death, and confiscation of the property of those who violate this our law."[1]
The suspicion of foreigners continued a part of Spanish policy to the end of the colonial period. Mexican distrust was studiously turned against the then weak United States. From time to time the governors "were admonished to keep a vigilant eye upon the restless sons of the Northern Republic." When New Spain threw off the yoke of the mother country it might have been expected that this policy would be reversed, that the foreigner would be welcomed and that a rapprochement between the young republics of North America would occur. To some degree this did happen. Discriminatory legislation was repealed and the laws above cited were suspended by decree of October 7, 1823.[2]
There can scarcely be said to have been an established policy on international affairs in Mexico in the years following the winning of independence, for domestic problems kept her statesmen so fully occupied. Toward foreigners there was a clearer policy than on most lines. Those in power realized more clearly, it appears, than have some of their successors that the foreigner was essential to the development of a strong Mexico. Persons of European stocks were to be encouraged to settle in the republic. It was believed that it would be best for the central government to deliver over to the states the encouragement of immigration since each would be anx-
