Evening star., 1927-04-27
PRESIDENTS TALK
SEEN AS Warming
Significantly Worded UIti-
matum to Mexico Believed
in New York Address.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Careful study of that portion Of
President Coolidge's speech in New
York relating to Mexico reveals that
behind the prediction of an amicable
adjustment lies a significantly worded
ultimatum.
For several weeks the outside world
has been wondering about the status
of the dispute with Mexico, because it
was known that the United States had
not sent any additional notes on the
subject. The Presidents speech
makes clear that the United States
does not intend to send any more
written communications.
Mr.. Coolidge states fatty that the
policy of the United States was based
upon a written understanding with
President Obregon that the constitu-
ton of 1917 would not be given retro
active effect. He says that the ad-
ministration of President Gales had
declined to be bound by the agreement
made by President Obregon.
Was Key to Recognition.
There occurs this significant SEN
tence in Mr.. Coolidge's speech:
1T was solely because of our under
standing, secured in this formal way,
that our property rights would be re-
spected, that recognition of the gov
ernment of President Obregon was
granted"
In other words, Mr.. Coolidge now
has made clear that if this under
standing is violated, recognition could
be withdrawn. This is the first time
that the policy that the United States
intended to pursue toward Mexico has
been authoritatively stated by the
Washington Government. In fact, Mr..
Coolidge in his New York speech
said:
We closed the correspondence by
notifying the Mexican government
that we stood squarely on the under
standing made with President Obre-
gon and we expected it not to take
any action that would deprive Ameri-
can citizens of their property or their
property rights"
The use of the words "closed cor
respondence' means merely that the
United States will not discuss any
really develop. Mr.. Coolidge made
public the pledge given by President
Gales, however, through the Mexican
amba ssador to the effect that Mexico
had assured the United States that
"she does not intend to confiscate our
property"
Meanwhile American companies are
endeayoring to get the Mexican courts
to recognize American Interpretation
Of Mexican laws involving confisca-
ton. Several cases have been decided
in favor of American companies by
the lower courts. 1t may take seE
eral months for enough decisions -
be rendered to be binding.
incidentally, President Obregon is a
candidate for election in 1928 and is
expected to return to power, so Presi-
dent Coolidge was really making a
safe prediction when he stated his
belief that the relations between the
United States and Mexico would be
amicably adjusted. They may drift
along without any clear recognition
by the Gales administration that the
Obregon government was right in its
Interpretation of the American pro.
test, but it is safe to assume that
when President Obregon gets back
into power all doubts on the subject
win be removed and a definite under
standing reached which will prevent
the controversy arising again. In
other words, negotiations of a treaty
to conform to the understandings
already in effect will be the goal of
diplomacy.
Copyright. 1927.l