"Before one can understand the Mexican situation one must face the problems of Mexico" Frank, Tannenbaum, economist, educator, and prison expert, told a Crimson reporter yesterday. Mr. Tannenbaem had been in Mexico for over a year and returns to lecture on the problems of Mexico with the endorsement of that country's council general. "And before one can understand the relationship between Mexico and Nicaragua one had to understand that all the problems of Mexico are the problems of both Central and south America.

"The Mexican Revolution was an attempt on the part of Mexicans to face their problems. Young people from all over Latin America are coming into Mexico to study conditions there. There are young men are women there from Peru and Argentina. They seek inspiration. In studying the problems of Mexico they are facing their own problems, problems of religion, race, land distribution. Mexico's influence in Latin America is great because the people there understand what she is doing. Her influence in Central and South America will be what the influence of the French Revolution, was to contemporary Europe.

Mexico Is Outpost

"Mexico is the outpost of Latin America in her relation to the United States. Every time a move is made in Mexico the big question is "What will the United States think about it?" This is a grave situation, for Mexico is by race land, and culture bound against American imperialism, if there is any such thing. Mexico has become by the logic of her contact with Letin America, the Spiritual spokesman of Latin America."

Mr. Tannonbaum remarked that there are some citizens in the United States who consider our southern boundary the Isthmus of Panama. "The United States will never invade Mexico as long as it remains peaceful. There would be no excuse for intervention unless that country is far more turbulent than it has been. Intervention would mean annexation. Only an enormous army, for a long time, would be able to tame Mexico. No good American citizen who believes in the principles of the Constitution wants annexation.

"The annexation of Mexico by the United States would ultimately destroy the Union. The foundation of a great radical war would be laid. Mexico with its 15 million Indians would be another Ireland. Its value would not be worth the pride."

When asked it the fact that Mexicans are considered incapable of managing their affairs would not justify foreign ownership and control of industrialization, Mr. Tannenbaum said that this argument is based on assumptions alone. "All races are equally capable to the task of managing their industrial problems at the beginning. The United States, England, and the rest of the world has paid an enormous price for its great industrialization. Besides, the Mexicans are very clever. They can carry their own load. They have included all industrial problems in their Constitution, They trust none of these problems like the eight hour day, the 16 year age limit for working children, and similar ones to a Supreme Court. They wrote the legislation of the world for the last 50 years into their constitution. All strikes since 1917 have been caused by the violation of some issue in the Constitution."

"The basic problem in Mexico is the agrarian problem," stated Mr. Tannenbaum when asked for the chief problems facing Mexico. Next, in order of their importance, are the problems of their relation with the United States, the problem of political democracy, the race problem, education, and the industrial problem. The religious problem is least important.

Oil Question Merely Political

"The oil question is purely political. There are two systems of law in Mexico. One is for all the people on every matter. The other is for foreigners in the oil business. According to old Mexican law dominion over the subsoil would put oil business in governmental control. The prevailing law now gives the owner the right to all oil and coal. The Mexican government is reactionary in its attempt to get back to the old theory of dominion over the subsoil."C. G. T. LUNDELL '27