Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-22
Action Would Permit Lifting
of Munitions Embargo
at Any Time.
LAND DISPUTE POSITION
HELD STRENGTHENED
Cancellation Follows Conferences
of State Officials-Tellez 0ptimis-
tic After Talk With Coolidge.

BY the Associated Press.
An intimation that the United States
had been unsuccessful in efforts to
negotiate a commercial treaty with
Mexico was contained today in a State
Department announcement that the
smuggling convention between the
two nations would be terminated on
March 2S.
The department. in whose hands has
rested the long g-standing and delicate
situation involving American property
rights in Mexico, issued a formal
statement explaining that notice of
termination of the treaty had been
served on the Mexican government
last night by the American embassy
at Mexico City.
In the absence of commercial
treaty or other arrangements with
Mexico Safeguarding American COM
merce against possible discrimina-
tion," the statement said, the Wash
ington Government did not deem 1t
advisable to continue the smuggling
convention (which might in certain
contingencies bind the United States
to cooperation for enforcement OF
laws or DEGREES relating to the impor-
tation of, commodities of all sorts into
another country"
Bearing on Arms Shipments.
The smuggling convention has
direct bearing on the American EN-
barge on arms shipments into Mexico
Under the convention, even If the em-
barge were lifted the United States
would be required to notify Mexico Of
impending shipments from the United
States of arms or any other com
modities prescribed from Importation
under Mexican law.
by its terms the convention was
to remain in force for one year.
upon the expiration of which period,
if no notice of a desire to terminate
it had been given by either party,
it was to continue in force until 80
days after either party should give
notice of termination" the State De-
partment's announcement said.
Upon due consideration the Gov
ernment has concluded to terminate
the treaty at the expiration of the
year, and has accordingly given the
appropriate notice to the govern
ment of Mexico"
Action Follows Conferences.
The announcement of American
determination to terminate the treaty
White House. Secretary Kellogg and
Assistant Secretary Olds having
twice talked with the President with
in the last few days without dis
closure of the reason for their calls.
Whether termination of the treaty
foreshadows raising of the arms en-
barge by the United States so far
as Mexico is concerned was not in
dicated.
signed December %, 1925: rattle
March IL, 1926, and proclaimed Marc
IS, 1926. 1t went into effect March
%, 1926.
No General Treaty Since 1882.
The United States had had no gen
eral treaty of amity and commerce
with Mexico since 1882. Such treaties.
it has been argued, might have OBJ
waited the tangle over American
rights as affected by Mexican oil and
land legislation.
An effort to negotiate a commercial
pact was made by Secretary Colby in
1921. 1t was renewed by Secretary
Hughes and played part in the nego-
tiations which resulted in the signing
of two Mexican-American claims con-
ventions and diplomatic recognition
of the Obregon government. A further
effort by the United States to nego-
tiate a commercial treaty was made
by Secretary Hughes in 1924 in an
exchange of personal communications
with the Mexican foreign secretary,
and this was renewed in 1926 at the
time the new Mexican petroleum and
land laws were first formulated
Mexican Ambassador Teller con-
ferred with President Coolidge and
Secretary Kellogg at the Coolidge
residence on Dupont Circle last night,
and today he said he entertained
nothing but the most optimistic views
of future relations between the
United States and Mexico.