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9/8/1961 - Mexico by Pat M. Holt

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT ORLD AFFAIRS September Tequendama Hotel Bogota Colombia Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affmlrs 3Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte Although Mexico confusing currents cross currents situation there seems blance hopeful encouraglng Despite occasional cries alarm contrary Mexico continues strongest soundest countries Latin Amer political economic terms This principal impression almost weeks country August mainly Monterrey Mexico City during which I interviewed variety possible Mexicans Americans Mexico problems course possible single exception population growth finite problems which Mexicans working their solve Likewise course United tates problems relations Mex governmental unofficial levels these lived cannot solved As August pertinent facts follows The thrust government policy after Droving veered moving pretty close where Mexicans would place middle This several degrees where North Americans would place Mexico considered Mexican terms These terms unique North American Cuban Russian Chinese terms The Mexican Government Party Revolu tionary Institutions P_RI important political party indistinguishable The PRI consequently G6Vern coalitions ranging moderate right extreme actions Government diversity account The Mexican economy which performed tacularly years presently fficulty large because until recently Government solicitous right mainly responsible uming flight capital In Course Mexico economic development gotten richer appeared scene while stayed grown numerous Although Mexico remains basically rural country cities growing astonishing creating problems urban housing water supplies social services City dwellers generally speaklng better people country everywhere betwoen potentially explosive To narrow Government making reform first order business current session Congress T The Maxlcan population growing which means about million people every months Mexicans genera welcome growth pride desplts strain economy The Catholic Church quiescent under stringent clerlcal world enjoying renaissance All placed proper perspective Mexican history which means related Mexican Revolution Up Statos doctrine interventlon These provide constants which artloulate Mexicans approach world The R_v ution When Mexicans about their Rvolution which gained independence Spain which overthrew dlcSator Porflrio Diaz motion world profound series social changes Mexicans inordlnaSely proud Revolutlon En after years Mexicans could possibly enough remember Revolutlonary conditions betSer things The driver county dscrbed vivid detail peasants handful beans Some people would argue meaningful comparison between ISO would nprovement statistics support there mistaking television aerials protruding rather adobe eidence sores derse affluents rural electrflcaton P H I The Mexican Revolution become formally insti tutionalized political party country which amounts anything Party Revolutionary Instltutlons A exlcan politician would think advancing outside framework Revolution always capitalized distinguish revolutions those Russians French grlngoes United States politician would think advancing program outside framew Constitutlon Fortunately cases frameworks broad enough support canopy covers about anything least allows argument covers On recently there appeared Mexico City newspapers announcing mation political groups Each pledged Revolution President Lopez Mateos One which called Itself Frente Civlco Aflrmacion Revolucionarla warned against infiltration foreign doctInes which disguised false radicalism abolish democratic institutions order substitute totalitarian regime which would liberties destroy fatherland family forever traditional forms Mexican After reciting social reforms unfinished liberal complishments Revolution Frente concluded believe necessary order solve iuave bloody ghter Cmmunist tlnted revolution destroying riches living under totalitarian dictator The other group which bother itself inveighed against dangers imperialism warned against regressive forces which mounted attack against cleanest rooted mtion It presented detailed program recommendations including abrogation Rio Treaty resolutions Amerlcan Conferences Bogota Charter OAS Caracas San Jose condemnation Communist intervention Hemisphere The Mexican press Inmedately these groups labels right But ignor cidence published their manifestoes pledged undying support Revolution Pesldent Lopez ateos Some observers cynical enough suggest groups spavin prsdentSal palace The indeed considerable evidence President middle between forces which these groups spokesmen Hs occasion cated xtrme occasion other On Mexican Government under Lopem ateos taken actions which alarmed business especially American business A example Presi described Government extreme Constltution His Government announced policy exicanlzatlon Industry But defined polic2 exicanlzatlon rather Revolution things As policy Government nationalized electric power idustry borrowing million Prudential Life Insurance Co quietly buying electric power stock In sight From economic point seemed unwise resources there other things which could Prudential among blldlng additional electric generatin facilities But Government practical political country needed power power company rates Government point company unwillin expand Government raised rates would attacked selling Yankee imperialism therefore solution company On other exican Government moved omstlmes quietly deviously overt nifestation extreme exlco City stories about steps Lopez ateos Pros taken leftist President Lazaro Cardenas place remind running country Some these stories discounted knowledgeable observers circulate Ignlf wonder planted frlend_ President It generally agreed Cardenas prestige influence months In Government consistent terms interests never doctrinal terms For example makes It bureaucracy Communists purge labor union public school teachers which quietly indoctrinates youth without bothering governent On other leftist leaders railroad strike which bothered overnment still languishing Jali under provision exlcan Constitution charged social dissolution indefinitely without trial Among those being artist David Alfaro Siquelros In typical exican fashion Siquelros allowed paint while Jail paints commission Government works produced displayed exlco Cty Eueo Bellas Arteso Th sophistication which countries reached separating PH I The UB States The proximity Mexico United States believed The countries share common border miles Much desert remainder river which imposes barrier It crossed directions million times On world richest country million people On other country million people favored geography history still smarting memory United States between thlrd territory But Almost unintentionally cultural influence United States heavy pervasive almost oppressive exico North American newspapers magazines everywhere North American radio vision stations heard below border When exican Gov ernment group North Americans decided study border problems border extending CO0 miles exlco miles United States This seems measure Of relative impact which countries other The result create Mex feeling annoyance frustration ubiquitous evidence United States Mexico The feeling found somewhat sophisticated level among Canadians reasons This bottom otherwise inexplicable action Mexicans natlonallzi4 movie theaters It Same reaction Canadians discriminatory taxes nerican magazines None really changes either Canada Mexico Canadians still American magazines Mexicans still movies American films night clubs listen dance American popular music They these things quite United States little farther exican frustration this_ comes least knowledge exlco really could along without United States exico biggest sources dollar earnings tourists braceros Tourists welcome sometimes somewhat cynically especially hotels restaurants shops where spend money Braceros their fancied mistreatment United States provide favorite theme exican political orators these orators horrified suggestions north border bracero program terminated Not braceros remit hundreds millions dollars annually ithout bracero program Mexican Government already faced serious ployment problem would Jobs people PMH I Non In9ryent__io__n_n More other Latin American state Mexico weight United States interventlon overt covert intentional unintentional In exlcan thinking doctrine intervention carried literal lengths It carried gerously close doctrine hemispheric paralysis In message Congress September President Lopez Mateos seemed realize intervention sources other United States hemisphere He quietly become cordial toward Castro Cuban exiles But classical exican thought revolution thing interferes imperialistic colonialist The rabid exican interventionists completed circle The manifesto leftist group referred advocated repeal Bogota Charter because infringement sovereignty signatory states contravened doctrine interventlon This group apparently impressed Bogota Charter which contains Articles strongest statement doctrine interventlon without these articles United States would under substantially looser legal restraints exlcans object Bogota Charter however apparently statement interventlon offset other provisions which exlco Inter American system which possible least theoretically exico bound votes thirds other American States It interestiz eflect arguments against Charter debate United States Senate It seems indicate there developing among exican extreme leftists isolationism which existed parts United States which continues exist somewhat different today In United States isolationism exlco nationalism comes pretty thing Although exicans would their country Cuban model would Furthermore exlco basically capitalistic country To trappings socialism British Labor Party wealth Nex mainly owned produced private iexican entrepreneurs close Governmentandnoneowmisabout togiveupagoodthln Socialist arxlst Furthermore Nexicans without Soviet Union cannot without United States Although Mexico expected follow fiercely independent course foreign policy expected support United States basic showdown Soviet Union example Berlin PKH I Mexico those countries which close W W Rostow described point economic development The years whether country becomes airborne whether crashes under overload people Productlonwlse performance exican economy spectacular In years industrial production increased agricultural production national income capita income about In period population increasing However fruits development inequitably shared because there Just pople million every The problem exlcan economy Mexican Government provide goods services capital investment clothe house educate these people above provide In country which already serious problem unemployment underemployment amounting perhaps labor force labor force itself growing hundreds thousands The exlcan answer faster develop industry agriculture through ambitious irrigation reclamation resettlement plans basic Investments power communications transporta education The lftward tending actions exican Government threw quite fright foreign business Aexlco mainly American exican capltallsts The result alarming flight capital foreig xlcan country figures publlshd Further erican riots exlco attempted Cuban invasion spring deleterious effect tourist trade Consequently Mexico moment finds itself parlous econom state balanc payments investment concerned Some investment coming Pont cooperating Pemex national petroleum monopoly deeloping petrochemical industry But large excan fcials frankly admit performance industrial sector disappointing Thanks weather agricultural sector exceeded expectations It sizeable balance payments exlco But nobody I found really doubts humpo demographic problem raises serious questioDs which appear insoluble because I found single exlcan least concerned Furthermore I found PMH I abundant evidence being concerned Mexicans think problem problem rather source national strength Dr Arthur Smith visiting professor Uni versity Nuevo Leon onterrey fascinating results which unpublished exican attitudes toward population growth control To begin exican birth population growth variously estimated G Smith collaborators questioned rough cross sectlon people onterey depth The results sunarized follows I Although thought wages workers peasants although attributed least pressure population third thought would desirable reduce population growth those thought wguld desirable among thought would impossible Those would undesirable reduce population growth substantial majority total group opposed zeligious moral reasons these mainly replied exico needs psople economic development population growth represents potential wealth mothers three ideal number children little influence determining numbero The sample interviewed included priests there practlcal moral controlling population Only priest smaller families would desirable anyway Another maintained poverty sufficient Justification szaller families In bring children world though almost certainly foredoomed because suffering would transitory would followed Joys Heaven It should noted I fotud American sociologist exico City dissented mildly conclusions survey But every Mexican every other American I discussed question supported findings Mexicans almost uniformly point population national strength prerequisite national importance wozld PMH This attitude appeared carry weight religious reasons In general seemed attitude priests interviewed onterrey current thinking Catholic hierarchy United States Europe The study produced evidence thinly Catholicism penetrated Mexican lower classes which paradoxically those openly devout Prostitutes exsmple Virgln Guada better clients This tends corroborate observations elsevhere Latin America especially countries large Indian populations Spanish conquistadores converted Indians Catholicism years conversion force persuasion never penetrated In cases Indians substituted Catholic saints pagan They Cath olicism veneer through rituals through their earlier pagan rituals without really understanding doing This reason seems advised Catholic Church bulwark sgainst Communism Latin America It inconceivable large numbers Indians could accept Cormunism Catholicism without finding illogical In lexico example nation whole accepted stringent clerical public policy Benlto Juarez century while calling Catholic One current phenomena observable lexlco renaissance Catholic Church This welcomed devout those whether devout Church significant Connuunist force It source concern Commun clericals Church using communism screen achieve repeal exico clerlcal establlshment Church former position country One person feared Church misread election returns United States concluded Catholic Vite House would support religious reaction Latin America The Government tolerated Church renewed vigorous activities continued enforcement exico clerical Moderates among clericals expressed worst mistake Churoh could would attempt establish former position It would bring shovdown which would again divide country along religious lines which Church would almost certainly PH I I0 I lexico persuaded lexican Revolution after years runni steam oligarchy nouveau rlche industrialists arisen place historic triumvirate landlords Church Army Castro Connunlst influence growing Mexico needed social lution defined Act Bogota Charter Punta Este about badly other Latin American country Happily I report turned There oligarchy sorts There serious problem maldistribution wealth income But Revolution steam The evidence I rhaps government proposed reform which matte interest social progress Under present structure which based primarily sumption Government share atlonal income steadily decreasing until B about Federal Government U S Futherm national revenue derived taxes income wealth compared Venezuela Colombia United States The reaction exlcan upper class taxes significant Will taxes transfer their taxable wealth United States Europe When Mexico feeling degree Conunlsm substantially exaggerated reports which filter through United States There reassuring evidence Government after months closing various activities begirning concerned moving subtly themo There course Communism exico As typical Latin nnerican countries strong National University It penetrated labor unlons pincipal being unfortunately teachers union which every public school country bureaucrats Education inistry belong Some textbooks which selected exican schools shocking From steadad school economics discovered workable system economics Capitalism leads misery poverty The United States world foremost capitalist country On basis talks exicans Americans variety political persuasions however I simply cannot believe exico verge significant leftward movement In above about National University teachers union hopeful should added This onterrey Technological Insti which established group onterrey industrialists their needs technical managerial manpower being existing intitutlons It among Latin American institutions higher learning faculty imposes discipline ztudents It large magnificent campus skirts onterrey students achieve managerial positions within years after graduation It teaches economics engineering business administration agriculture I could practical basis aimed needs northern exlco The Department Economics University Nuevo Leon faculty Eco nomic Hesearch Center which likewise devotes itself practical problems northern exico anuel Rodriguez dissector Center point country exlco really political economic tools guide development Its studies political science economics imported mainly United States which different culture advanced economy political economic techniques applicable The purpose Economic Research Center developsfor exlco tools knowledge Center making basic studies things regional income national accounts distribution income In onterrey finds grotuds encouragement about future The enJoyir substantial industrial It feels apartness exico ahead while grumbling about central government exico City If looking examples local initiative Latin America hardly better onterrey Having begun letter optimism encouragement I impelled close caution North American attitudes toward Latin America frequently swing alarm complacency To cause alarm exico there cause complacency There cause confidence especially compared Latin America Sincerely Pat Holt Received New York September IB