Oil in Apse

Diffident hintings from both Mexican government and Catholic hierarchy have suggested many points of possible compromise in the vexed problem of Mexico's religious laws (TIME, May 13, et seq.) Trustworthy seemed the report that the Vatican had agreed to recognize government ownership of Church property if the Church were made official guardian of the same.

Acting last week apparently on the strength of this rumor, the Section of Exploration and Geological Studies of Mexico's Department of Industry, Commerce and Labor announced that it was preparing to dig for oil in the apse of the National Cathedral. The inference was that if any oil were found under the episcopal seat that oil would belong to the government.

The explorers and geologists pointed out that there was good reason to believe that the Aztecs used and exploited petroleum. The immense, ornate 17th Century cathedral was built on the site of the great sacrificial pyramid destroyed by Cortez in 1521. New evidence points to the fact that the pyramid had covered a primitive oil well. While the scientists talked and planned, pious Mexicans visioned in shocked silence the desecration of one of America's oldest and holiest shrines.