Two thousand dollars traveling expenses for Daves's return to Liberia have been cabled him but no reply has been received. Has he sailed? 751.8215/187: Telegram HOOD The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia (Hood) WASHINGTON, December 22, 1922—1 p.m. 35. Your 41, December 15th, 3 P.M. Department informed that Davis [Daves] and his assistant left Washington for New York December 15th to sail next day by direct Bull Line steamer for Monrovia. They carry chronometers and additional equipment loaned Liberia by this Government. Department suggests that General Receiver request Liberian Government to ascertain directly from Fiscal Agents their position relative to payment of expenses of boundary survey from assigned revenues in case such payment requires departure from provisions of 1912 Loan Agreement governing disbursement of assigned revenues. HUGHES MEXICO QUESTION OF THE RECOGNITION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL OBREGON BY THE UNITED STATES' 711.1211/26a: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Summerlin) WASHINGTON, January 25, 1922—6 p.m. 3 9. Juan Ochoa Ramos, claiming to have special instructions from Pani, has called at the Department and has stated that he is authorized to say that General Obregon will authorize signature of the proposed Treaty of Amity and Commerce immediately after the signing of the two claims conventions proposed by Pani provided implicit recognition is extended on the signing of the first convention, the second to be signed immediately thereafter. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce would remain unchanged except that those provisions covered in the two claims conventions would, of course, be omitted. Ramos says he will telegraph Pani today and suggest that he have General Obregon confirm to you his readiness to carry out the above plan so that it may reach the Department through established channels. Ramos was told that certain minor changes probably would be necessary in the claims conventions and that any proposal from the Mexican authorities which involved any fundamental change in the draft Treaty of Amity and Commerce, or which did not include its signature immediately after signature of claims conventions would be futile. Cable any developments or proposals which may be made along these lines and if approached on the subject develop fully what Obregon is willing to do without however committing the Department. HUGHES 711.1211/28: Telegram The Chargé in Mexico (Summerlin) to the Secretary of State MEXICO, February 1, 1922—12 noon. 16. Your telegram number 9, January 25, 6 p. m. Pani states that the proposals are to sign the first of the claims conventions 'Continued from Foreign Relations, 1921, vol. ш, pp. 394–527. 3 For draft of treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1921, vol. п, p. 397. 4 For drafts of the two conventions, see ibid., pp. 508 and 511. submitted by him whereby the Obregón Government will be implicitly recognized, the second claims convention to be signed immediately thereafter, and that after recognition General Obregón will take into consideration any treaty of amity and commerce which may be submitted to be studied and to be signed provided that it contains nothing opposed to the fundamental laws of the country. SUMMERLIN 711.1211/28: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Summerlin) WASHINGTON, February 4, 1922—6 p.m. 14. Your 16, February 1, noon. Inform Mr. Pani as follows: Department is not disposed to entertain Mr. Pani's proposals unless the rights of American citizens acquired prior to the adoption of the 1917 Constitution are adequately safeguarded. Article 1 in the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which you submitted to General Obregon last May, was drafted solely with this object in view. The Department believes that this article contains nothing opposed to the fundamental laws. of Mexico, unless said laws are to be given a retroactive and confiscatory effect, which General Obregon himself has repeatedly disclaimed in public statements, and the Department would be glad to have Mr. Pani indicate to you specifically General Obregon's objections to this article. In the event it is possible to arrive at an agreement upon the terms of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce satisfactory to both parties before the execution of the Claims Conventions, the Mexican proposals may offer a way out of the present impasse. In other words, if such an agreement can be arrived at, the Department would be disposed to meet General Obregon's wishes for a brief delay in its execution. Unless General Obregon is willing to put the draft of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce into a form acceptable to both parties beforehand, it would be futile to engage in any discussion of the claims conventions themselves. However, should General Obregon be willing to adopt the above suggestion, the Department will immediately indicate certain minor changes which it believes should be made in the draft claims conventions proposed by Mr. Pani. HUGHES 711.1211/31 The Chargé in Mexico (Summerlin) to the Secretary of State No. 4970 MEXICO, February 10, 1922. SIR: In confirmation of the Embassy's telegram No. 19, February 9, 8 p.m., I have the honor to forward herewith a copy and translation of Mr. Pani's informal note, dated February 9th, in reply to the Embassy's informal communication of the sixth instant. A copy and translation of the enclosure referred to in Mr. Pani's note is also attached." Special attention is invited to the final statement of Mr. Pani in relation to Article 2 of the proposed Treaty of Amity and Commerce, namely, "but I refrain from dwelling upon these again, since you have already informed me that the Government of the United States will not insist upon this point." Early this morning, I arranged for an interview with Mr. Pani and pointed out to him that his statement, as above quoted, was entirely erroneous. I stated that not only had I never made a statement to that effect but also that I had no reason to believe that my Government would not insist upon the point in question. Mr. Pani stated that he had gathered the impression that the Department would not insist on this Article. He said that the entire text in its present form had already been telegraphed to Washington and suggested that I write him in regard to the error and that the correction could be made in that manner. This I have done, and a copy of my informal note of to-day in regard to the correction is enclosed herewith. A copy of Mr. Pani's correction will be promptly forwarded to the Department." I have [etc.] [Enclosure Translation "] GEORGE T. SUMMERLIN The Mexican Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Pani) to the American Chargé (Summerlin) MEXICO, February 9, 1922. MY DEAR MR. SUMMERLIN: With reference to your informal communication of the 6th instant, relative to the conventions on claims which our Governments propose to make and the Treaty of Amity "Not printed. 6 See telegram no. 14, Feb. 4, to the Chargé in Mexico, p. 640. 'File translation revised. and Commerce submitted by the Government of the United States of America to the Mexican Government through the medium of yourself, I take pleasure in replying to you, likewise informally, as follows: The Mexican Government, as I have expressed to you on other occasions, is disposed to sign immediately the conventions on claims the drafts of which it submitted to the Government of the United States as a result of the general invitation which this Government extended to the governments of all countries whose nationals have claims pending against Mexico. With the signing of convention number one, upon the Mexican Government's being implicitly recognized and diplomatic relations being resumed, concurrently all the difficulties emanating from the present revolution would be eliminated. With the signing of convention number two the difficulties of the past which still persist and which might impede the friendly rapprochement of the two peoples would disappear. And thus the field being cleared of obstacles, past and present, the Government of Mexico would be enabled to enter into a discussion of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, if such a treaty should serve as a factor in strengthening the future bonds between the two countries. But, as the Department of State, through you, observes: (1) The Government of the United States is not disposed to sign the conventions in reference until it shall have the assurance that the rights acquired by American citizens prior to the governance of the Constitution of 1917 are adequately safeguarded; and (2) Article I of the proposed Treaty of Amity and Commerce submitted to General Obregón on May 27, 1921, was formulated solely with this object. I have to say to you regarding the first point that the desire of the Government of the United States, quite explicable doubtless, with regard to obtaining assurances that the rights acquired by American citizens prior to the governance of the Constitution of 1917 shall be properly safeguarded, is, in the judgment of the Government of Mexico, altogether satisfied in a practical and concrete manner, despite the absence of agreements or treaties, by the mere effects of the policy adopted since the present Government of Mexico was inaugurated. If, as this Government understands, the aims of the White House are, in essence, to obtain, in Mexico, a state of affairs favorable, legitimate, and equitable, to the development of American interests established here, or which may be, and thereby obtain for them the fullest measure of security, then the policy of guarantees, respect, and encouragement for all foreign interests, not solely for American interests, put in practice voluntarily and effectively by this Government from the time of its establishment, meets the proposals |