Mexico’s New Crisis

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 4th Year

Issue

Issue No.

12

Date Released

1939

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Mexico’s New Crisis
2. 2Youth Prepares

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 2

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: This March of Time episode .... deals with the story behind Mexico’s confiscation of British and American oil properties and the present-day effects of this action. The film shows how after long centuries of oppression which left them a heritage of poverty and illiteracy, the Mexican people have now embarked on a revolutionary experiment under the leadership of their president, Lazaro Cardenas. Aiming to modernize backward Mexico and free her from foreign exploitation, Cardenas has built, during the past four years, hundreds of miles of highway, thousands of new schools, has spent one-fifth of the budget to educate his people, and has instituted a public health programme to reduce Mexico’s startlingly high death rate. The March of Time pictures one of the most important reforms - redistribution of the land which, when Cardenas came into office in 1934, was held by only 1 per cent of the population. Cardenas hoped, by expropriating this land and turning it into communal farm units for Mexico’s landless peasants, to increase Mexico’s agricultural production. However, for the past two years this production expectancy has not been met and Mexico has been put in the unprofitable position of importing food she formerly grew. In an effort to raise production, government funds were poured into purchase of machinery and newly-established agricultural schools to teach farmers new scientific methods.
To pay for these expensive socialistic experiments, Cardenas levied new taxes upon industry. But when Mexico’s labour syndicate demanded more and more pay for the worker, production and profits dropped sharply and with them needed tax revenues.

The March of Time traces how Cardenas turned to one of Mexico’s richest industries - oil - 90 per cent British and American controlled. When oil companies refused to meet their workers demands for increased wages and part control, the Government retaliated by seizing oil plants, expropriating four hundred million dollars in foreign investments. How this action has affected developments in Mexico, and how, as a result, the U.S. Government’s purchases in silver have been cut in half, and oil company reprisals have caused production to fall to almost one-half its former level - are protrayed in this film. As Mexico’s plight becomes desperate, she has been forced to deal by barter with Fascist Germany, Italy and Japan and to use or dump in the markets of neighbouring countries the foods she receives instead of cash. Today, the March of Time shows, Mexico faces a new crisis with debts mounting and food scarce - a crisis which may bring about her economic collapse and her Government’s overthrow. But despite these acute problems, Lazaro Cardenas, as a man of the people, holds fast to his determination to convert Mexico to a new way and gain the fruits of their toil for the Mexican people.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.5 No.7 of the US edition.

Keywords

Politics and government; Business and commerce

Written sources

The March of Time Promotional Material   Publicity brochure, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.