Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-22
COMMERCIAL PACT
WITH MEXICO SEEN
Abrogation of Smuggling
Agreement Will Aid
Oil Settlement.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

AbrOSation of the one-year agree
ment between the United States and
Mexico with respect to smuggling
means a new commercial treaty even
tually which will adjust the pending
dispute on the confiscation of oil
lands.
Inasmuch as the Mexican govern
ment failed to give satisfactory as
surances that American property
rights would be protected, the Amer
lean Government went ahead with the
policy it had outlined for itself some
time ago-namely, to obtain the neceS'
Sary freedom of action to lift the
embargo on arms on the border. IT
the convention which has just expired
had not been formally abrogated II
would have been continued indefinitely
and 80 days notice would have been
required to end the convention. Now
the American Government can in
few hours lift the embargo, in fact,
without further notice to Mexico.
Such an act is feared by the Gales
administration, because there already
are revolutionary elements anxious to
get back into control, and if arms and
ammunition can be purchased in the
United States the Gales administra-
ton may be overthrQwn. This has
been known to the Gales group for
some time, but it was not thought
the United States was serious about
using the threat about lifting the
embargo on arms as a lever to force
| recognition of the vested rights of
| American citizens.
Clears the Atmosphere.
The announcement clears the at
mosphere to the extent of showing
| that President Coolidge has tired after
| 10 years of conversation and means TO
| insist on preventing confiscation of
American properties or recognition
and moral support of the Gales
| regime will in effect be withdrawn.
The way out for Mexico is to agree
/ to negotiate a new commercial treaty
which will dispose of all pending mat
| ters. Inasmuch as treaty can super
sede the Constitution in the United
| States, according to constitutional ex'
| perts, so in Mexican law a treaty with
| the United States guaranteeing Amer
| lean citizens against the retroactive
| feature of the constitution of 1917
would be legally effective in the Mexi-
| can courts.
The United States has had no com.
mercial treaty with Mexico since 1882.
An attempt was made in 1917 by the
Wilson administration and again in
1923 by Secretary Hughes to get a
commercial treaty which would recog-
| nize American rights, but each effort
| failed. The American Government
sought a treaty because of the fact
| that assurances from the CarranZa
administration were not respected by
| the Oregon or Gales administration.
Would Bind Perpetually.
| A treaty, If duly ratified by the Mex
| lean Congress, would be made with
/ the Mexican nation which would be
| binding for all time in international
| law.
The Department of State wants a
/ new commercial treaty and is deter
/ mined now that nothing else will be
satisfactory. There are some indica-
| lions that persons In official quarters
| in Mexico desire the same thing, but
! not until the full effect of the an
nouncement Of the ending of the
smuggling convention is noted viii
| there be a capitalization Of opinion
| into action in Mexico City.
| Both the Treasury Department
which is interested in preventing
| liquor smuggling on the border, and
the Labor Department, which wants
to keep aliens from coming across the
| border Illegally, have been opposed tC
the abrogation of the smuggling con
yention, but they both have been as
| sured that ultimately there is more
at stake in securing south Of the Rio
| Grand. in fact, in the entire Western
Hemisphere, of the rights Of American
citizens than in the Illegal entry Of q
| few aliens or a few shipments oi
| liquor. The commercial treaty which
| is about to be proposed will cover al
phases Of smuggling and property
rights and will be in the nature Of 8
reciprocity agreement, whereby the
| United States agrees to do for the
| Mexicans what it asks Mexico to dc
for Americans.
Downright 1927