Evening star., 1937-01-19

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leaders in the conflicting forces are
discussed here in the third OF q
series of four articles by an au-
thority on Latin America.
BY CARLOS ]. vIDELA.
Latin American Editor Of the North Ameri-
can Newspaper Ainance.
NEW YORK, January 19 (N.A.N.A).
Leon Trotzkys arrival in Mexico
would have been the cause Of serious
- disturbances in that country had it
not been for President Cardena's ener-
getic attitude in forbidding all Stalin-
ist demonstrations against the former
Soviet war commiSsar. But although
the Presidents orders averted an
armed clash, they have not been able
to stem rumors that the presence OF
Trotzky would be the signal for red
factional outbreaks in Mexico.
While Mexican revolt touched OF
by the governments agrarlan or In
dustrial policies is not considered i'm
possible, there is on the other hand,
very little likelihood of blood being
spilled in Communist sectarian fights
there. The government has ample
: means to dispose Of this danger to
internal peace.
The adoption of six-year plan, the
enforcement of socialistic education in
the schools (Which has cost many a
rural teacher his ears, cut of by enc
mics of this policy. the appropriation
of land and other radical" features
of the Mexican governments program
have been interpreted by casual COM
mentators as proof of that govern
ment's conversion" to the Communist
cause.
In fact, organized Leftist move
ments have existed below the Rio
Grande for the last 80 years, and
Mexican Sovietism can be traced back
.2l years, to 1916, when it had novel;
like beginnings.
German Expedition Recalled.
There Is still quite lot of mystery
about how a German ex-
pedition to stir insurrection in India
during the war was established some
where in the Mexican states of Guer-
rero or Michoacan in the middle of
1916. According to existing informa-
ton, not entirely confirmed, German
agents succeeded then in smuggling
Iinto Mexico large shipment of arms
and munitions and outfltting two or
three merchant ships on the west
coast of Lower California, which
sailed in May or June of that year.
Only one of the vessels, according
to the scant information available,
ever reached India. The others were
reported to have fallen into the hands
of the British, who dealt summarily
with the crews.
1t was about that time that an ex-
traordinary character, Hindu named
Manabendra Nath Roy, made his ap-
pearance in Mexico. Whether he was
connected with the Indian expedition
has not been clearly established. But
he was. in any event, the moving spirit
of the Communist wave in the neigh
Dor republic.
He entered one day the Offices of the
Bakery Workers Union, surrounded
by a staff comprising one Rumanian,
one EngliShman and one American,
all of whom were said to have escaped
the United States Army draft, ex-
planned he wished to lecture on India
before the union members, and was
,given permission to do so.
His lectures" turned out to be
propaganda for the Russian Soviet.
Thereafter, some union members met
regularly at his Merida street house,
where plans were perfected for the pub
lication of paper called El Soviet,
edited by Jose Allen, and for the
organization of an advanced Mexican
Socialist party.
Faction Called Communist.
After some trouble with Luis
Morones, leader of the Mexican
Workers Regional Confederation
(Crom), Manabendra proposed that
his own faction be called frankly
communist, which was done. Allen
contributed 1000 pesos, Manabendra
another thousand, and the paper was
printed by one Aldana
In the Office of this paper, which
was now called El Comunista, Mana
bendra Nath Roy introduced one day
to Allen a newly-arrived Soviet agent,
> who was said to enjoy the confidence
Of Lenin, and who used the name of
Grusemberg, although his real name
later was disclosed to be Michael
Borodin.
Borodin told Allen he wanted to
interest President Venustiano Car
rama in starting commercial rela-
tions with the Soviets. Borodin and
Manabendra visited Carranza a few
times, but their mission failed. Shortly
afterward a story was told in Mexico
OF fabulous collection of Jewels
which had been intrusted by the
6oviets to Borodin to sell, and which
he had left in the custody of a con-
federate either in Santo Domingo or
in Havana. It seems that this con-
federate fatty refused to surrender
the jewels to Borodin.
Threatened by Carranza with ex-
pulsion from Mexico and frantic over
the alleged loss of the jewels, Boro-
din returned to Russia, where he was
soon followed by Manabendra. Boro.
din later became leader of Com.
munist forces in China, and Mama
bendra was given an important posi-
tion in the new Russian government.
Before leaving Mexico, it is as
serted by persons who knew Mama
bendra there. he instructed Allen to
organize the Latin American Bureau
Of the Third Internationale, of which
Allen became secretary. Gen. Fran
cisco ]. Nujica, then chief Of supplies
for President Carranza, was appoint
ed member Of the bureau.
Meanwhile, the first serious clash
between the government and Red