Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-21
BY HENRY N. LEPIDUS.

I" HUEG uIuEu LutVt hUtOs s\sSss WV
: monte depelopment.)
By HENRY N. LEPIDUS.
All Latin America is watching the
outcome Of the dispute over Mexican
appropriation of American owned
property, in the expectation 1t will
prove a significant test Of President
Roosevelt's good neighbor" policy.
Reports in diplomatic circles indi-
cate that If the controversy over ex-
propriated farm lands-which involves
by inference also Mexico's taking over
Of huge oil properties-is not settled
by December, both Mexico and the
United States may try to obtain at
least the moral support OF other
American republics at the Eighth
n-American Conference at Lima,
Peru.
Strong terms were employed alike by
Secretary OF State Hull in his note
Of July 81 regarding payment for
appropriated agrarian properties valued
at about $4,000, 900. and by Mexican
Foreign Minister Eduardo Hay in his
August reply. rejecting arbitration.
Nevertheless both countries have been
careful thus far to wrap their COM
munications in afirmations OF friend
ship.
Secretary Hull said:
THE representations which this
Government has made to the govern
ment of Mexico have been under
taken with entire friendliness and
good will" He also expressed hope
the United States and Mexico. lin
keeping with the good neighbor policy"
would continue to cooperate 'in
every mutually desirable and advan-
tageous way"
Reciprocating Fair Dealing.
Mr.. Hull warned. however, the good
neighbor policy can be based only on
mutual respect by both governments
Of the rights of each" He expressed
confidence the Latin American re-
publics would recognize that the fair
dealing which 1t (the good neighbor'
policy implies must be reciprocated."
Mexican Foreign Minister Hay, in
rejecting arbitration and Offering a
counter proposal for carrying on nego-
tiations, expressed his conviction the
latter procedure would constitute "a
demonstration of the spirit Of amity
and cooperation which animate the
government and the people of Mexico
toward the Government and the peo-
pie Of the United States"
Mr.. Hay likewise appealed to the
sympathies of the other Latin Ameri-
can republics. with reference to the
second Pan-American Conference at
Mexico City in 1902
He said the nations of this hemi-
sphere additionally had maintained
vigorously the principle of equality
between nationals and foreigners This
principle, he indicated, was based on
the thesis that "the foreigner who
voluntarily moves to country which
Is not his own, in search Of personal
benefit, recognizes in so doing not only
the advantages which he may enjoy,
but also the risks to which he be-
comes exposed.
1.-THE foreigners cannot claim rights
different from nor greater than those
of nationals of that country"
Sees No Discrimination.
In this connection, the Mexican for
eign secretary pointed out, economic
conditions in Mexico had caused in
definite postponement of the date
when former Mexican landowners
might hope to receive compensation
for their appropriated farm lands.
Therefore, he argued, there had been
no discrimination against United
States citizens whose land had been
divided among the peasants under the
agrarian program.
Chairman. Pittman. Democrat, Of
Nevada, of the Senate Foreign Rela-
tons Committee, warned Mexico the
day after Secretary Hulls not was
published that the good neighbor"
policy would suffer a damaging blow
if Mexico rejected arbitration. How
ever. Mr.. Hull promptly asserted the
Senator's views represented strictly
Mr.. Pittman's own personal opinion.
Some commentators-bothi in Latin
America and this country-have con-
tended the good neighbor" policy
was little more than a catchy slogan
designed to combat European eco
nomic and political penetration in the
Southern republics.
Investments in Jeopardy.
Others believe, on the other hand,
that Secretary Hull felt this Govern
ment was forced to take a firm stand
for. payment of appropriated farm
properties lest Mexico's example place
in jeopardy much larger investments
in other Latin American countries.
In an official statement March r.
exactly two weeks before President
Lazaro Cardenas signed a decree
expropriating American oil proper
ties valued by their owners at $3.50.
900, 000-the State Department an
nounced:
The Government Of the United
States endeavors to treat with scrupu-
lous respect the rights of other coun-
tries and their nationals, and the
Government expects similar considera-
ton from other nations for the rights
of the United States and the rights
of our people"
Whatever the eventual solution of
the present controversy it is agreed
generally the United States will not
resort to force against Mexico.
In these respects even those skep-
tical Of the basic plans OF the good
neighbor" policy concede that it ap-
parently has banished the practice of
landing Marine detachments to en-
force respect for property rights Of
America.
Hatband Of Snakeskin.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Aug, 20 LAD.