Arizona republican., 1921-04-05
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 5. 1921.
The ldaUs Of conscience aUFich aUe pretend to De de1ived from noture, proceed from custom.
 -Montaigme
American Taxpayers in Mexico

American Taxpayers in Mexico There is another beside legal question involved the of American citizens in Mexico who are resisting payment of taxes incomes derived and expended In that country. according to dispatch received yesterday. People taxes for the support of thcr government, chiefly for the protection it affords them the security it offers for life and prop erty and its guarantes of their well-being. These things not to be had for nothing.
 The American residents in Mexico may rightfuy claim that during the eight they have not had this protection and these guaranties. and that. therefore they should pay nothing for goods which have not been delivered to them-
 Taxes though, paid for past benefits, but in expectation future benefits much as insurance premiums paid, so that these American citizens are now asked to pay guaranes of the protection which their government will afford them in Mexico wherever else they be in country with which ours has exchanged guaranties of protection of the citizens of each.
 -An American citizen could not reasonably expect ths protection of his country while remaining in an enemy country. Nor could he expect it while residing in country with which his country had exchange of mutual guaranties. citizen situated has tenn porariy placed himself beyond the protection Of his country It owes him nothing and he owes it nothing but his allegiance. which he may throw off at any time by the Lrocess of naturalization.
 The Mexican revolution, beginning in 1911, found many American citizens in that country They were there under guaranes of protection given in treaty bet the countries. Theoretically they were as safe there as they would have been at home They had the protection of the Mexican laws as far as the government able to enforce them They always be guaranteed against banditry and assassination. in this country the government cannot absolutely guarantee it's citizens.
 But time came when government not only ceased tc demand protection for its citizens but Mr. Bryan, as secretary of state. formally withdrew all pretense of claims for their protection especially Of those who were possessed of wealth. and thus adver tised to the various Mexican factions that the "open season" rich Americans had come
 Therefore rich Americans who have survived the las. eight years they under obligation to their government They have come into reason able degree of security under Mexican laws they are administered by the obregon government. They have had no under the present regime, ante dating by some months the Harding administrations They feel that whatever they owe for the security they now enjoy they to the Mexican government.
 In another dispatch appearing yesterday, the Mexican government, according to a statement by President Obregon Sunday proposes to strengthen its guarantees of protection:
 Absolute observance of laws imparting
 complete guaranties to the lives and interests
 of nationals and foreigners is the motif of the
 government. There also is frank hospitality
 toward all business
 A decree has been issued extending terms
 fixed for the admission of claims for damages
 caused during the revolution, and law regu-
 latng these claims is about to be published
 Restitution of all properties which have been
 seized by former governments is about to be
 completed.
 There also will be congress shortly
 bill destined to grant greater guaranties to
 national and foreigners against transgressions
 those who, under the name of rebels, conn.,
 init outrages.
 be observed that what Mexico has complshed within the last eight months it has plished alore entirely from within. Whether its work will be permanent is yet to be demonstra ted is unsupported yet by government There is relation between the United States and Mexico sucf as recognition by would establish Perhap. government would extend this recognition ant thus pu; itself in position guarantee the well being of Americans in Mexico, citizens ther would less hesitant their duties $ cti and taxpayers.