Evening star., 1925-11-21

The Mexican senate yesterday
adopted the anti-alien law. restricting
the right Of non Mexicans to hold ae-
ricultural land in Mexico. The bill
had already passed the radical House.
This opens a question as to what the
Department of State Of the United
States will do in protest against wnat
is claimed to be a violation of the
terms on which Mexico gained recoS-
milton for the present government un-
der the revolutionary constitution OF
1917.
The Mexican constitution is mod
eled after orr own, and so recognizes
international law regarding the su-
preme rank OF trea ties. For years
after the 1917 revolution in Mexico
this country refused to give the revo-
lutionists diplomatic recognition. un-
Ill It was expressly agreed that no
act of the new government should
imperil the sanctity of American in
! vestments in which legal title had
been acquired prior to the adoption
Of the new constitution of May |.
! 1917. Upon the official assurance of
President Obregon that the conf1sca-
| ton or expropria ton of land as pro-
vided in the new constitution. should
never be applied retroactively. this
country gave recognition September
2. 1928, but made that recognition
| conditional upon
ID ADEQUATE indemnification in cash
| for appropriated lands; t2) non-retro-
| active application of the provisions
| involving nationa liza ton Of subsoil
deposits-OreS and oil.
President CarraIza had previously
given similar assurances Of protection
of titles acquired prior to the new
constitution, but had evaded his obli-
/ ga tons through narrow court rulings,
which experience added to American
wariness before recognizing the new
government. Mexico agreed in prin-
| ciple." but differed as to what should
constitute adequate assurances" and
| acquired rights"
| Now arises what American investors
claim is tangible and dangerous vio.
| lation of the terms OF agreement to
| protect foreign investments. This
| comes in the form OF a law "esta blish.
, the first section Of article q of the
constitution"
To the Mexican statesman this ap-
pears as simply carrying out the pro-
visions Of their constitution; to the
| American it appears as a very OBJ
| jectionable violation of the assurances
| of President CarranZa and President
| IL,
and his administration are enjoying
United States recognition.
The new law may he summarized
as follows:
Article l. No alien may personally
! acquire direct ownership Of land and
water within a strip Of 100 kilo-
meters along the border and so on
the seashore. nor be a partner in
Mexican corporations which shall
have or acquire such ownership on
the same strip.
Article =. Provides that II any
| alien desires to 80 invest he must
| sign an agreement setting forth that
he conSiders himself national Mex
| ican) so far as concerns that property
and he will not invoke the protection
Of his own government, under penalty
| of forfeiture of his property.
Article 8. Provides that no Mexi
can corporation engaged in agri
| culture shall be issued a permit tc
operate, in case the stock is held by
aliens to the amount of so per cen,
or more.
Article 4. Provides that corpora
tions holding real estate for agri
culture shall dispose of it within IL
years.
| Tbie * retroac ctjye action ara in a,