Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-22
Reaffirms u. S. Is Concerned
With Nothing But Compen-
sation for Property.
SITUATION NOT CLEAR
TO PUBLIC, HE BELIEVES
Necessity Of Full Protection Point
ed Out in Considering Pos
sible Arbitration.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Coincident with the placing in
operation of the new alien property
land law in Mexico. under which only
native born MeXicans are permitted
to own land in that country, the posi-
tion of the Coolidge administration in
dealing with the dispute over this and
Mexico's new petroleum Jaw is again
affirmed as being concerned solely
with the question whether American
property can be taken without being
paid for.
President Coolidge feels that this
fundamental question has been over
looked by the majority of the Ameri-
can people in considering the issues
involved in the controversy, and that
critics of his policy generally have
confused their minds by paying too
much attention to the insignificant
angles of the principles in dispute.
Protection Chief Concern.
In considering the possibility of
arbitration, it is said on behalf of
Mr. Coolidge that the necessity of af-
fording full protection to American
property rights has been and will be
the chief concern of the Washington
Government in any attempt to settle
the issues. The less important angles
would be easy of solution, he feels,
once the fundamental question of the
sanctity of vested rights is disposed of.
officials here continue to maintain
silence on the subject of arbitration,
adoption of which by the United
States has been proposed by the Sen
ate foreign relations committee in ap-
proving the Robinson resolution.
With the expiration of the one-year
period of grace in which foreigners
in Mexico were allowed to register
their declarations of land ownership,
both the land and oil laws over which
there has been extended diplomatic
correspondence between the United
States ana Mexico are now in effect.
Whether any seizures of American
property viii take place under them
without compensation TO owners is
question with which officials here are
deeply concerned.
Test Case Awaited.
Under the alien land law the Mexi-
can government may grant property
rights to foreigners who renounce the
right of appeal to their home govern
ments for protection in case of dis
putes. Registration under the law, it
is understood will be construed as
acceptance of its provisions, including
remuneration of the right of appeal,
while failure to register automatically
removes that right.
Reports from Mexico City said that
the extent to which foreigners filed
declarations throughout the country
yesterday would not be known until
rerOrtS are tabuIated Meanwhile ii
is felt that the situation will bring no
developments until test case is given
the courts.
AS to the oil situation, all but %
of the lat oil companies doing busi-
ness in Mexico are reported by the
department of industry at Mexico
City as having accepted the new pc
troleum law A statement by the de-
partment did not mention those COM
panies which have not sought con-
firmatory or preferential concessions,
but said it was hoped the resistance
Of the ''rebellious companies" wouk'
gradually dissipate.