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From Socialist Appeal, Vol. 4 No. 50, 14 December 1940, p. 4.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 1 – The past week has seep the last of the Cardenas Government and the first signs of the few Camacho Government in Mexico. Henry Wallace arrived to attend the inauguration of Camacho. General Almazan returned to liquidate the movement which supported him and which continued to the last minute to believe his repeated promises that he would take power in the National Palace today.
The visit of Wallace has been given a flowery reception by all of the daily press, from the most reactionary to Toledano’s El Popular. They all interpret the visit as a proof of the continuation of Roosevelt’s “Good Neighbor” policy.
Such a reception by El Popular is more repulsive since it is a trade union paper – official organ of the C.M.T. – Confederation of Mexican Workers. El Popular, under the control of the close collaborator of the Stalinists, Toledano, was always especially diligent in “discovering” that the Yankee imperialists and reactionaries are active in Mexico through such agents as Leon Trotsky and other enemies of the Stalinist International. It referred to Comrade Trotsky several times as an agent of the Dies Committee.
But with Henry A. Wallace the story is quite different although even the New York Times states in an editorial that ... “the expropriated oil properties, American-owned lands and American railway investments (are mentioned) as rumored subjects of conversations to be held between Mr. Wallace and Mexican officials.” El Popular begs to differ: ... “President Roosevelt has given one more proof of his loyalty and respect for the principle of non-intervention, consecrated in America, and has made patent at the same time his proposition to continue his policy of Good Neighbor ...”
Such a stupid and Servile statement is not so surprising as it would seem, when the recent trend of Camacho is considered.
Soon after being elected Camacho stated in an interview that he was a Catholic and that furthermore he was not a “socialist” but rather a democrat. These are unprecedented statements for a Mexican president to make since the revolution. (The church was always left out of the picture and every Mexican politician claimed to be a “socialist.”) In the same interview Camacho said that he was sure that Cardenas did not wish to participate in his government and that neither Toledano nor the Communists would collaborate. It must be remembered that Camacho was elected only thanks to the support of these people.
Shortly afterward it was announced that Toledano would retire from the General Secretaryship of the C.T.M. at the next Congress which will be held in February. This report was confirmed this week by Toledano himself in his speech to the 15th session of the National Committee of the C.T.M. He assures his listeners that he will continue to be a soldier of the proletariat “in whatever country of the world I may find myself.” Yes, Lombardo is going to take a trip; it is said that he will be active in the Central and South American trade union movement – outside of Mexico.
The inauguration ceremonies of the new president have been heralded by a demonstration in front of the American Embassy and a raid on the Communist headquarters and the Almazan headquarters. The demonstrators at the Embassy all claimed to be Almazanistas with surprising unanimity; a leaflet they distributed began “Remember Texas.” Indications are that this was organized by the Nazis and not by the Almazanistas.
The raid on the Communist Party headquarters has been reported in various different ways. The facts are however that some members of the army or of the police force attacked the headquarters. There was a brief skirmish and several shots were fired – result, several wounded and an army Major was killed. He was neither a fascist nor an Almazanista but a Camachista. Communist party members arrested insist that the Major was shot from outside. There are theories that this raid is the prelude to the complete outlawing of the C.P.
In the light of these few happenings it is possible to see why there are some misgivings as to the future course of the Camacho government. Yet Toledano affirmed that “... no conservative force either from within or without will be able to do anything against the regime of General Avila Camacho.” He calls upon the working class movement to give the same support to Camacho that it has given to Cardenas. Toledano aids Camacho with the same servility with which he aided the Stalinists in doing away with Comrade Trotsky.
We can be confident that Special Ambassador Wallace will not place any obstacles in the way of Camacho’s dealing summarily with any of’ the “fifth columnists” who object to the United States’ “non-intervention” intervention in affairs of Central and So. America. Garrisoned airdromes and naval bases located strategically throughout the Americas will serve to defend the interests of Uncle Sam against the competitors from without the western hemisphere and against the future protesting peoples from within. Wallace’s “Good Neighbor” smile and Camacho’s “democratic” ideas will help to screen the Latin American parallel to the North American jingoist reaction.
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