Salt Lake Telegram | 1923-04-09 | Page 1 | Obregon Breaks His Silence to Proclaim Progress in Mexico

Obregon Breaks His Silence to Proclaim progress Progress in Mexico JL i v President of Southern Republic Denies Bolshevistic I Tendencies Solid Basis Being Est Established Es Es- t for Realization of Ideal and Stabilized Government i Alvaro Obregon president of MexIco Mex Mex- MexIco Ico leo has haa broken hit his long silence by byone by byone byone one of the most Important announcements announce announce- ments on Mexican affairs officially made since the Mexican situation came to public attention more than ten years ago In a signed statement given n exclusively to the North American Amer Amer- American f ican J Newspaper p. p r 1 Alliance I e he outlines t the attitude of his government on vexed questions na which have produced talk of Intervention and on attitude toward foreign capital and on recent allegations of bolshevism In Mexico Copyright 1923 In United States Great Britain and South America by bythe bythe bythe the North American Newspaper Alliance AU Alt rights nights Reserved By Ely ALVARO OBREGON President of Mexico In support of f the appeal by the secretary of the association for tor the advancement of political and religIous religious ious bus liberty libert which has been made to clr circulate very broadly for funds designed for elimination of bol bol- sh in l Mexico o in spite of the public statement of Vice President Coolidge that this country countr ia It a second second sec see ond Russia marching hundreds of years behind civilization and in spite of the tho late declaration made by a former fonner commercial representative representative representative of the United States government government govern govern- ment meat to the tho effect he and the consul consul consul con con- sul general of his country viewed with growing alarm the rapid dissemination dissemination dis die of bolshevism in Mexico Mexico Mexico Mex Mex- ico in spite J 1 say of these theta authoritative authoritative authoritative author author- utterances s there Is no bol- bol bolshevIsm bol bol- in this this' country nor has there ever er been unless s one understands understands understands under under- stands by bolshevism what It originally originally onig- onig signified In the country from which the name came namely majority majority ma ma- and azid the government affairs and the country's interests by y that majority Our constitution has been cited as evidence e of our tendencies cl cies s y belief I is t that at compared to the j reaty of of- Versailles the MexIcan Mexican Mexican Mex Mex- ican c constitution is an example of monumental constructive legisla legisla- ton tion S SAYS STATEMENT FALSE I mys myself lt have hare read In the press that my administration promised too much to the masses That Is ts Isa Isa tsa a lie All we have promised is ful flU fulfillment fulfillment of ot the constitution But Bute e even eren en though it were true what is alleged against us we s have hae erred in any case on the side of or conservatism compared to what was offered th the people by the United States Great Britain France and anda a d dozen en other nations in the armistice armistice armis armis- tice lice period and the peace parleys r These great countries told their people and the rest of the world orId that that war would end war the world would would would-be be safe for democracy the Interests of th the returning soldiers soldiers soldiers sol sol- sol sol- diers would be properly safeguarded safeguard safeguard- ed after the tho fight for these noble principles the noble principle of self leU determination for tOr small nations would be insured But why go on I if these old experienced countries countries- could fall fal Into error may not benighted be benighted Mexico in her Inexperience be excused for tor committing an er error error er- er leaning to the side of liberalism liberal liberal- ism lent on behalf of her ber people But the f fact ct is as I have said 1 we wo promised nothing with the sole exception of the fulfillment of the constitution Nevertheless we have ha accomplished something we have freed the lower classes from the chains of medieval serfdom and are arenow arenow arenow now working to the end that they bo be freed treed from the chains of modera modern modern mod mod- ern era economic slavery elavery If it be bo true to say there is nothing more dangerous dangerous dangerous dan dan- than the br breaking aking of chains which fetter fatter slaves on the other hand there is in human affairs no nomore nomore more tore noble act The Tho numerical strength of our socialist movement is represented by the sum Bum total of every Mexican wage earner in the toe country or in other words b by 90 per cent of all aU our citizens As I have hae Just said the so socialist tendency of some of our laws is the expression of the popular will We e fought ten years to liberate the masses from front political and economic slavery and eliminate those factors which had for generations present- present Continued on page 3 3 J T BREG Continued from pace page 1 ed Mexico as a a. protectorate of or fi financial financial fi- fi and Industrial interests WOULD RETAIN LIBERTY In the year ear 1917 we became for fib the tho first time free a people a sovereIgn sov soy nation Tho object of our socialist movement Is to retain that liberty for the country and the tho people Therefore the present government government gov goy is differing from what was done before Mexico Is concerning Itself in the first place with solving internal problems problem in order that this solution will with absolute certainty certain certain- ty result in a definite arrangement of international difficulties I cannot cannot cannot can can- not conceive any other basis of true so The greater number of the government governments gov gov- Mexico has had prior to the revolution actually gave preference preference preference to foreign forces which tried to protect their authority The present government has reversed that formula giving preferential at at- at n to internal problems seekIng seeking seek seek- ing to base its authority exclusively exclusive exclusive- ly on Internal forces I regard this as the only formula which gives us the right to anticipate a full development development devel devel- of our country No Just counsel advises invitation of guests to a house the interior of which is uncomfortably planned and ar ar- ar- ar ranged Ve We have never coveted Mexican isolation from the rest of the tho world Wo wish to live e in consort with society as a civilized people Such isolation moreover In present times would signify an Inhuman egoism since the outside world has greater need of the natural resources of Mexico for its rehabilitation than can Mexico need it And although ove we can live and prosper hs RS as al already already already al- al ready demonstrated with our Sour own resources resources' and meet all our domestic domes domes- tic as well as foreign obligations contracted by former governments It would be overlooking that hu- hu mantarian program we have set our ourselves elves to follow were vere we to deny de cIe- cle- cle i ny fly our inexhaustible resources to the tho many other countries which after that war which bathed humanity humanIty hu hu- hu- hu manity In blood four years and de destroyed de- de their principal source of wealth have been left In difficult circumstances Tho The rehabilitation of ot these countries countrIes' would be too prolonged if its realization depended depend depend- ed on the elements o of ot f their own soil solI IDEAL IDEAL BEING REALIZED I The people and government of Mexico cherish a supreme ambition that the people and government be one organism the chief executive In power should exercise no other ether function but to faithfully interpret the popular desire and the loyal guardian of ot their Institutions and rights This ideal Is la being realized for the present government possesses possesses pos pos- pOS 1 I no other force than the moral force with which the people In a I great majority are supporting its authority and policy I It is an eloquent demonstration of ot I the efficiency of reasoning that this government has been clearly and definitely consolidated by Interior I strength and forces In spite of ot the moral pressure brought against it by II I powerful governments denying their assistance to the system as planted by the present government of MexIco Mexico Mexico Mex Mex- ico which Is an indication of the popular will that gave grave birth to the revolutionary movement crystallizing crystallizing crystal crystal- in the 1917 constitution We have gained the the- approval val of ot people of ot the whole republic and also of ot those other enlightened peoples peoples peo peo- ples plea among whom are those United States who now maintain with the people and government of Mexico relations of ot a cordiality unprecedented unprecedented unprecedented dented in history Nothing is now lacking but diplomatic tion of ot those relations the date of which It is not within Mexico's province to fix SEEK COOPERATION We wish to harmonize our action and development with that of ot all other nations of ot the world and to Took rook for mutual cooperation In or order order order or- or der more to facilitate ample success suc sue cess But If it foreign interests oppose oppose oppose op op- op- op pose such a laudable design then Mexico only wishes to say to the face of ot the tho whole world that It is not her fault If she continues to act the role of a seeming shylock In re regard regard regard re- re gard to her natural riches For Mexico cannot permit that there be exploitation by foreign capitalistic interests until these have categorically categorically I cally declared their decision to submit submit submit sub sub- mit to laws and authority of ot the country since Mexico considers it preferable to deprive herself of the help of ot foreign capital for development development develop develop- ment meat of ot her riches If It such help in involves involves in- in voh-es voh danger to h her r dignity and sovereignty We Ve aro are not perfect but under an obligation to struggle toward perfection perfection perfection per per- and we sincerely believe that step by step fusing Into our coherent harmonious Jody body the different dif different dif dif- I dlf-I ferent forces of the country countr we willes will win es establish a solid basis of domestic progress and better international I understanding to to tho end that we e emay may attain our goal we will be what it is necessary to bo be and do what I It is necessary to do i Tho The full significance or Ot President Obregon's statement Is made clear I In the tho following comment b by Louis F. F Rowley who a as correspondent i of or the North American Newspaper Alliance secured the statement His conferences with Mexico's I I president occurred In tho the executive I offices In tho the national palace in I Mexico City It is much harder to I of ot the president of ot i gain g-aln the ear Mexico than the president of the United States as ns the visitor has to i pass through an array of secretaries and military staff officers ers but on once co I admitted he finds Obregon himself a courteous and democratic man In rn Inthe Inthe the present Instance Obregon himself himself him him- i self set stipulated that ho he have an nn op opportunitY opportunity opportunity op- op to revise and correct his I remarks In United State Statu an and andi li 1023 Copyright I Ithe by bythe by bythe South America Amerle-a. and Great the North American Ican er r AlitA Alit AIH- j n A AH II 1 reserved I I By LOUIS LOUIS LOUISE E. E ROWLEY I Senor Senor O Obregon's regon's conclusion that Mexico will do all that is Js necessary I Ito to obtain her ends is undoubtedly of his well-known well re- re I in spite true employ arbitrary exec exec ex- ex ex 1 I to and assert the authority authority au- au i ec tive power I of ot the central government j The founders of the Mexican republic republic re- re I modeled the government on public the United States and adopted adopted adopt adopt- that of ed the federal plan By many this regarded as an error It is argued argued argued ar ar- ar- ar Is satisfy the needs it do does dota not gued is 18 not adapted to country of ot the who temperament of ot a a. people the authority when it is most respect and consecrated at on point visible believed belle that If It the tho generally It is government has lies shown Obre Obregon on certain permitting it Is In iii weakness to exercise too authorities local authority and I Independent much them abused the privilege some of what in iii view of or Nevertheless accomplished In t th I Obregon I Senor of ot economic and moral re rehabilitation re- re 1 direction his country and de do- do habilitation of ot of a genuine national I I spirit his tolerant policy may well I I prove provo in the end to be the best I IMADE MADE USE OF EVENTS I It must be conceded he has made 1 what BIs Bismarck arck called circumspect use of or events He may think that thatto thatto thatto to govern effectively he lie must govern govern gov gov- em ern somewhat loosely espe especially In Inthe Inthe Inthe the matter of giving a free hand to state governors He He may prove himself the predestined of factions a and d the possessor of unsuspected gifts of statesmanship He lie gave me the impression of being a strong forceful personality quite reasonable and absolutely candid He lie Is a qu quiet et but keen keen- witted conversationalist and has a a. profound s sense nse of humor lIe He gives evidence eA of ot marked honesty and after knowing him one comes to Understand understand understand un un- why the conservative group of or Mexican citizens are comIng coming corning com corn ing day by day to repose reposo their confIdence confidence confidence con con- In him His democracy seems to me rue a singularly valuable quality being to a certain extent radical but at bottom sagacious There Is no question concerning the sincerity of ot his Interest in the necessities desired of ot his humbler tell fellow ow citizens Ills His Imagination visualizes their thoughts and understands understands understands un un- un- un their point of view This is what makes Senor Obregon one of ot the most moat characteristic and InterestIng in interesting interesting In- In national governors of our time OBREGON IS LIBERAL I am convinced the Idea that his administration Implies a threat to the social and political order of or the United States in the pro produce of sInIster sinister sinister sin sIn- ister propaganda or Ignorance In my opinion Senor Obregon wants a communist revolution about as much as William Howard Taft Tn whom ho he slightly resembles in contour contour contour con con- tour and facial expression especially especial especIal- ly his smile Ho Ito Is a 8 liberal but does not allow himself to become a dazzled visionary of ot a scholastic A sound common sense presides over his decisions and it is I certain he would act promptly and decisively to suffocate any an anarchistic anarchistic anarchistic an- an disorder He lie Is desirous of working solely for tho the people not to fool them to tomake tomake tomake make his term memorable as ac accomplishing ac- ac some effective social betterment of which the country isso Is Iseo eo so sorely sorel In need He half halt humorously humorously humorously humor humor- confessed the last Is III extremely extreme extreme- ly difficult particularly because ot of natural reaction at t home and persistent persistent persistent persis persis- tent misinterpretation of his plans and acts acts' abroad It should be re remembered remembered remembered re- re Obregon Is not the absolute absolute absolute lute master of Mexico that Diaz was The modern spirit Is making making- I way a everywhere and should b be taken taken tak talt- en into consideration In the thoughts of Mexico its president