnces received in the course o
thak negotiation recognition could not
and would not, have been extended
ard my Government confidently relies
upon the fulfillment of the assurance
then given