Evening star., 1939-06-04

CLAIMS IN eLpTOpTldtlOn program.
From the adoption of the Constitution
up to 1887, it is estimated that approxi-
mately 100000 Mexican families,
mostly of the peon class, have received
free land
Naturally, most of this coniscated
land was the property of Mexican citi-
zens. But in carrying out its program
of seizure, the Mexican government
made no distinction between the hold
ings of foreigners and its own nationals.
1t is estimated roughly that some
100000 acres was taken from United
States nationals. 1t is virtually impos-
sible to compute the value of this land,
for it varies, according to experts, from
SIS to $3.50 per acre Involved in some
of the claims, too, are farm buildings
and other equipment.
Between the beginning of the agrar-
ian program and 1927 it is estimated that
ISL moderate sized United States-owned
properties were confscated.
The year 1927 is not significant, ex-
cept that it is the dividing line between
two classes of claims by United States
interests, and one that apparently is
proving unfortunate for those citizens
whose requests for compensation were
made before that time mark.
All claims arising before 1927 were
referred to the General Claims Com
mission, United States and Mexico. This
commission, with headquarters in WASH
ington, had before it a great mass of
suits arising out of not only land con-
f1scation but personal damages of many
sorts. 1t was established by conven-
ton between the United States and Mex
leo in 1923 and ceased receiving suits for
land compensation in 1927
AS the United States pointed out in
a recent note to Mexico, mot a single
claim has been adjusted and none has
been paid" by this commission. Yet per-
sons who have filed their suits with it
cannot-unless some new arrangement
is made with Mexico-transfer them to
the commissioners who are now working
in Mexico City, with every apparent
prospect of success, on the claims which
have been filed since 1927.
Total Value About $40, 1872, 900.
The post-1927 claims according to the
estimates made by interests filing them,
represent confiscated lands with a total
value of some $10,132 ,388 As the date
for filing claims has been extended to
July 81, however, the total amount to
be considered by the commissions will
be somewhat larger than that. It is
against this class of claims that Mexico
made its first million dollar deposit last
week.
No money will be paid to individual
claimants until the entire amount of the
post-1927 compensation has been deter
mined by the commissioners. Then funds
will be allotted by the United States
Government to the individual petit
TONERS.
Meanwhile, there is another class of
United States claimants against Mexico
who already are receiving some cash.
These are persons with claims against
Mexico which arose primarily out of
damages suffered by them during the
that country during the early part of
the century. Mexico has agreed to
total payment of $5448, 900 in settlement
of their claims This is now being trans
ferred to the United States at the rate
of $500,000 per year, plus interest. More
than $2,500,000 already has been paid.
From a broad political point of view,
however, the payment of $1,0OO,0OO by
the Mexican government last week far
transcends in importance the settlement
of these claims for personal damages.
That is true, officials hold, because it
marks the factual acceptance by Mexico
of the principle of compensation which
was laid down by Secretary Hull in a
recent note to Mexico when he wrote:
I'VE cannot admit that foreign gov