MEXICO: 1962 SIR,—It was not without interest that 1 read
the observant article 'Mexico: 1962"3y Mr. J. M. Cohen in your issue of April 20, and it seems to me a rather remarkable effort, not only because of the fever with which he tries to cover everything and to understand everyone, but because he clearly has the noble desire to give a comprehensive idea of the political and social conditions of my country.
Unfortunately, it seems that the task was rather too much for him, even though this in no way diminishes the 'suspense' with which he deals out Castro, Punta del Este, Cuba, the Yankees, the Revolution, the Russians, the Chinese, Cardenas, the Gringos, the British, the 'pinks', the intellectuals, etc. etc. but as the 'suspense' is only artificial, the sys- tem adopted by Mr. Cohen does not achieve its aim of covering, understanding and, still less, explaining the position of Mexico in 1962.
I only wish to refer to the statement that the three great national dailies of my country do not reflect Mexican public opinion; when it is still true in Mexico that if a newspaper does not interest public opinion, because it does not serve it, it ceases publication no matter how much government or other support it may have, how can anyone agree with such a comment? It is, therefore, rather an audacious statement to make about Excelsior, Novedades and El Universal, above all when the present generation has seen that these newspapers have not only existed for decades, although often persecuted by powerful politicians, but as they have always given the public a daily service of news and
orientation, they have won respect and authority.
It is not worth while to refer to the criticism that the newspapers of my country publish photographs of foreign visitors, because not only is the observa- tion ungracious, but it seems to lack journalistic sense if it is not forgotten that a well-informed paper must publish photographs of 'all those who might interest or be a warning to public opinion.
Lastly, when he says that for genuine news and views one must turn to the two fortnightlies Siempre and Politica, which are the organs of the intellectuals, I do not think that even the former would thank him for the compliment, since in its No. 460 of April 18, one of its oldest and most esteemed corre- spondents, Jose Natividad Rosales, who sometimes has three or four articles in the same issue, says that 'the intellectuals do not understand Mexico' and he calls them 'pedants, quick to show resent- ment, ignorant of the medium in which they act,' and even considers them `to blame for the leftist tragedy.'
Your readers will see that with such backing it is a little difficult to accept as well-informed the article on 'Mexico : 1962.' The actual position of my country and its aspects and conditions are much simpler and at the same time much deeper than what Mr. Cohen has heard, ANTONIO ARMENDARIZ Ambassador Embajada de Mexico, London
Previous page
