Evening star., 1921-12-25
By EDWARD MARSHALL.
New York, December "a, 1872

Know D6tter "nQt 1S nap
penlng in Europe. This ar
ticle will astonish you. Mexico has
just performed q financial feat said to
be unparalleled In the history of ma
tions. paying OF her entire internal
debt in q few weeks. She will soon
start upon her foreign obligations
and. according to G. X. Fankhauser. .
will clean them up almost as quickly.
thus Transforming herself. as If by
magic. from a pauper nation into one
on as solid a financial basis as any
in the world.
MIR. Fankhauser Is an American
banker and general business expert
OF distinction, and has Just returned
from long tour Of inspection of the
republic to the southwark, during
which he saw all vital points and
talked with every man of real i'm
portance. His associations with Pres
ident Obregon were close and friend
ly. but he represented American. not
Mexican, interests.
The interview which follows is ex-
elusive and Is the first statement of
the amazing facts to be given to the
American public. In discussing the
United States with Mexico Mr.. Fank
hauser minced no words. being quite
frank in describing to the Mexicans
the errors they have made and the
things they must do If they would
take their proper place among the
nations Of the world. In discussing
Mexico with the United Statees. as
will appear. he is as frankly critical
of our own procedure.
X X X
"WIsDoM in her own capital and
w ours is bringing better things
to pass in Mexico. They will continue
to improve" said he. To-day the
Mexican people have escaped the feel
ing Of discouragement. are resolved
to triumph over difficulties and are
wholly sane.
NO revolution or disturbance of any
kind threatens. Mexico is rebuilding
that which was destroyed. building
new on every hand. working hard
and thinking hard. She has paid her
whole internal debt and will pay
every penny Of her foreign debt. En-
nifty toward the United States has
vanished. American citizens are
treated now with full consideration.
"A very recent effort made to con-
vince Mexico that if Latin America
could solidify herself from the Rio
Grande to Cape Horn it would be
possible to make connections over
seas which would enable all concerned
to witt ho
failed.
1.-The better minds of Mexico, in
cluding that of President Obregon.
were not misled by this extremely
clever plot against the United States.
Spanish influence in Mexico is large.
first. because Mexicans speak the
Spanish language. and, second, be-
cause there is in Mexico large and
important Spanish colony. In Mexico
City the Spaniards have one of the
finest clubs in the world and un-
doubtedly it is a center Of great in
fiuence and of political activity.
Spanish influence is not favorable to
INSTRUMENTATION friendship.
German influence, strongly anti
American also, works while we sleep.
and very powerfully. through those
trade channels which the Germans
had so fully organized before the war
began and which we had so utterly
neglected. Many of these have real
and the Germans both understand
Mexico and we do not-nor do we
try to.
The English, also, understand the
Mexicans. Undoubtedly the British
are doing what they can in a quiet,
diplomatic way to secure all they can
Of the tremendous opportunities in
oil, timber and other business. In
such matters England's vast invest
strong, indeed.
And there is still another influence
in one way or another not favorable
to the United States-that of the
Japanese The United States SHOULD
not ignore this
"Japan's interest in Mexico is nat
ural. We will assume that the con-
ference will not entirely settle the
Pacific question. Japan's desires are
States is her only rival And every
year, through the developments of
communications and transportation,
the shores of Mexico come hundreds
of miles nearer to those of Japan.
The Japanese are developing aircraft.
They have great wireless stations.
Their foothold in Mexico already is
very great. They are encouraging the
development of several ports of the
Mexican Pacific coast. These are
Manzanillo. in Sinaloa, just below the
tip of Lower California, and Acapulco.
have not visited that coast"
., ** X X
MIR. FANKHAUSER disclaimed any
knowledge of japanese railway
project to span Mexico from one of
these ports to the gulf. have heard
OF it, however.
mo real student of the situation
can conceive any reason for Americas
Indifference to Mexico other than
sheer inertia. We have the richest
country in the world lying just to
south of us. 1t easily could be built
into a great bulwark against every
enemy and a source of splendid
wealth. honestly gained, and carrying
with it, as its best part. a fine friend
ship; but instead of making it such
a bulwark We have kept it as a grow
ing menace ever since the day of
Diaz's fight.
kindly interest is that which Mex