Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-14
BY CASTOR NERvAL.

TOR many years Latin Americans
- have looked up to Mexico for
leadership in internal matters.
L Since the constructive period of
the Mexican revolution began, Mexico
has set the pace, as it were, for many
of the other Latin American repub-
lies in educational reforms. in agrarlan
policies, in social legislation, even In
economic planning.
Now it begins to look as if Latin
Americans would do well to, also, turn
to Mexico for leadership in interna-
tional affairs. OF course, the word
leadership Is used here, not IN its I'M
plications of subservience to hege-
monte policy, but in the sense OF al
fording inspiration and example. In
recent years, Mexico has set forth IN
invitations in her foreign policy which
progressive governments in other Latin
American countries could study ana
adopt with profit to themselves and to
the international community at large.
First, it was the Estrada doctrine,
which eliminated one Of the most
troublesome and dangerous problems
in international politics: the recogni-
ton of revolutionary governments.
Latin Americans were particularly MT
to appreciate the advantages OF the
new policy, for they had suffered for
decades the injustices of the tradi-
tional system which hallowed foreign
governments to pass upon the SOUND
ness and legitimacy of their own.
Recognition Weapon.
The annals of inter- American his
tory were full of instances IN Wnlcn
the weapon of non-recognitlon nad
been used to oppose and often to de-
feat a regime which did not seem
friendly enoughsto foreign interests, 10
exact political and economic conces-
sions, and, generally, to interfere In
the domestic affairs Of supposedly In
dependent countries. The excuses 10
which that policy was carried under
the Wilson theory of constitutionalism
were still fresh in the memory OF
Latin Americans.
The Estrada doctrine, intended to
correct those excuses and to AVOID
their repetition in the future, was ad-
vanced by Mexico in formal state
ment announcing that, thencefortn
Mexico would not exercise the PRIV
lege of extending or Withholding rec
ognition of revolutionary governments,
but would consider all such govern
ments as automatically recognized
upon assuming power. The Mexican
diplomatic representatives, explained
Senior Estrada, are accredited pelore
the government Of the country In
which they reside, not before the par
ticular men who happen to be exer-
cising such government; If the people
of that country decide to substitute
other men for these, even by the use
of violence, Mexico continues its re-
lations with the foreign government
as If no change had occurred.
Peace Code Drafted.
Another recent important Mexican
contribution to the advancement Of
international relations was the Reyes
Sierra peace code submitted to the
seventh international conference OF
American States at Montevideo
Drafted with a desire to overcome
the shortcomings, both practical and
juridical, of the existing treaties fol
the maintenance of international
peace, the Mexican peace code was
an intelligent combination of the out.
standing features of such treaties and
others suggested but never enacted
together with the additions necessary
to prevent their violation. It was
summing up. revised and improved