Show Backwardness I In Latin America V Will ill Be Probed An investigation to seek the fundamental fundamental fun caw causes of backwardness in lit Mexico and certain other Latin LaUn American Ameri Amen can countries will be started in Mexico co City in September and will continue continue con ron four months Italian and Mexican committees on population problems will work jointly joint joint- ly on the investigation under the leadership of ot the Mexican ogist Dr Manuel Gamio Dr Corrado Cornado Gini Gird of oC Rome will arrive some time this month Such countries as Mexico Peru Guatemala and Colombia have slow growth of their populations high death rates frequent civil wars and disturbances economic ill health and cultural backwardness On the other hand the United States Argentina Chilo Chile and Costa Rica also on the American continent are examples of countries that have haye increased their population many times and arc are peaceful peaceful peace peace- ful and prosperous in comparison The backward countries are arc largely Indian by blood with a small group of whites and an widening ever band of mestizo or mixed blood class The population of the progressive countries coun court tries on the other hand is predominantly predominantly pre pre- dominantly white Hence the trouble that Indian blood seems to bring willbe will willbe willbe be investigated Although the Indians Indian's civilization was destroyed by Europeans four centuries ago he still clings stubbornly stubbornly stub stub- to its remnants today and lives liveson on in a world distinct from the white But blood is always mingling and the mixed bloods form what is really a third and separate civilization in these countries The problem is further complicated by the fact act that the Indians themselves themselves them them- selves are not homogeneous Mexico has hns as many language groups with different customs and traditions as ns Europe Few of these Indians races have been properly studied and even their numbers are known only ap ap- ap proximately Ignorance of ot true condi condl lions among these different groups has been a handicap to Mexican efforts cf- cf forts forta to better native conditions in th the past two decades Results hoped for from agrarian laws rural schools and economic improvements improvement have often been surprisingly disappointing |