Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-03

government is opposed to foreign
capital.
Il want to ask you, if you can do
so conveniently, to make It plain to
the readers of the GlobeDemocrat
that the attitude of the government
never was more friendly to American
capital and all other foreign invest
ments than it is today. Not the
slightest obstacle will be put in the
way of tie foreign investor. He will
be welcomed by both the government
and the people of the country"
I,pointed out to the minister of
finance that nothing in the dispatch
could be construed by the intelligent
reader in the manner his fear had
suggested; that it only recorded the
openly announced program Of the
leaders of the Madero party against
special privilege, not only in the case
of foreigners, but also in that Of Mex
lean inventors.
Il am pleased to hear that you are
confident that your section of the
reading public will not gain the i'm
preston that this government intends
to conduct campaign against for
eign capital" replied Don Ernesto.
However, should be glad if you
will state the situation in more detail
in your dispatches at your conven-
ience."
THAT was the gist of the interview
We chatted a very few minutes on
general topics. l accepted a very
courteous invitation to call frequently
at the department and left.
I have quoted the conversation with
the minister of finance as the most
authoritative statement of the fear
of the Mexican financier, and at the
same time as typical of the express
sions made by men in private life.
Several closely 4ndentified with the
support of the candidacy of Francis
co Madero have expressed the hope
that the American people will not get
the situation confused in their minds
and interpret war against graft,
concessions, special privilege and
monopoly, with an assault on foreign
capital.
Welcomed by Americans.
Vic VI IACHA, A)O1 Juan 0AANAOA-
Azcona, one of the foremost leaders
of the revolution, now private secre-
tary of Francisco Madero, remarked
to me a day or two ogo: There is
! just as much foundation in any belief
that the projected fight against graft
means an attack on the foreign in
| weston, as there would be in a story
! that a shopkeeper wants to keep GUS
: toners out of his place of business
/ just because he has a burglar-proof
safe"
The fact is that the "even-break'
programme of the Madero party Is
welcomed especially by Americans in
this republic. They have benefited
to very small degree by big conces
sions. have talked perhaps to fifty
American business men in the capita
during my stay. Almost to mar
they have expressed their satisfaction
with the Madero plan. "All we wan
is a fair chance" they say, "and We
lean competitors"
Those who are most hostile to the
anti.special privilege campaign are
the proprietors of the intense con
cessions like the Pearson Oil Corpor
poration and members of the old
Cientifico crowd, who have been benz
fitted by high duty on steel products
The former concern headed by Lord
Cowdray, as has been set forth pre-
viously in these dipatches, is practi
cally a monopoly. The extent Of the
Pearson concessions and the convic'
ton among the Madero leaders that
these concessions will not hold water
when the courts get after them, COM
bine to make the corporation leading
candidate for first place in the row
of targets which will receive the fire
of the government in the Madero
antiprivilege shoot.
But the coming attack on Lord
Cowdray's English company's con-
concessions does not mean that Brit
ish capital is not wanted. And moth
ing in the Madero programme gives
the slightest indication of any pro-
gramme gives the slightest inconven-
fence for the American investor.
,"Come and come in a hurry, and also
bring your pocketbook," is fair ex-
preston of one of the slogans of the
slogans of the new government.
FREDERICK WIENER.