Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-26
bued with ideas of socialism and an
archism.

archiSm.
He looked at mo very seriously and
said:
"Are you acquainted with the causes
Of the revolution? Let me give you
brief review of what is actually trans
piring in our country.
political nature. 1t is an economic
revolution. It means the industrial
awakening of Mexico.
During the days of Diaz the natural
resources OF the country were expioi.,
ed by few rich friends of Diaz, who
were given special concessions. only
, those few developed the country. others
|-Mexicans as well as fore1gners-nao
no opportunities whatever. Mexico was
a land Of special privileges. This couid
not last forever, and the result was the
present revolution.
Rich in Natural Resources.
Mexico is a country rich in natural
resources, but all its wealth is merely
potential Money, and great deal OF
1t, has to be invested before we can
utilize the riches of our country. We
know this very well, and for that rea-
son we want foreigners to come and ex-
plot our resources, but they Will come
in the future under different conditions:
Mexico will no longer be iana a., OF
special privileges. but a land OF mil
! lion opportunities. 1t will be a country
where all will be given an equal chance.
Yes, indeed, we want foreigners, out
| we expect them to come to Mexico un-
der different conditions than they old
| in the days of DtaZ.
'They accuse US of being confiscators.
| A little reasoning will Immediately
show the fallacy of such thought.
"Of what value could all the foreign
flscate it? Mines. oil fields and other
property are of no value If they are not
exploited. To conf1scate them would
mean nothing more than getting a
they are operated by their owners the
government derives revenue from
such properties, and that Is what we
are after. A close inspection will con-
vince you that we need foreign capital,
| and, in return. we offer great oppor-
tunities, but the days Of special privi-
leges have gone, never to return. From
| the investor we expect nothing more
than an equitable revenue, and for this
he will be given the fullest protection
of the laws of the country.
To Reimburse Foreigners.
| LAS in all revolutions and upheavals.
a great deal of foreign property has
| been destroyed in Mexico. Whether
this was done Intentionally or not is
hard to establish. But, from the outset
the honest desire, of the constitution
alists to reimburse all those who had
suffered through loss OF property and
valuables. This phase of the recon-
structive work of the constitutionalists
is. 1 think, of greater importance to
foreigners than the proposed A. b. c.
peace conference. And 1t Is this phase
of the question. 1 hope. that the Wash
ington government and the representa-
tfveS of the Latin republics Will take
up, as l suggested"
According to the ideas of Gen. Car
rama, the question of foreign claims
is to be passed upon by tribunal COM
posed of members from various foreign
countries and of as many Mexicans.
Before this body all claims will be pre-
sented. evidence carefully Investigated,
and. if the claims are found Just. they
Will be adjudged to be paid by the
tionalist government Is to create a spe-
cial reserve fund out of the govern
ment revenue which Is to be used for
no other purpose than making good
ing the revolution. This, Gen. Carranza
claims, is one of the most important
problems of the whole. reconstructfve
program of Mexico and he deems 1t
defeated enemies in peace conferences.
Early Payment Of Debts.
Gen. Carranza thinks Mexico SO veal
thy and its income under normal
peaceful conditions SO large that 1t will
be able to pay or its internal and ex-
ternal debt in a comparatively short
time. He thinks that there are great
fields of natural resources which Will
be thrown open to the general public
for exploitation; resources not known
at present to the people, and enormous
ly rich, which through proper taxation
will increase the revenue of the coun-
try.
"a great deal Of the misunderstanding
between the foreign investors and the
constitutionalists is due to the desire
on the part of the former to cling to
the ideas of the old regime" continued
Gen. Carranza. The constitutional
lists believe In an equitable taxation Of
all products imported into or exported
from Mexico. This is not to be done
with the idea of burdening business