New Britain herald., 1927-04-26
PROTECTING PROPERTY
 ABROAD

One ot cur quiet little amuse- menrs is to watch the editorial columns Of conservative and liberal newspapers after a speech by the President Of these United States.
 For today's inquiry we have taken the New York Herald Tri- bune. which Is the most rabidly Re- publican partisan newspaper still remaining, and the Sprineaeld Re publican. the most piquantly critical Of modern Journals.
 Those who have been peevishly and truculcntly complaining Of the conduct Of our foreign relations will find the ground cut completely from under them by President Coolidges address, says the Her ald Tribune. The right and duty of q government to protect the lives and property 0, it's citizens abroad are fundamentals Of inter national intercourse Amer lcan property rights in Mexico do not rest on treaties or on Mexican laws. They rest on the comity due by one sovereignty 10 another They may not be denied by local legisla- ton In the way in which Mexico Is trying to deny them.'
 And so forth. The Herald Tribune editorial reads like the last word in sumptuous praise and the President is regarded as the epitome Of wis dom.
 Then we turn to the Springfield Republican. reliable index of cynical comment.
 The presidential address was re assuring,' cautiously declares the Republican. . "The Use of United States military power is sole ly for the safeguarding of American lives and property In places where jaw and order and the protection Of foreigners are beyond the capacity Of the local authorities is what it reads out Of the message. Then 1t goes on to prick a few bristles He (the President) offers some broad generalizations which might ! be challenged as too far-reaChing in scope. The principle of pri- Iate property does not enjoy the universal applications, as against the principle oi national sovereignty, that the President appears to as- sume Sovereignty has per mi'ted confiscations under all gov ernments; ." foreigners have been victims without compensation even under the flag Of the United States. Certain states of the American | Union have defaultcd on their l bonds. and they now owe foreign bond holders principal and interest i amounting 10 S379,78S.6io. The for ! eigners will never get their property back because they cannot sue in our i courts an American state. Their pro- i perty has been confiscatcd. in effect. and the constitution Of the United States, 11th amendment, makes the i spoliation possible. : -
 It was not until the adoption Of [ the l4th amendment in 1868 that several states were deprived by the federal constitution Of the right to take private property without com 1 pensation or due process of law So the full establishment Of | the principle Of the sanctity Of pri- pate property IS of recent date even Tn thls country. And even now the foreign holders Of the repudiatcd bonds of American states have to whistle for their money.
 The 14th amendment to the con- stitution declaring that no state shall deprive any citizen Of his pro- 1 pcrty without due process Of law i does not cover foreign states as well IS well as the states of this Union. IT we must use force against Mex ico, We are under the same obliga- tion to use IL in collecting heavy claims against Soviet Russia; or even against France, morally speaking, in case France should finally refuse to fund her debt to this country"
 The basis Of the controversy rests, as 10 how far the President would go 10 in collecting reparation for confiscations which are withou, remedy in diplomacy or in the Mexican courts. There is much less cause now to fear a mili- tary embodiment and the Prcsi. dents own quiet influence. since he took personal interest in tho Mexican problem, must have had q moderat'ng effect on the govern mcnts policy"
 Tn other words. the President took hold and prevented the secre. tary Of state from going too far.
 FEWER PASSENGER TRAINS
 In auguration of daylight saving has given the railroads another op.
 portunity to revamp their trair