Page:Mexico and its reconstruction.djvu/322

304 It may be the part of friendship to wait until such unwillingness disappears, rather than to help her borrow money on conditions which, if fulfilled, may prove a drag upon her economic recovery and, if not fulfilled, a threat to international peace.

But the financing of the obligations of the government is not the only financial assistance Mexico will need. The industries already developed, especially her public services, will need large amounts of capital for their rehabilitation and their further expansion. Natural resources, until now almost untouched, can be brought to contribute to solving the problems of the republic only by assistance from beyond the national boundaries.

These funds can be obtained on advantageous terms only if the foreigner is assured by Mexico and by his home government that the cooperation sought is not one back of which lies a narrow, anti-foreign, illiberal policy. If there is shown a genuine desire on the part of the Mexican government and Mexican people to have the help of foreigners in the development of the republic and if other states make clear to their investing citizens that conditions will not be allowed to arise in which they will find themselves harassed by legislation that will practically confiscate rights worthy of protection, this help, like that to the government itself, will be forthcoming on favorable terms. Mexico will again have the possibility of becoming a strong American state. If, on the other hand, the "nationalization movement" continues to show the characteristics that have marked it heretofore, there is no doubt that the reconstruction of Mexico will be at least greatly retarded.