THE RECOGNITION OF MEXICO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18494, 3 September 1923, Page 6

THE RECOGNITION OF MEXICO

The announcement that the United States has resumed full diplomatic relations with Mexico proclaims the. successful issue of direct negotiations between representative commissions that were appointed to discover a basis of agreement upon questions that have been the cause of controversy and ill-feeling for several years. For nearly eight years following the murder of General Madero, in 1913, the domestic affairs of the republic were gravely disturbed. Civil war and bandit outrages created widespread disorganisation. In December, 1915, the United States and most of the European States recognised the Carranza Government, but a few months later civil war again broke out, leading ultimately to the election in September, 1920, of General Obregon as president of the republic. Under his. regime the country has made steady progress! toward stability and prosperity, j General Obregon has been recognised as a wise and courageous statesman, and under his Government, banditry has been suppressed, economic conditions have been vastly improved, and measures have been taken by which the default in respect of foreign debt has been repaired. But recognition by the principal Powers has hitherto been refused principally because of their objections to certain provisions of the Constitution promulgated in February, 1917, during the Carranza regime, under which all subsoil rights, including petroleum* were vested in the nation, and powers were taken by the State to take over agricultural properties on payment of "due compensation." The former included a clause which was interpreted to mean that the Government might deprive holders of land of rights to oil which were acquired in good faith under former laws, while under the latter lands were acquired under conditions that amounted to confiscation. The present Government has given definite pledges abandoning any claim to retrospective operation of the law nationalising subsoil and mineral products, and a law has been passed establishing the original concessions. Various other matters in dispute have also, apparently, been brouarht to a satisfactory conclusion. It has been generally understood that as soon as the United States recosmised General ' Obveeron's Government, Britain and France would also restore diplomatic relations