DYNAMITE UNDER MEXICO
47
of advantage to the enemy. If a coming war found the United
States lined up with the democratic as against the fascist powers
and
serious uprisings broke out in Mexico,
U. S. regiments to patrol the border
several
it would
require
and a number of
ships to watch the thousands of miles of coast line to
prevent arms running to American countries sympathetic to the
U.
S.
Berlin-Rome-Tokyo
axis.
three fascist powers that have cast longing eyes upon Cen
and South America have apparently divided their activities
in the Americas, with Japan concentrating on the coast lines and
the Panama Canal, Germany on the large Central and South
American countries and Italy upon the small ones.
In Mexico, Nazi agents work directly with Mexican fascist
groups, and have undertaken to carry the brunt of spreading
The
tral
anti-democratic propaganda to turn popular sentiment against
the "Colossus of the North," and to develop a receptive attitude
toward the totalitarian form of government.
Italy concentrates on espionage, with particular attention to
Mexican aid to Loyalist Spain. It was the Italian espionage net
work in Mexico which learned the course of the ill-fated "Mar
which left New York and Vera Cruz with a cargo
of arms for the Loyalists and was intercepted and sunk by an
Cantabrico"
Insurgent cruiser.
Though Germany, even more than Italy, is utilizing her propa
ganda machine in the Americas markets, the Japanese are not
troubling about that just yet. Their commercial missions seem
to be
much
less interested in
than in taking photographs.
establishing business connections
chief commercial activity all
The
three countries are intensely interested in is getting concessions
for iron, manganese and oil materials essential for
from Mexico
war.
President Lazaro Cardenas, however, has stated his dislike
of fascism
on
several occasions. Since
Germany, Japan and
Italy