Mexican Attempts to Initiate Economic Drive Against Jews

The menace of a new anti-Semitic movement in Mexico, perhaps greater in scope than the boycott against the Jews in 1931, has reared its head as the result of a statement by the president of one of the leading non-official economic organizations in this country.

In the wake of a virulent nationalistic boycott against the Chinese in the state of Chihuahua, resulting in three lynchings and in the guarding of all Chinese establishments to prevent any customers entering, comes the statement by Rafael Sanchez Lira, president of the “National Organizing Council for Industrial and Agricultural Fomentation”, commonly known as the “Confia”, urging a national anti-Jewish campaign.

The statement was made by Sanchez Lira at a banquet given in Mexico City by his organization in honor of newspaper publishers and editors.

IN PRAISE OF GERMANY

Among other things, Sanchez Lira said: “Mexico should at once begin a campaign against the Jews if she wishes to defend her national economy, and she should imitate other countries where such a campaign has its foundation on nationalistic grounds and with all precautions in order to avert worse evils”.

The speaker referred to the situation in Germany, saying: “The reaction against the Jews in Germany is already an accomplished deed, a real measure to safeguard the economic interests of that nation and at this time all the emigration of those usurers and money-lenders is being directed toward the United States.

“Confia is preparing a definite plan of action which will be submitted to the federal government for consideration. The government can count on the aid of this organization with its 2,400 committees established throughout the Republic.”

SPANISH TRADERS ENVIOUS

The echoes of the last anti-Semitic campaign in Mexico, which took the form principally of a boycott against the small merchants who had invaded certain markets in Mexico City, have not entirely died down, and the growth of the nationalistic fever indicates that opposition to Jewish immigration is crystallizing.

Of course, most of this opposition has nothing to do with Mexican popular opinion, and in most cases the “Nationalistic” campaings, it was definitely proven in the boycott of 1931, are financed by Spanish merchants who are the principal competitors of the Jews.

The same attitude applies to other enterprises in which there are Jews, who usually are not known as such to the populace, but as “extranjeros”(foreigners) or “Rusos” (Russians), regardless of where they came from.

Mexico in 1931 officially frowned upon the anti-Jewish movement, and indications are that such a movement now will meet with as much official disfavor. The fact that General Plutarco Calles, who although not holding an official position is still political dictator of Mexico, while president, invited 10,000 Jews to come and settle in Mexico, has not been forgotten.