Show I- I j t A Word From Mexico y I o- o PRESIDENT CALLES of Mexico re in a dispatch dis- dis pRESIDENT 1 patch to the New York World explains diS 1 the thc exact nature of the religious persecution persecution tion in Mexico that you have been 1 reading S c d much about lately The rhe expulsion from Mexican soil of foreign priests or ministers I of much misrepresentation lias been the subject tion ibn ut in press reports the president says Here is his explanation n The Mexican n constitution adopted before Calles took office prohibited foreign-born foreign I persons from exercising ministry in any cult i gr jr r from establishing ot pr superintending primary mary iary schools Such persons are allowed I to hold executive office in the churches and may teach in secondary schools it is only in inthe inthe I ItIle the tIle strictly priestly and nd ministerial functions that they are barred Calles is now undertaking undertaking under under- taking to enforce this portion of th the tion Hon He denies that private schools have V been closed stating that where certain primary nary mary schools have been found annexed to convents the religious religious' authorities in charge charge- l ave willingly changed the organization of the schools to conform with the law Many for- for born members of the clergy he adds have stayed in Mexico l and confined their theirL L activities d to those branches of church work which do not come under the banAs ban V As is always the case w when en Mexican questions question's are under consideration an effort lias s been made to o distort th the facts facts p esi- esi 4 lent lent- Calles continues The people of of the United States are asked to believe that a aV V sJ simple question of obedience to and respect V for the fundamental law of our pur countr country involves involves in in- a campaign of persecution which would necessarily be repugnant and almost inexplicable inexplicable inex inex- able in a country like the United States Now it is is- very important in connection V with these stories of religious persecution in ih n Mexico to remember this one thing thing that that that's s c certain ain large Ame American oil interests hold rich fi fields l s in Mexico and that their profits are apt pt t to be seriously cut into by the enforce- enforce of quite another section of the Mexican constitution dealing with alien owners of land la This section is very similar to an anti- anti alien land law in the tle United States The Thell ll V people ople of the tle United States would n never ver grow very ry indignant against the Mexicans over a a ii 4 question esti n of oil lands They They- might grow ind indignant in in- d indignant gnant-indignant indignant enough for intervention if cn if they were persuaded d that Mexico V is is' is persecuting their missionaries s. s V I j V And there you have it Somewhere i it is is- made mad to would seem an attempt being ra raise se a smoke screen behind which certain r financial interests can gain th their ii ends Take these stories of religious religions persecution with a agrain grain irain of salt with two grains e C even l. l Perhaps Pr resident President Calies i is simp simply trying to enforce V r v l the constitution of his country He is honest cap capable ble and sincere Lets Let's not fly off the handle Enforcing the constitution you ou know is one of the things Americans are supposed to be he keen about |