Evening star., 1942-05-23
Mexico Decides
To Declare War
On Axis Nations
Congress- Approval
Certain; New Sinking
Arouses Country
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, May 23.-
Mexico lacked only the formality
of apparently certain congress
sional approval today to become
full-fledged Ally in the war
against the Axis.
Her decision was made rapidly
last night as wave of public fury
swept the country over the news
that Axis submarines had sunk the
second Mexican merchant ship
within eight days.
Even while awaiting President
Manuel Avila Camachos formal
proclamation Of war. the first in
Mexico's history, the republic put
precautionary measures against Axis
aliens quietly into force and took
its first military steps.
A special session Of the full cabi-
net announced after three hours
deliberation that Congress would be
called in special session Ito author
ize the President to declare the ex-
istence of a state of war"
Congress must be convened within
10 days. Next Thursday vas set
tentatively for the session, but there
were indications that the aroused
public might insist on a meeting
still earlier, possibly Monday or
Tuesday.
Reasons Clearly Defined.
The governments sta E m n
clearly defined the reasons which
swept Mexico toward war-the Axis
sinking of the Mexican tanker
Potrero del Llano of Florida, its
refusal to accept a protest of that
sinking and then its sinking We'd
nesday Of the tanker Faja de Orc,
all within eight days.
Survivors from the ships still had
not reached the capital when the
war decision was made last night,
but a great patriotic demonstration
was organized to greet their arrival
today as the wheels started turning
to bring Congress back from its
recess.
Government sources indicated the
alien-control measures would not
be announced publicly until they
I'll
tary activities also were kept q state
secret.
Even before the announcement
that Mexico was declaring war in
consideration OF the aggression Of
which the country has been VIC
tim" there were indications that
government departments were ready
for swift action to meet war con-
ditions.
Export Of Funds Forbidden.
Acting on reports that Axis ma
tionals had foreseen such an event
and had converted their cash into
United States currency, the export
Of United States money was for
hidden and banks refused to change
dollars into Mexican pesos.
Policemen remained within sight
Of the largest German business
places to guard them from the pub
lie. Senators and Deputies voiced
demands that they pe seized to
reimburse Mexico for the loss Of
the ships and pay the families
of 81 seamen who died in the sink
ings.
Mexico's entry into the war would
place on the side of the Allies a
nation Of 10000, 900, the most popu-
lous in Latin America except for
Brazil. Mexico has q standing army
of 10000. 400, 600 more semitrained
men ready to be called and navy Of
IS ships already active on patrol in
the Pacific.
A formal declaration Of war by
Mexico will make her the tenth
Latin American republic to join
actively in the conflict against the
Axis powers.
War already has been declared by
Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican
Republic, Guatemala, Salvador,
Honduras. Nicaragua, Haiti and
Cuba. Most Of them acted within
a few days after the japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor, December 7.
Diplomatic relations with the Axis
have been broken OF by Colombia,
quay, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Relations are maintained by Ar
gentina and Chile.