Milford chronicle., 1939-06-09
THE WAY OF THE TRANGRESSOR
is HARD

IL HARD
Stories in Mexican newspapers
tell Of a continuous succession OF
train wrecks with great loss of life
OF strikes in industrial plants of all
kinds and sizes, of wholesale MUIR
der, of hunger and want on all sides
and OF soaring food prices. No one
can be insensitive to the human mis-
cry now prevalent throughout Mexi-
co even though he knows definitely
that Mexico is reaping the whirl-
wind of the wind she herself sowed.
For more than a century the peo-
pie of the Land of Manana have been
following the easy path. Debts have
been contracted, scaled down, ignor-
ed or disavowed as fancy willed. In
1876, the Minister of Finance de Cor
Ostiza told the Mexican Congress
that
"A simple elapse of time, or the
mere change of a minister, are suffi-
cient causes for a loan, no matter
how strongly it may be guaranteed.
to be doomed to oblivion. And so the
unpaid balance is set aside to be
paid when happy days arrive again.
By this powerful means there have
been thrown again and again into
the abysmal depths of public credit
the unpaid salaries of federal EN-
plOyees, the back pay of soldiers, the
insurance to their widows, together
with the balances from commercial
transactions. The government never
remembers that it is a debtor unless
harassed by those creditors who have
not yet had their credit submerged
into what is called public credit"
Shortly after becoming an inde-
pendent nation in 1921, Mexico con-
fiscated the property of Spaniards.
In 1859 she confiscated church prop
erty right and left. In 1925 she put
confiscation on a wholesale basis
and since then has made it an art.
Under Diaz Mexico's credit i'm
proved. then later under Madero and
Carranza it again was completely
destroyed.
In 1922 Mexico's foreign debt was
scaled down from $725.00O,OO0 to-
$445, ,101 900. She serviced this pub
lie debt for a few years then grew
tired and in 1927 she again shrugged
her shoulders and discontinued pay
ing.
Exclusive of the value of the ex-
foreign-owned oil proper
ties, Mexico's total foreign debt to-
day exceeds S1,453, 100000. This debt
is in complete default and has not
been serviced for more than eleven
years.
A part of the Mexican govern
ment' obligations represents money
borrowed from the people of foreign |
represents bonds is
sued in payment for confiscation OF
properties.
This confiscation program paid FOR
with worthless bonds has been go
ing on for sometime. Two years ago
Mexico took over the American-own-
I'd railway system which represent |
ID an investment and deferred inter-
est. charges of nearly one-hah BILL
lion dollars. During the past thirty
years she has confiscated more than
100 million dollars worth of agrarian
ands owned by American citizens.
These claims continue to beg Tor
After years Of negotia-
ions covering several thousand
claims, only 124 have been approved.
These were settled for fraction oil
heir face value.
The farm lands which fed Mexico
when foreign-owned and operated
low lie sterile when government
,wned and operated. AS a conse-
luence all Mexico is hungry today
The railroads which when foreign
,wned and operated were well equip
,ed and safe, today government-ow-
led and labor operated, are a de-
tructiye shambles. Oil properties
which when foreign-owned and oper-
ted adequately supplied all Mexico
With quality products, now govern
and labor operated are
eported by Mexico City newspapers
o be inadequately supplying large
art of Mexico with inferior pro-
ucts.
Today bankrupt Mexico stands
elf-convicted outlaw before the ma
ions of the world as her bewildered'
ungry people fight for bare exis-
ence. Truly the way of the trans
ressor is hard. 1t is more-it is inn
ossible.
,-1 T,,V,, Ath