Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
SOVIET LOSES FOOTHOLD
BY BREAK WITH MEXICANS
Recall of Envoy From Moscow Ends
Suspected Base of Communist
Operations in New World.

tended Minister MakarS receptions but
the deduction could logically be made
rnunism in their respective localities.
with the Russian governments head
quarters here their base Of operation.
Every language but Russian was spoken
in the Russian legation, except anone
the staff.
when diplomatic relations between
Mexico and Russia were resumed IN
June, 1924, the question was asked. rs
Mexico being used as base Of Soviet
propaganda in the United States?" The
elimination of this base, real or mag
mary, cannot but reflect favorably on
Mexico In the United States, country
that In face of worldwide inclination
to accept Soviet Russia as an institu-
ton that has to be dealt with ma
steadfastly opposed recognition. In spit
of recommendations of such power
leaders as Senator Borah.
KeIlOgg's Warning Recalled.
This follows a few years after Seer
tary of State Frank B. Kellogg charge
in an official statement issued in Janu~
airy, 1927 that 1.-THE Specter OF Mexican
fostered bolshevist hegemony was In
tervening between the United states
and the Panama Canal" Mexico TOOK
vigorous exception to Secretary KEEL
logg's charge and denied that any ves-
tige of bolshevistic leaning could be
traced to Mexico. -....
If by the recognition on the part Of
the Mexican government and recip-
rocal action on the part OF the SovietS.
the latter expected to find valuable
and stanch ally in the Mexican ao-
ministration, they have been disap-
pointed Former President Gales gave
the Soviets the strongest rebuke ex-
cepting the final actual break they
have received.
Mexican Base" Hinted.
In the Summer of 1925 the then Rus
sian commissioner of foreign affairs
was quoted as having said that Mexico
gives us very convenient base TOT fur.
Their development of our relations"
Gen Gales countered hotly with
Mexico will not allow any country with
which she maintains diplomatic rela-
lions 10 use this friendship as an tn
strument to carry out political relations
or to propagate doctrines and principles
which Mexico herself does not sustain"
Russian diplomats in Mexico have
Steadfastly denied that funds have at
any time been given to the Mexican
Communist party, with which the ie-
CATION has observed only ordinary
relations"
OF special interest to the United
States is the fact that Soviet Russia
held base Of operation in Mexico
City. Washington never lost sight OF
the presence of a Russian diplomatic
agency in Mexico City within operating
distance of the United States from the
date of the arrival of EstaniSlao Pest
kovski In Mexico shortly after q foreign
ONCE statement issued on July 80. 1924,
announced that diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries had been as
Sumed.
The statement at that time read:
THE Mexican government, after being
consulted by representatives OF the So
Wet for an expression of its views re-
garding the recognition of that govern
ment, instructed the foreign minister
to declare to the representative OF the
Soviet that Mexico having nothing to
do with the origin of any government,
and recognizing the right that each
country has of electing the government
most convenient to it, finds no obstacle
in renewing relations with Russia
whenever sought, and viii therefore
! proceed to appoint q diplomatic repre-
sentative
Only Envoy in Hemisphere.
This announcement came as sud
denly as the abrupt action on the part
! of Mexico did when on January %
]
we're as suddenly ended. The Mexican
| post was and remained so until the
! breach came, the first opening that
| Red Russia had to establish q repre-.
sentative in the Western Hemisphere,
| for no other country Of North, Central
or South America has extended recogni-
ton. Uruguay voiced willingness to
do so, but actual establishment of diplo-
matte missions has not materialized.
PeStkovski, the first Russian Minister,
had all the physical and mental attri-
butes of the typical Moscow statesman.
That his mission to Mexico was not
entirely foreign to possible resumption
of relations between his own country
and the United States could only be
Judged by his willing and always ready
response to any question on the subject.
He spoke only in the most friendly
manner of the United States. These
two great nations, Russia and the
United States" 1t was plainly obvious
in Pestkovski's mind, should enjoy for
NAL association.
The FIRST fireworks in Mexico Russian
relations occurred during the latter
part of April, 1925, less than q year
after relations had been resumed. The
fireworks died down locally, but cracked
anew when in December, 1896, and
January, 1927. Undersecretary of State
Robert E. Olds became known as the
author Of a statement charging boil
shevik sympathies in Mexico, that re-
fiected deeply on the relations between
the two countries, and Secretary Of
State Frank B. Kellogg made public
announcement that strained the United
States relations with Mexico.
Tchitcherin Quoted.
Washington dispatches Of April Is
1925, credited to Russian Commits
sioner of Foreign Affairs Tchitcherin a
statement in which he was declared 70
have said: In America we still have O
question mark, but with a neighbor Of
the United States, Mexico, we have sue
ceeded in re-establshing diplomatic re-
lations which furnish US Q potential
base on the new continent.
THE Mexican government rests or
the moderate trade unions and the pro.
greSSive petty bourgeoise. The Soviel
republic is extremely popular in Mexico
Dr.. PetSkovnki, our plenipotentiary rep
rcsentative, met with the most enthus.
iastic reception in Mexico, and from
all quarters he constantly receives ex-
presSions of the most friendly nature,
even of the most enthusiastic attitude
toward the Soviet.
THE Republic of Mexico accordingly
gives us in America q very convenient
base for the further development Of ouz
relations"
Indication that the subsequent. warn
ings from Odds and Kellogg as to the
influence and interest of the Russian
legation in Mexico on and in the United
States were not entirely unjustified can
be seen In the concluding portion of
Tchitcherin's statement, which said:
"A notems,rthy change has taken
place during the last six months in the
character of the Russian propaganda in
the United States. No longer are there
any evidences of Communistic propa-
ganda, but on the contrary there is
every indication that Russia expects 20