Evening star., 1937-04-11
MEXICO'S ''CLEAN HANDS"
POLICY SUPPORTS SPAIN
|1|UIan
Pan'American Republics Stand Adds
Another Progressive Contribution
to Law and Justice.

could not help being very much con.
cerned over the struggle fought by the
legitimate government Of Spain
against anti-democratic forces openly
aided by foreign powers. In a formal
note sent to many foreign offices the
Mexican government has just ex.
pressed that concern in unmistakable
terms. No matter what may be the
reaction Of European powers, because
OF SPECIFIC commitments and interests
involved, at least the American repub-
lies ought to stop and ponder over tbs
significance and the implications of
the Mexican note.
The paramount feature Of the note
is its insistence upon the fact that
the position taken by the Mexican
government Is the only one in accord
with time-honored precedents OF re.
spect for the rights Of legally estab-
llshed governments. Mexico has from
the start viewed with sympathy tina
phght OF the Spanish authorities,
freely elected at the polls last year
and now facing a military rebellion.
and Will continue to give them moral
support and facilities for their ac-
QUESTION Of defensive weapons. In
doing so, the note adds, Mexico is only
complying with the rules laid down by
international law and by the Covenant
OF the League Of Nations, Of which
both countries are members.
Unjust Force Exists.
The Mexican foreign Office claims
that, even supposing that the So
called non-intervention measures
drafted at London had succeeded in
preventing any outside help from
reaching either one Of the parties.
law and justice would have suffered.
Tor one OF the parties happened to be
the lawful and constitutional gov.
ernment OF Spain, legally entitled to
provide itself with the necessary means
OF defense. But everybody knows that
The non-intervention scheme has
proved only farce, working tre-
mendously to the disadvantage of the
democratic government of Spain, and
so the injustice and the contradiction
WITH the spirit and the letter of the
law OF nations are even more evident.
Mexico does not stop with a iustif-
cation OF its own position, but goes on
TO point out the dangers implied. both
to international peace and to the
security Of all legitimate governments.
In TINS unfortunate precedent. For the
first time in contemporary history, a
lawful regime is denied not only help
but the very right to arm and defend
itself. And it is denied that by gov.
ernments with which it is maintain
ing cordial diplomatic relations and
with which it is supposed to stand on
plane of equality and mutual re-
spect, essential requirements Of all
international law.
The Mexican note ends with a dec
laratlon that, out of respect for the
sentiments and policies of other ma
tions, the Mexican government will
not permit the transit through its ter
ritory OF arms or munitions of foreign
manufacture embargoed by the ooun-
try Of origin, but will confne its assist
ance to the Spanish legitimate author
| tiles to supplying them with Mexican
materials and products.
The governments Of the American
republics, even if they do not say so,
are probably meditating seriously over
the implications of the Mexican note,
not only for what it contributes to the
advancement of law and justice In the
affairs of nations, but for what it has
Of friendly warning against the estab-
lishment Of dangerous precedents for
the future.
tCopyrisht 1877