Evening star., 1939-03-19
GEN. ANDREU ALMAZAN.

Mexico's political pot is boiling vio-
lently in preparation for the presiden-
tial election, although it is still 16
months away, and the lines along which
the battle will be fought are taking
shape against a confused background of
political ambitions, OIL labor, land and
social revolution.
Never in the history of the republic
has the field Of potential occupants OF
the executive chair been so large and
never have the underlying forces which
will determine the election been so pow
erful. Against the social revolution will
be pitted growing and menacing forces
of reaction. Labor and the peasantry
on one side; industry and capital, both
foreign and domestic, on the other. The
result will chart the path Mexico is to
follow for the next six years.
Constitutionally forbidden to seek re-
election. President Cardenas has re-
nounced any ambition to overturn the
basic law of the land and perpetuate
himself in power. He has promised
Mexico free election.
The pattern of the campaign and the
vital questions it raises not only for
Mexico but for the United States and
Latin America as whole are discernible.
Threat of Fascism.
For the Mexican people themselves
the question is not merely one of carry
ing on the social revolution which has
made such headway under President
Cardenas. 1t goes deeper than that, for
the passing of every strong ruler and
relaxation of a powerful hand at the
helm raises the specter of chaos and
disintegration.
This is particularly true in the case Of
Mexico, torn as it is between a labor
peasant movement which has long seen
the threat for Fascist revolt and has
prepared for it, and a reaction against
radicalism which is strengthening the
Fascist-inclined conservative classes
backed by circle of old revolutionaries
whose sympathies have never been with
the social revolution.
Mexico can choose a man who will
pursue further the goals set by Car
denas and the National Revolutionary
party at the Queretaro convention of
1888, man who will merely seek to pre-
serve the gains made and attempt no
greater radicalism, or a man who will
renounce everything done in the last
five years and carry Mexico back to the
conservative days of Gales, Rubio and
Rodriguez.
Foreign Relations in Balance.
On the international scene. too.
Mexico's destiny will be in the balance
for the very existence of the American
good neighbor policy and the innumer-
able benefits it has brought to Mexico
may be assured or endangered by the
willingness or refusal of Cardenas' sue
cessor to meet the American Govern
ment half way in settling pending and
newly-rising diplomatic issues.
For Latin America as a whole the i'm
.plications are equally broad, because
Mexico has assumed the leadership of a
movement against foreign capital which
has echoed in Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile,
Argentina and Brazil.
Under opposition attack as the cam
paign gains momentum is the whole
range of President Cardenas' achieve
ments in the past five years, achieve
ments which must be recognized regard.
less of opinions as to their wisdom or
propriety.
Foremost of his successes is land dis
tribution, the policy closest to his heart.
More land has been turned over to the
peasants for communal farming since
1884 than in all the preceding II years
since the 1917 constitution provided its
basis. The result, according to Cardenas'
foes, has been lower agricultural produc-
tivity and an immense new burden for
the government in maintaining on the
soil ignorant peasants who know little
about working it.
Next in importance is the new fran
chise Cardenas has given labor to attain
new heights Of organization and mill
fancy and thereby to force from the in.