The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-05
FEELING IN MEXICO
MAY Be CHANGING
Reports Indicate Shifting Of
Sentiment Respecting
Foreign Capital.
SAY HOSTILITY VANISHING
American Oil Interests Have
Not Receded From Their
Original Stand.

WATERMELON, April 4.--Private and
official advices from Mexico city within
the last few days were interpreted as
clearly indicating a sudden change In
sentiment In Mexico toward foreign In
vestments In that republic and that the
coming session OF Congress would clear
the atmosphere OF much hostility shown
since the adoption of the 1917 constitu-
ton. Diplomatic circles and officials of
the State Department are much inter-
ested in the apparent change of front az
manifested in newspaper editorials and
statements by members OF the Mexican
Congress
The American oil interests in Mexico
have not receded from the stand orig
inally taken that their vested rights in
Mexico must be recognized and that the
enti-foreign and conflscatory features OF
the new constitution must not operate
ex post facto against them. Nor have
they shown inclination to waive rights
In property purchased under existing
Mexican laws, but which were jeopar-
died by the new constitutions The
American. British and French Govern
ments have protested to the Mexican
Government against the operation OF
certain parts of the constitution termed
"confiscatory."
From recent advices IT appears that
the new attitude OF the Mexican peo-
pie at least, and II is believed in official
circles that that attitude is Inspired by
the Government, is to recognize the
rights OF all people, including foreigners,
10 their vested rights under international
law.
The recent visit of Rafael Nieto, act
Ing Minister of Finance In the Mexican
Government to New York, where a.
consulted with International bankers re-
Earding the prospect of a loan to Mexico
and the correspondence between former
Minister of Finance Limantour and
President Carranza, which resulted in
the latter's extending an invitation TO
President Diaz's experienced financial
aide, and believed to have been two in
1uences that have changed the stand of
the Mexican Government
Nieto is known to have met with no
success and little encouragement in New
York beyond a promise of consideration
of the request when Mexico showed that
she would accord proper treatment and
protection to foreign investors. Liman-
tour must have advised Carranza,
offlcials believe. that It would be impos-
siole to obtain financial aid for Mexico
as long as the Mexican Government
maintained its hostile attitude toward
foreign investors.
CIt IL dlhIS sthtcu dS lawn 3
caused change In public sentiment, is
a book recently published In Mexico en-
tltledw Foreign Investments in Mexico
and written by Carlos Diaz Dufoo. editor
OF Ell Impdrcidl. which has had an UNI
precedented popularity among the Next
can reading population. According to
that book Mexico needs capital in a
degree perhaps not experienced by any
other young nation Every industry de-
rands 1t. agriculture no less than cattle
raising, mining and the oil industry
alike" The book adds that foreigners
are the only people who have the neces-
Rary capital or arS willing to risk 1t In
hazardous investments.
Practically all the newspapers OF
Mexico City and many of the provisional
papers are reported printing interviews
with members of Mexico's Congress and
editorially commenting on the problem
Of foreign investments. especially the oil
industry.