The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-03-16
MEXICO ENDS
CHURCH CRISIS
President in One Of His
Rare Interviews Tells
Nations Policies
BY WILLIAM II. LANDER
Copyright, 937, by United Press

OAXACA, Mexico, March To-
(uP).-Mexico's bitter religious
war, which has rent the republic
for a decade, has been solved.
The Mexican government in
tends to continue negotiations for
liquidation of it's foreign indebt-
edness, including that to the Uni
ted States.
The republic will continue to
grant refuge to Leon Trotsky, ex-
lied Russian bolshevik whose pres
ence in the republic bitterly is re-
sented by the Stalinist group of
the Mexican communist party.
The government does not intend
to appropriate holdings of foreign
petroleum companies.
President Lazaro Cardenas made
these statements in an exclusive
interview with the United Press
yesterday during which he dis
cussed his foreign and domestic
policy in detail.
The president received the COR
respondent at his headquarters
here and chatted affably for more
than an hour.
He reiterated his assertions that
no religious problem now exists
in the republic.
Each sovereign state has the
power to legislate on questions of
worship" he said. "The problem
has not been a state problem. In
reality it has been nearly exclu-
sively local in those places where
there are conflicts of ideology."
Negotiations regarding Mexico's
foreign debts are continuing.
However, the president said,
"my government desires to treat
government and railways debts to-
gether. Since there are two COM
mittees, negotiations naturally
viii proceed more slowly"
Cardenas denied that there has
been any rupture in negotiations
as reported.
Asked about the presence of
Leon Trotsky in Mexico the presi-
dent said:
Mexico has granted the right
of refuge to Trotsky as matter
of course, fulfilling our tradition
al policy in that respect. 1t is not
an extraordinary case"
Regarding Mexican support of
the Spanish loyalist government in
Madrid the president said that
Mexico merely is fulfilling it's
duty in supporting a friendly and
lcgally-constituted government"
the Mexican government similarly
would aid any other legal govern
ment, with which its relations are
normal, if that government found
itself menaced by revolution or
civil war.
The president said he was not
sufficiently acquainted with the
supreme court controversy in the
United States to comment on the
conflicting views Of President
Roosevelt and members of the sem
ate who arc opposing Mr.. Roose-
velt's effort to make over the
judiciary. He pointed out. how
ever, that there is no such con-
flict in Mexico, adding that "thc
judicial, legislative and executive
branches of our government all
are working together harmonious
ly." ;.
Cardenas then discussed Of his
plans for developing Mexico's vast
natural resources and the corrc-
spondent asked: What about tho
petroleum controversy"
"That is a question every
ncwspaperman likes to talk
about" Cardenas said. "My gov
eminent has no motives which
should give any Of the foreign
petroleum companies cause Tor
alarm.
"Our reorganization of the pc
troleum industry merely Is Tor
purpose of making our big nation
al reserves. There will be no eX,
preparation. The government VIII
not disturb those interests which
are legitimately constituted. All
the oil companies have to DO Is 10
continue working"
In conclusion Cardenas reiterat-
cd Mexico's pacifist inclinations
asserting that no Mexican wants
war. Development Of the army
and the air force merely are for
maintenance of internal order ana
ordinary practices of self-defense'