My Mexican acquaintances, mother and daughter, took me to tea with
some friends of theirs, who lived in a really lovely house, almost
palatial. The daughter of the house was intelligent and spoke perfect
English. I had a long talk with her and learnt something of the Mexican
aristocracy’s view point: She said that decent and honest people in
Mexico try to keep out of politics, and not to meet the politicians
or the Generals. Otherwise they are persecuted by whatever Government
follows for having even been friends with the Government that has
been overthrown. The politicians of whatever regime have always
been self-interested. Their object is to make as much as they can
while their Government lasts. Against this there is no remedy. If the
President tried to enforce rigorous measures against graft, etc., he
would be turned upon and rent asunder. Referring to General Obregon,
she said he was pretty well acknowledged by every one to be honest and
purposeful, the best out of 15,000,000 people, but “thieves” as she
expressed it helped him to become President, and he dare not get rid
of them for that reason, “I suppose he is in honor bound to stand by
them,” I said--“Not at all.” She contradicted, “but if he dismisses
them they would plot against him.... His only way is to kill them.” (I
felt I was probing this skin-deep civilization!!).
Everyone seems to live in great uncertainty. “In the Revolution” (I
did not understand which of the many!) people’s houses and farms and
motors, etc., were taken away from them. A few of them have been
inadequately paid for since, and some farms have been returned to their
owners, but in such a dilapidated condition as to make them almost
hopeless.
“If anything happened to General Obregon, things would be far worse ...
there would be chaos....” I was told. A Revolution is impossible unless
the Indians are with it. They are very easily led, and always side with
the richest General. I was told a good deal more, but it represented
the average bourgeois point of view,--so ready to criticize, so
inaccurate in its details.