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THE MEXICAN PUZZLE
35

In several jewelry shops I saw placards, or what were supposed to be photographs of "wild men from Australia," and the label underneath said: "These wild men of Australia are fighting for England for the civilisation of Europe."

There are more Japanese shops in Mexico City than I had expected to find. Although there are three or four in the business district, the big majority are in the suburbs. In offices throughout the city one sees hundreds of Japanese posters, advertising Nipponese goods. In the only foundry in Mexico City which is making war munitions is a big, modern Japanese factory, recently imported from Japan. When the present government found it impossible to obtain war supplies from the United States, a Japanese commission was invited to Mexico and this plant was erected by the Far Easterners. The large wireless tower near Chapultepec Park I saw being repaired. A Mexican officer told me when it was finished it would be powerful enough to communicate with Japan. Although American observers have heard this, they consider it improbable.

Six months before I arrived in Mexico the present government was exceedingly suspicious of Americans and especially of the United States Government. When an American during my stay there called upon a high government official and discussed the question of a loan this official remarked:

"The American people and the Mexican peo-