The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-21
The Morrow Idea At Work

The Supreme Court of Mexico has just handed
down decision which may well prove the begin
ming of the end of the bitter Mexican American feud
which, more than once, has almost verged on
BY vote of nine to two the court declared that
the muchdiscussed oil and land laws founded the
equally famous constitution of 1917 cannot be used
to deprive the Mexican petroleum Co.. an American
owned concern, of rights acquired prior to ls17.
Thus created vitality important precedent
likely to become the basis for settlement of upward
of score of similar cases.
Since 1917 Mexcos new oil and land laws have
been denounced in this country as both retroactive
and confscatory. Under them, it was charged,
American oil and land concessonnaires in Mexico
might find themselves ousted from their possessions
There demands for intervention Hotter and hot
ter waxed the notes between the capitals until acu
a year ago, when further note writing was sharply
broken off with tninly yelled warning from Wash
ington that Mexico would enforce the new laws at
her peril
On her side Mexico denied the laws were calculat-
ed to deprive Americans of their bona de rights and
concluded by suggesting that until they actually
proved confscatory, claimed, there was no just
for complaint In due time, it was pointed out
they would be tested in the Mexican courts and their
meaning clarified.
Now comes this first decision in what has been
1SSdIuSu dS IeSG Case OVerWnelu1ngly IL WOulQ
seem but to uphold American rights in Mexico and
sustain the Mexican thesis that such rights would be
protected without the necessity of intervention from
Washington.
Furthermore, despite the astounding efforts now
being made by certain interests to interfere with the
work of Ambassador Morrow, at present engaged
with President Gales in trying to find a way to
restore cordial relations between the two countries
the hands of both our ambassador and the Mexican
President would seem to be strengthened. The con-
tention of President Gales all along has been that
given patience and little goodwill on both Sides
the dispute could be settled While as for ambassa-
dor Morrow his idea is clearly pictured in the fol-
lowing incident:
Speaking some time ago before mixed audience
amongst whom were President Machado of Cuba, and
a number of American magnates with holdings
worth tens OF millions in Cuba he said-very point
eddy:
"It is of the utmost Importance that American bust
ness who have property interests in Cuba should
assist government in every way to keep its pledge
(of no interference and no meddling made by Sec
rotary Root, to the Cuban people. American bust
ness men who have differences with Cuban people
should first seek remedies for their alleged wrongs
through the ordinary channels in Cuba. They should
not look to Washington"
What the ambassador said about Cuba then is
equally applicable to Mexico today and there is no
reason to doubt he is living up to his convictions.
THE ordinary channels" would seem to be yield
ing results for Americans seeking remedies for their
alleged wrongs" in Mexico That would seem to be
one moral to be drawn from Supreme Court deci-
sion above referred to.
incidentally but for the right-minded of
American people, column of American boys might
be fighting and dying right below the Rio
Grande in a mistaken attempt to force Mexico to do
exactly what the nine justices Of her Supreme Court
have just done of their accord in "the ordinary
channels" Of their duty.