Mexico Joins the Free Nations

Southland Times, Issue 24758, 1 June 1942, Page 4

Mexico Joins the Free Nations

MEXICO’S declaration of war on the Axis Powers was reported on Saturday to have caused no surprise in London, where it is felt that the President’s action “typifies a spirited and democratically-minded nation, which in no circumstances would allow itself to be insulted.” Not many persons will believe, however, that the sinking of two Mexican ships was the real cause of the declaration. In the early months of the war the Scandinavian nations lost many ships and thousands of seamen in an indiscriminate U-boat warfare without feeling obliged to do more than make formal protests. It is harder for Governments to be “insulted” when the accidents of geography place them uncomfortably close to a strong and predatory Power. Mexico is a long way from Europe, and General Camacho has explicitly stated that Mexican troops will not fight on other continents. “Mexico,” he said, with characteristic realism, “recognized the limits of her military resources.” But although the entry into the war of this large Latin republic may not affect the military situation, it will be welcomed in all the Allied countries as an event of genuine importance. It provides tangible evidence of the swing in neutral opinion towards the United Nations; and it will strengthen the hemisphere solidarity which the United States Government has been striving, in the face of many difficulties, to transform from sentiment into action.

Mexico has not been strictly neutral since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. At that time she severed diplomatic relations with Japan; but no further move was made, even after Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. This negative reaction was shared by most other Latin American countries. Although the Pan-American conference of 1940 had ended with the signing of a declaration which embodied the principle of hemisphere unity in the face of aggression, the larger republics did no more than reaffirm their solidarity with the United States. While the Latin States remained uneasily suspended between moral support and political inaction, Axis agents were able to continue their dangerous activities. The Fifth Column is a very real and sinister fact in most Latin American countries. Mexico’s declaration of war should be followed by vigorous action against the German and Japanese minorities. Although Mexico is not, geographically, a part of South America, her racial and political affinities with the southern countries are very marked, and her influence south of the Panama Canal has grown steadily during the past seven years of radical administration. The United Nations will welcome their new ally for sound strategic and political reasons. Every new accession of strength, even though it may not make itself felt on the field of battle, increases the momentum that is carrying the free peoples towards victory. The line-up of nations has changed impressively since the British Commonwealth stood alone against its powerful enemies. Axis leaders may pretend indifference; but they cannot fail to see the significance of events that are mobilizing against them the resources of those who will not accept a new order founded on slavery and despair.