1494 It seems that the Alliance for Progress Scheme, devised to hold back left-ward tendencies in Latin America by pouring in dollars and prop— ping upbourzeois and dictatorial governnmts is causing concern in US government and business circles, A committees recently formed to look into the scheme has reported that ™" we are in great danger of suffering a major defeat to our strategic interests in this Hemisphere". It is said that Kennedy is determined to see economic stability in at least one country in Latin America under the Alliance for Progress and that he has Mexico in mind, The following extracts from an articgle in US News and World Report show that the Ameriaan Imperialists may well have cause for concern.
"Unrest is mounting over Mexico's land—hungry peasants, Violence has broken out in scattered areas, accompanied by demands for better living standards. Opposition to the entrenched political party that has ruled the country since 1929 is sweeping out from beneath the surface. There are problems also in connexion with the flight of capital from the country. i turnabout is necessary if the country's throe year plan of economic growth
“The Institutional Revolutionary Party" owes its long temure as a majority party to support from the peasants, the Army, Labour, and Mexico's mi ddle class. Now this solidarity is being threatened, 4 split has developed among the peasants. in organisation known as “Independent Peasant Center" has been attacking the Sovernment with charges of graft, corruption poor administration and neglect of farmers ond workers. I+ claims a mem bership of three million which is probably exaggerated, It is threatening the government with large demonstrations in the cities, It is in the countryside that the threat to Mexico's ‘stability is considered to be at its gravest. Hungry, restless peasants have given evidence that they are roady to follow any leader as long as he promises them something better than their present way of life, With bombs and bullets organised squads of PEASANTS HAVE BATTLED FEDERAL police and and ‘Army units in several of the nation’s states. Squatters have moved onto big ranches and farms demandi redistrimition of the land. (our omphasis)
“Late in 1962, a plot attributed to rebellious peasants who attem-— ted to blow up bridgas leading to the US was uncovered and thwarted. On ie Devember 30th, an attack took place on the city hall of Iguala, in the State of Guerrero, that left intis wake a toll of dead and wounded, These condit— ions of political and sconomic upheaval need an urgent decigion in months ahead. That is the selection of the “official™ party of a oandidate to succeed President Lopez Mateos, The political leanings of the next Fresident will be influenced too by the world situation - particularly the policy of the US townrds Castro's Cuba, If Castro and Comminism remain in Cuba in uneasy co-existence to the US then President Lopes Mateo's successor may well be aman chosen for his attractiveness to the Mexican Leftists, in the hepe that they will line up with the government, If however US policy indicates that it intends to destroy Cuba one way or another, then the candidate may be a pelitical strong man who could easily rally the country behind him if he had to deal firmly with uprisings from the far left,
"In any event, it is clear that 2 race against time is on in Latin America if is to become a show-place for the Alliance For Progress, it met secure its political and sconomic stability,"