[104-10172-10111.pdf — page 165]
# 201-12856# DISPATCHTO: Chief, WI DivisionFROM: Chief of Station, Mexico CitySUBJECT: American Communists in MexicoSECRET1004-A-1115450-4-120-1DATE: 1 October 1958(CHECK ONE)APPROVED FOR INDEXINGNO INDEXING REQUIREDINDEXING CAN BE JUDGEDBY QUALIFIED HQ DESK ONLYREFERENCE:MEXI-2334MEXI-23421. Following an order issued by the President of Mexico on 6 September 1958 for enforcement of Article 33 of the Constitution a round-up was made in Mexico City of American Communists and other foreigners, allegedly Communists, currently residing here both as tourists and inmigrantes or inaigrados.2. Among the first Americans to be picked up and who were the only ones actually to leave due to this order were: Bernard BLASENHEIM, John BRIGHT and Allen LEWIS.3. Bernard BLASENHEIM entered Mexico in 1950 with "Inmigrante" status and currently enjoyed status as an "Inmigrado" here. U. S. Ambassador Robert C. Hill received a call on 7 September 1958 from former Senator George BENDER of Ohio requesting that he intercede for Mr. BLASENHEIM who was being detained by Mexican authorities. According to local newspapers William O'DWYER, former U. S. Ambassador to Mexico, was requested by a phone call from New York to intercede for BLASENHEIM with local authorities. O'DWYER's office was unable to secure an "amparo" for BLASENHEIM. BLASENHEIM was deported from Mexico, arriving in San Antonio, Texas on American Airlines flt. 690 on 11 September 1958. (ODINCH) Ambassador Hill advised (former) Senator BENDER that he could not intercede that the procedure was completely legal (by Mexican law) and advised Mr. BENDER to check into BLASENHEIM's background. Mr. BENDER withdrew his request, said he did not know BLASENHEIM; had had a call from New York4. John BRIGHT, entered Mexico as a student immigrant originally but in March 1955 his status was changed to that of a "technical immigrant" retroactive to October 1954. BRIGHT had not yet attained "inmigrado" status. When picked up BRIGHT was incarcerated at Miguel Schulz 135 in solitary confinement (LIFEAT). He was deported from Mexico on the same flight as BLASENHEIM.5. Allen LEWIS, who has been an instructor at the National University of Mexico, had "Inmigrante" status in Mexico. He was picked up by persons claiming to come from Immigration during the night of 6 September 1958 and taken from his home in Coyoacan to the Detention Center at Miguel Schulz 135. Mrs. Brooke LEWIS, wife of Dr. LEWIS contacted the U. S. Embassy in an effort to ascertain the reason for his deportation on 9 September 1958. Dr. LEWIS called his wife from San Antonio on 9 September and stated that he and Mr. BLASENHEIM had been brought to San Antonio by the Mexican authorities. (Interview with Mrs. LEWIS by a U. S. Embassy official, 9 September 1958).During the drive by Mexican authorities the following Americans were picked up, held and released after period varying from several hours to several days:A. Noah SHIBOKER - authorities went to his home on 7 September but were unable to locate him there. He appeared voluntarily for a check of his documents and was detained at the Detention Center on 8 September. As a naturalized citizen of the U. S., he could not be returned to the U. S. without documentation and no documentation other than his Mexican "red book" was provided to the Mexican authorities. He was released on 12 September 1958. (LIFEAT)B. Elizabeth Catlett de MORA - picked up but released after short detention. She is married to a Mexican citizen.C. Ian ADONIAN - picked up on 9 September 1958 (LIFEAT). ADONIAN is a Russian-born naturalized American who entered Mexico as a U. S. citizen but sought Immigration papers in Mexico as a Spaniard in view of his claim to Spanish citizenship, having been a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade during theCS CCT