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Show SUDDEN CHANGE OF MEXICAN VIEW Coming Congress to Clear Situation Sit-uation on Foreign Investments Invest-ments in Mexico. 1 U. S. OIL INTERESTS American, British and French Protest Against Confiscatory Confisca-tory Ruling of 1917. WASHINGTON. April 4 Private and official advices from Mexico City within the last few days were interpreted inter-preted as clearly indicating a sudden change in sentiment in the republic toward foreign imestments in Mexico and that the coming general session of congress will clear the atmosphere of much of the hostility shown Bince the adoption of the 1!17 constitution. Diplomatic circles and officials of the state department are much interested in this apparent change of front, as manifested in newspaper editorials and in statements by members of the Mexican congress which have been telegraphed here. The American oil interests in Mexico, Mexi-co, it was learned, have not receded from the stand originally taken that their vested rights in Mexico must be recognized and that the anti-foreign and confiscatory features of the new constitution must not operate ex-post facto against them. Nor have they shqwn any inclination to waive the rights in property which were purchased pur-chased under the existing laws of Mexico Mex-ico but which were jeopardized by the new constitution The American, lintish anil French governments have protested to the Mexican .ei . rnment against the operation of certain parts of the constitution wrich were termed "confiscatory." Rights to be Recognized. From recent advices if appears the new attitude of the Mexican people and it is believed in official circles that this attitude Is inspired by the government, is to recognize rights of all people including foreigners, to their vested rights under the international law. The recent visll of Rafael Nieto, acting minister of finance In the Mexican Mex-ican government to New York, where he consulted with international bankers bank-ers regarding the prospects of a loan to Mexico and the correspondence which has taken place between former Minister ol Mlnanoe Llmantour and President Carransa which resulted in tho latter extending an invitation to President Dias', experienced financial aide, are believed to have been two influences that have changed the stand of the Mexican government. Impossible to Secure Foreign Aid. Nieto Ls known to have met with no success and little encouragement In New York beyond a promise of consideration con-sideration of the request when Mexico showed she would accord proper treatment treat-ment and protection to foreign investors, inves-tors, llmantour must have advi sd Carranza and officials believe that, it would be Impossible to secure financial finan-cial aid for Mexico so long as the government gov-ernment maintained its hostile attitude atti-tude toward foreign investors. One influence which is frankly -;lr,t-ed as having caused a change in public pub-lic sentiment is a book recently puh-lished puh-lished in Mexico entitled "Foreign Jn- vestments in Mexico," and written by I Carlos Diaz Pufoo, editor of "El lui-parcial," lui-parcial," which has had an unprecedented unprece-dented popularity among the reading population of the republic. According to an extensive quotation from this book, which has heen received here through diplomatic channels, the author au-thor says: Mexico Needs Capital, "Mexico needs capital, in a degree perhaps not experienced by any other young nation. Every industry demands de-mands it. agriculture, no less than cattle cat-tle raising, mining and the oil industry indus-try alike The book then adds that foreigner are the only people who have the nec- II essary capital or who are willing t risk it in hazardous investments. Practically all the newspapers of Mexico City and many of the provincial provin-cial papers are reported to be printing print-ing interviews with members of congress con-gress And editorially commenting on the problems of toreign investments, esepeclally (he oil dustry. ' 1 1 I ' I -i ?iiieB |
