Mexico Knows No Antisemitism and is Much More Friendly to Jew Than Most Countries in Europe: Assuran

Mexico knows no antisemitism and is much more friendly to the Jew than the majority of countries in Europe, the Foreign Minister, Senor Gernaro Estrada, declared to-day in an exclusive interview with the J.T.A. Representative here.

The demonstration which took place here on Monday, he claimed, is not of great importance, and was arranged by isolated groups which have no connections with the Government. There is no ground for the excitement which it has created abroad, and the precautions taken by the Government are sufficient to prove that there is nothing to be feared. The anti-Jewish propaganda is unimportant, and the Government is always willing and ready to give protection to the Jews, as to other foreign groups. Let the demonstrators yell their heads off, the Minister concluded.

This declaration by the Foreign Minister is held in Jewish quarters here to be of great value, considerably easing the Jewish situation. At the same time, the fact is not overlooked that there is considerable difference of opinion existing between the Foreign Ministry and some of the other Ministries. The Foreign Office is alive up the unfortunate effect which the anti-Jewish and anti-foreign agitation is creating abroad, but other Government Departments, and especially the all-important Ministry of the Interior, in whose hands lies the control of alien permits, regulations and of other facilities for foreigners living in Mexico, are taking no heed of the effect produced abroad.

Although the wave of anti-Jewish agitation reached its crest with Monday’s demonstration, and is now subsiding, the danger is not yet definitely over. The crisis has only entered on another, perhaps more peaceful stage. Mexican Jewry has on the whole kept its head, and is holding its own ground, having proved the wisdom of keeping calm and thus averting serious conflicts.