REVOLT IN MEXICO

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1929, Page 8

REVOLT IN MEXICO

A revolt in Mexico is no novelty. Tlic people of that country would hardly lie happy, it might be supposed, judging from their modern history if, they did not have a bout of civil warfare every few years. The {present upheaval is assuming somewhat serious proportions. Its object is apparenly to drive the President out ol office and provide a successor who will institute administrative changes desired by a section of the people. There are too many generals in .Mexico, and there never seems to be much difficulty in linding at short notice one or two who are quite prepared to lead the lorecs of rebellion. Reports bearing on the situation which is now developing indicate that the standard of revolt has been raised in several of the Mexican States, and the rebels who include section of the army led by Generals Maiulo and Aguirre, have achieved a certain amount of success in the lighting lins already taken place. It seems, too, that the Mexican Navy or part of it. is also prepared to take a hand on the rebel side so lar as it find the opportunity. To gather some idea of the causes that may underlie the present revolt it is desirable to glance at recent political events in Mexico. In July last Generali Obregon, -President-elect as successor to General Callcs. was assassinated. Pressure was brought to bear np<in Callcs to continue in olliee. but be declined, and constitutional procedure required that, a Provisional President be elected for at least a year. The choice fell upon Sonor Fortes Gil, a civilian and a lawyer, who had occupied the position of Minister of the Interior. In the ordinaly course of events a constitutional President will be chosen at elections to be held in November next, who will serve p,;i- the balance of' the full six years of (he Presidential term.

The trial following the assassination of General Obregon led to the death sentence being passed upon the actual assassin, and a sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment in the ease of the Mother Superior of a Mexican convent wlirt was charged with being the '•intellectual author” of the crime. The whole affair helped to stir up afrseli tlic fueling prevalent in the country over the religious question. It will be noted that this question lias already cropped up in connection with the ~recent revolt in a declaration of religious freedom in one of the vtate, and in reported preparations for a ieopening of the Roman Catholic cathedrals there that had been closed. i» i s to be recalled that Obregon and Callcs provided an example of administrative harmony without precedent in Mexican blstow. Obregon has gene,, and the Provisional President, Fortes Gil. is presumably regarded more or less as a hgure-hea«. holding office with the approval of General Callcs. There seem much in the circumstances to justify the statement that the revolution is actually directed chiefly against Calles who is still no doubt regarded as the strong man behind the present Administration, despite the announcement of his absolute retirement from public life. in taking office three months ago the Provisional President pledged himself to the maintenance of the revolutionary aims attained by Presidents Obregon and Callcs, and, inter alia, to certain labour reforms. One ol the early troubes of the Porte,s Gil Gvernment lias consisted in the open breach re-

viltiup; between itself and organised labour in the country. The opposing •loincuts in the present revolt will no build; he soon more clearly identified. ''r> whatever degree the action of the rebels may be directed against GenerI {Julies himself it is clear that bis •. il be the big part in suppressing the revolt, if crushed it is to be, since lie has been recalled by the Government as head of tlie loyalist army. Mexico’s national past has been dotted hy many uprising and lesser revolts, hut, broaillv speaking, the Revolution, as it is called in the country, has lasted a score of years.

The year IDOS is identified as that in which tiro Mexican Revolution against absolutism had its birth, though it was not till two years later that Madero, tin* “apostle” and “martyr” as he is known in Mexico, raised t'lc standard of revolt against tlie Dictatorship. Till recently two personalities have stood out as prominent in what is still understood as the Revolution, Obregon and Calles. Kslimntes of the value of the former s services to his country may vary, hill a competent verdict is that “history will accord him a high place in Mexico’-, destine.

Of Calles an American writer resident in Mexico has said : “The story of his administration is an inspiring one of a herculean attempt to divert the course of the development of the country into channels of sound nationalism, to create a free and sane people and provide the bases of consistent institutional progress. His record in constructive achievement will stand as an example to his compatriots and to administrators the world over as a great and statesmanlike achievement carried through in the face of incredible odds. The worst blots upon his Administration have been some of the arbitrary masure practised against the Catholics.” It was one of General Obregon’s declarations two days before his death that lie would not modify the anticlerical restrictions. If, on the whole (lie Governments of which the present Administration is tlie successor have done well for Mexico and the Mexican people it is the more desirable that the present insurrection should be speedily suppressed. In its occurrence it seems to furnish another illustration of the ruinous dominance of the army in Mexican national life.