The Mexican Foreign Office attempted to modify the recent decree barring immigrants from many liberal professions before it was promulgated, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned today. A Foreign Office spokesman said that Foreign Minister Ezeqiel Padilla considered the decree “deplorably nationalism,” and was displeased that Mexico had adopted “this type of chauvinistic legislation.”
Prominent professionals and influential sections of the press have voiced opposition to the restrictions on immigrants. Mexican University professors, physicians and grade school teachers were among those who told this correspondent that they opposed the new regulations. The newspaper Excelsior said that barring foreign professionals was completely undemocratic and will damage rather than strengthen the development of the country.
The newspapers Ultimas Noticies and Novedades, both of which have, in the past, railed against “foreign infiltration,” protested that the decree was too rigid and contrary to Mexican practice. El Universal Grafice, while agreeing that Mexico had a right to establish reasonable restrictions on aliens competing with native professionals, expressed doubts whether the present decree was entirely reasonable.
The section affecting immigrants was only a small part of the law. Most of its provisions are aimed at cleaning up the professions, which are allegedly ridden with persons practicing without proper degrees and licenses. Bodies along the line of the American Medical Association were created to police the various professions.
Positions from which immigrants are barred under the law are accountant, actuary, architect, bacteriologist, biologist, broke, chemist, dentist, doctor, economist, engineer, lawyer, metallurgist, notary public, nurse, pilot, social worker, teacher and veterinary.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
