Show MEXICO ESTABLISHES E FREE PORTS 10 TO FOSTER TRADE Three Coast Cities Given Special Special- Privileges Under Recent Legislation II lly II If TURKISH United Ire ss Orl star Staff Co Correspondent iron dent MEXICO CITY Nov 20 Mexico's Mexico's I newest bid for an increased International international 1 commerce represented by the creation of free zones on both oth the east and west coasts has become a law This movement sponsored by Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary of he e Treasury a rYa AJ Alvarado and n en enacted enacted en- en acted d into 1 law by a decree o over the tho signature of President de do la provides that Guaymas and Salina Sauna Cruz on the west coast and Puerto Mexico on the east cast shall be converted Into free ports pr project According d will rl to stimulate its u official it ci manufacturing a backers ir the I I within Mexico at atthe the same time promoting promoting pro pro- the country's foreign trade puring the discussion of the proposition tion heavy opposition was aroused i Many of Its opponents declared the Idea i was simply represented the desire of certain government leaders leaders leaders lead lead- ers to promote their private Interests THAt E TIlA IDEA l Regardless of Its merits however the project is interesting because of its proposed relation to the commerce of North and South America as well as Europe and Asia The central idea of the plan has been directed toward utilizing the narrow strip of territory known as the Isthmus Isthmus mus ol If f Tehuantepec which is traversed through the states of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca by the Tehuantepec railway with Salina Cruz and Puerto Mexico as Its termini Mexican officials assert that by converting both of these cities Into free ports the isthmus can be made a of foreign trade in the western hemisphere second only to the i Panama the t law canal free on zones Thus will hp by be the hees established tt terms of J. J surrounding the ports customs for for- les will be suspended and merchandise merchandise mer mer- chandise which is in transit or which Isto is isto isto to be outside the country will be admitted free of duty MANUFACTURING FOCI The officials believe that th the zones will sIU then serve as assembling places places for for raw materials which may be turned into manufactured products w within the zones rones thus national indus indus- try The The Tehuantepec railWay IndUS j It tt is ishO hO hoped ed will serve as a logical medium for or the transit and distribution chandise between North and South America and Europe and th Bonded warehouses will for mone feature rca rea- ture ure of the new program Guaymas it is pointed out also has been een made a free freb port because its Us lo location location lo- lo cation In the Gulf of California in the northern state of Sonora gives it a position of vantage with respect to I North American and commerce Guaymas also is the terminus or of if the Southern South Pacific railway y of I Mexico which would be expected to transport raw products from northwestern northwestern north north- western vestern Mexico developing Guaymas as asa asa asI a I manufacturing and exporting Center The decree provides that the the- free ports orts of Salina Sauna Cruz and Puerto Mexico as well as the Tehuantepec railway be placed under the administration of a single board of directors to be named namedy by ty y the government |