National Republican., 1884-06-14
Rude Awakening Of Americans Lured to
Mexico by Visions Of Riches
They Find Themselves imprisoned and
Their Property Confiscated
At the Mercy Of Hostile officials, Who Laugh at
Efforts 10 Obtain Redress
Pitfalls Into Which Confiding Foreigners
Are Lured to Their Ruin.
To the EIHOr.

with Mexico. aud the increase Of American
interests in that country likelyito result from
IL, recall tho statement in one of tho papers
not long ago that foreign owners of real
estate in Mexico would forfeit such property
through two years absence, unless with
permission Of the Mexican government.
To those who have been led TO believe that
Mexico welcomes foreigners to her shores that
statement may have appeared to be unwar-
rantod. For, in tho language OF an able jurist,
commenting upon tho Mexican constitution
and the rights of foreigners to the guarantees
granted by that instrument, 1t is said that
the republic gives u free hospitality to all
foreigners, and invites them with tho riches of
the country"
Tho laws of Mexico, running as far back
as 1912, embody provisions that foreigners,
who are residents and denizens Of the republic,
may acquire and possess property by any title
established by law. Many persons have sought
to avail themselves of the benefit of these
enactments, conliding in the permanency of
the acquisition they made. But there are
coupled with these apparently liberal con-
cessions limitations, and restrictions affect
ing not only the tenure of property that may
be lawfully acquired, but as we'll the right to
acquire il at all.
Thus in the same acts which concede to
foreigners the right to acquire real estate
they are prohibited from acquiring such
property within fl ve leagues of the coast of tho
republic, unless u special law gives that privi-
lege No foreigner can. without previous
permission of the supreme government,
acquire real estate in tho frontier states or
territories except twenty leagues from tho
1s..n g q. NJ r..
acquire moro than two estates within the
same state or territory without the license
of the supreme government.
To obtain the permission required by these
laws the foreigner must address written
petition TO tho department of public works (;
upon this petition "a report must be made by
the government of the state or territory
where the land is situated, and upon q review
of all these tho application is decided.
If the permission is granted and purchase
made tho preamble of the deed must recite
the fact of such permissin n the nationality,
and residence of the parties or the notary
public will not take and certify tho execution
of the deed, and it will have no force as a
valid conveyance. If the purchase is to be
made by virtue of special law, tho special
law need not DO set out with all tho details AS
in case of permission, but it may be simply
referred to by its title
But after the foreigner has complied with
Ill these conditions and duly acquired the
property, he may lose his right to such real
estate
First. BY absenting himself with his family
for two years without tho permission of the
Mexican government
Second. By residing out of tho republic.
Third. BY transferring the property, by
inheritance, sale, or by any other title, to a
person who does not reside in the republic.
In all such cases the land must be sold,
either by the owner or by the state, and the
product of the sale in tho latter case deliv-
cred TO him who last owned tho land, with a
reduction of 10 per cent. Mines are excepted
from such forfeiture The fact that there
are such restrictions imperiling the rights of
property in Mexico is justly calculated to
cause widespread apprehension in the minds
of all foreigners who have investments in
real estate in that country.
To the many Americans who, turning to
that tempting field of operation, have
embarked capital and labor in the various
mining and railway enterprises of Mexico a
knowledge of these municipal laws aud the
fact and effect of their enforcement, is of
paramount Importance. This is especially
true, because there are no treaties in force
between Mexico and the United States
expressing reciprocal rights oftheir respective
citizens in the territory of the other that
would in any way exempt American
citizens from tho operation of such
laws Though American energy
responding 10 MeNlcOS invitation to
come to her shores aud help her utilize her
vast and scarcely developed natural resources
may hnd employment for tho accumulated
wealth and industry of the United States,
but few persons would deliberately invest
money or bestow labor TO acquire property in
country where it would be liable to be
swept away in moment by tho operation OF
laws SO repugnant to the principles of repub.
lican government and so subversive Of the
sacreds right of property.
Many who have gone to Mexico to improve
their worldly estate have been lured by
visions OF rapidly acquired wealth in "Old
Mexico" and have given little thought to the
question OF their standing and rights in a
foreign land. They have taken it for granted
that tho municipal laws and regulations OF
Mexico and the United States are alike,
because each country has u republican
form of government based on u written
constitution. As a matter OF fact, while
tho respective constitutions and bills
of rights by the two republics are similar,
that of Mexico being possibly more liberal
than that of the United States, tho muni.
cipal regulations of the former, in all that
relates to the status of foreign residents and
their property rights, not only differ from
those OF the United States but arc in strong
contrast with the liberal spirit of the Mexican
constitution,
For instance, Mexico treats all foreigners
found in her jurisdiction upon tho presump-
tion that they are her subjects aud imposes
on them the burden of removing that pre-
sumption by some ilirmative action on their
part. Thus, II foreigner in Mexico who would
avail himself Of the privileges assured to
foreigners by these laws be his object bus-
ness or pleasure, must report to tho foreign
Office, and establish to its satisfaction his
foreign nationality, and his desire to retain it,
despite his residence in Mexico. This may bo
proved by his passport from his own govern
ment, or the next best evidence. This bong
accomplished, he is registered at that office
as u foreigner or "matrculated," as il Ia
styled, and as such foreigner he will be re-
cognized by tho Mexican government some
thing after the manner that a depOsitor in u
bank is registered that tho bank may iden-
tliy him and determine the genuincncss of
checks drawn against his funds
Upon being thus registered or "matricu-
lated certificate of matriculaton is issued
10 him Without such n certificate his rights
Rs foreigner will not bo recognized by the
government. To quote the language OF the
regulation, Neither shall there be admitted
in any Offices of the republic any claim or
question on the part of foreigners unless
upon making or presenting the same
they present the certificate of matriculatiou,
OF which record shall be made of the papors
of the case" 'and SO far as relates 20 the
period previous to the date whom they were
inscribed and obtained tho certificate of
matriCulation they shall not onjoy any
rights, neither shall there be- admitted any
claim or question coming from them under