New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-01-01
CLOSER RELATIONS WITH
MEXICO.

EUltOF EHtcrpflSe, new Iberia
La:
Dear Sir-In view of the pres
ent wide ?spread agitation
throughout the United States 10
the establishment Of closer trad
relations with Mexico and the re
publics of Central America ant
South America, | beg to direc
your attention to the attached
editorial from the Wall Stree
Journal, Of Nov. 10. 1915.
The very cOmmendable effort.
that are being made by variou.
commercial and civic bodies. as
well as by the press, toward the
inauguration of an era of closer
social. commercial and economic
unity between the United State
and her sister republics will be
strengthened by the encourage
mcnt of a spirit of friendly CO.
operation. First. however, an
understanding on the part Of tn
people of the United States of the
conditions which hay" operate.
to prevent the earlier establish
ment of this unity is necessary in
order that the suggested mutual
and friendly cooperation may at
tam the greatest possible degre,
Of success. This is a duty that
devolves upon the press.
! had the honor to represent the
sisal (henequen) interests Of Yu-
catan and the Governor Of that
State in the negotiations with
American bankers which result
ed in the formation, recently, of
the million dollar corporation re-
fcrred to i'm the above mentioned
editorial. That American cOrpo-
ration has concluded loan agree
ment with the COmision Regula-
dora del McrcadO he Hencqucn, a
public institution which repre-
sents the sisal interests of Yucca
ton, whereby the sisaI growers
will be enabled to borrow up to
S1O. 100000 on sisal stored in Sc
[ccted and bonded warehouse, in
the United States.
This loan arrangements was eff
fected for the purpose of freeing
the henequen industry of Yucca
tan from the clutches of a mo-
nopoly operating in the interest
Of two powerful American corpo-
rations. Before the revolution
IN Mexico that monopoly was able
10 arbitrarily fix the price pai}
to the producer as well as the
rrice exacted from the indepen
lent manufacturers of binder
wine in the United States. IT.
vas detrimental alike to the Y
,atan farmer and the American
farmer. who is the ultimate con
'umer of henequen.
Only a thorough understanding
II conditions in Yucatan and the |
that confronted
lenequen planters in their efforts
o liberate the product of their
oil and labor from the manipula-
ions of this price-fxing middle
nan-mOnOpOly, and the NANTES
alton Of a sympathetic interes
~ the American bankers, could
lave made possible the consumma-
ion of this mutually satisfactor
Oan agreement.
AS was to be expected, siren
IOus efforts were made by those
Who had accumulated millions of |
[Ollars through the operation OF
he old price-fiXing monopoly to
[efeat the plans Of the Henequen
irOwers Association and Of the
Government of Yucatan to break
lp that control. We were threat
ned with the active exertion at
Washington Of the political in
[uence Of the powerful American
corporations which had profted
y the old monopoly; scores Of
detectives were hired to hound
ur steps and shadow, even, the
and others who had dis
'layed a willingness to give us
riendly cooperation. / am glad
0 be able to say, however, that,
generally speaking, l and my as
ociates have met with a sincere
manifestation of sympathetic sup
'ort and a spirit Of the most
ordial cooperation from officials,
usiness men and the press of this
ountry.
AS a Mexican who feels the
esponsibility of utilizing his cap
bilities for the moral, social and