AGRARIANISM IN MEXICO 87 



practically ruined and, in one instance, taken by the 

 Mexican Government on account of unreasonable 

 demands of labor." This charge brought forth from 

 President Calles a spirited reply. He declared that 

 Mexico had promulgated her agrarian laws in the 

 exercise of her sovereignty. He referred also to the 

 Claims Conventions as proof of Mexico's willingness 

 to "comply with her international obligations and to 

 protect the life and interest of foreigners." 



An analysis of the land laws of Mexico by Charles 

 A. Frueauff rather effectively refutes the confiscation 

 theory. In Current History for June, 1926, in answer 

 to critics of Mexico's land policy, this able interpre- 

 ter of Mexican laws outlines the protection given to 

 alien owners. "A careful analysis of the entire situa- 

 tion," says Frueauff, "would seem to conclusively 

 prove that instead of the Mexican laws referred to 

 working out hardship and confiscation, they are in 

 reality the greatest and most important forward 

 step which has been taken by any nation in the 

 direction of the wise development and control of its 

 natural resources. Many of our own States have 

 taken some steps in directing and controlling produc- 

 tion, such as the control of gas wells and the produc- 

 tion therefrom the prohibition of the use of natural 

 gas for the manufacture of lampblack laws against 

 drilling restricted zones along railroad rights of 

 way and other places and we know the recent im- 

 portant meetings of our own governmental heads in 

 attempting to work out a feasible plan for the control 



