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62 that these provisions of the constitution will be enforced some day, while others will remark:

"Oh, but what is a constitution among friends?"

Nevertheless the chief obstacle to reconstruction in Mexico to-day is the lack of confidence of foreign investors in the stability and honesty of the present government. As long as there are rebels and grafting generals about the country, and so long as the present government holds property confiscated when the Constitutionalists were a de facto government, foreigners will be sceptical of Mexico. President Carranza and his most trusted advisors know this but they are still, to a certain degree, hampered by the radicals, who know nothing and care less about international obligations. Where it is possible the present government is returning confiscated property, even that belonging to the old Cientificos, the so-called "scientific grafters" of the Diaz régime.

When the State Department sent Mr. George A. Chamberlain to Mexico City to reopen the United States Consulate-General, he selected a house on Avenida Juarez which was built by Señor Limantour, Secretary of the Treasury under President Diaz. The house at the time was occupied by General Urquizo under confiscation orders of the government. Mr. Chamberlain told the owners he wanted to rent the place on behalf of the United States Government. General Urquizo