Peace

With the latest Mexican revolution successfully quashed, Secretary of War General Plutarco Elias Calles returned in triumph to the arms of his President and the streets of his capital. Waiting on the Mexico City railway platform to greet him was President Emilio Portes Gil, three brass bands, 25 Mexican generals.

The horde of welcomers made it impossible to descend to the platform. Smiling hugely, broad-shouldered Warrior Calles jumped down from his private car to the tracks. President Portes Gil advanced to meet him, arms extended.

"Abrazo! Abrazo!" cried the welcoming generals above the blaring of the bands. "Embrace! Embrace!"

President Portes Gil gave his War Secretary a lusty abrazo and several sound pats on the back. Not a general on the platform but attempted to abrazo the conquering Secretary. Most of them succeeded.

Followed a rapid drive through the streets to Chapultepec Castle. General Calles, still in his war clothes--a big felt hat and tan suede "windbreaker"--looked tired but happy. At Chapultepec Castle he remained in secret conference with the President for some time, then motored to his own home.

At his doorstep General Calles dismissed the eager crowd of newsgatherers who had followed him all day.

"I am too tired to talk, gentlemen," said he. "My one desire is to take a bath."

The triumph over, President Portes Gil resumed his more prosaic task of governing Mexico.

The Army. His first move, as soon as his Secretary of War was bathed and rested, was to demote and dishonorably discharge from the Mexican Army 55 generals, "unworthy to belong to the nation's military forces because of their active participation in the recent rebellion."

Despite this catharsis, Mexico's army still will not lack for generals. There were 350 of them at the beginning of the revolution, and only four got killed. So 291 are left to command an army of 76,000 men.*

Drink. President Portes Gil turned next to Prohibition, the object of his latest enthusiasm. He issued a lengthy document explaining the steps by which he hopes to wean Mexico from the pulque bottle. He created a national committee, with the Secretary of Public Health at its head, to carry these steps out. The steps:

1) Prohibition of the manufacture of whiskey, gin, absinthe and other beverages of high alcoholic content; restrictions on the importation of such beverages.

2) Limitation of licensed drinking places. No new licenses to be issued. No beverages of high alcoholic content to be drunk on the premises. No saloons within a certain distance of schools, barracks, factories.

3) Free instruction of school children, in public and private schools alike, on the Evils of the Drink Habit. All textbooks, irrespective of subject, to carry a lecture against the use of alcohol.

4) Organization of open air mass meetings to preach the virtues of Prohibition. Government cinemas on the Evils of Drink to be shown in all cinema theatres.

So much more stringent were these rules than the original suggestions of President Portes Gil two months ago, that distracted distillers and worried brewers had visions of Prohibition a la U. S.

The first official banquet to comply with President Portes Gil's temperance dictum was given in Mexico City the next day. Held in honor of General Jaoquin Amaro, former Secretary of War, the bidden guests quenched their thirst with mineral water and pineapple juice.

Worship. President Portes Gil turned next to the most serious question in Mexico, the matter of Mexico's religious laws.

President Portes Gil has been holding secret conferences for some time past with representatives of the Catholic Church. Fortnight ago he sent a letter to Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz y Flores, head of the Mexican Hierarchy, now in Washington, asking for an official conference between Vatican representatives and his Government.

On receipt of the letter Archbishop Ruiz y Flores greeted Washington correspondents, smiling broady. Said he: "I am sure that the church controversy can be worked out satisfactorily to both church and government if the problem is approached with good will by both parties. I am greatly pleased. . . ."

There are many formal steps for the Archbishop to take before he can even reply to President Portes Gil's letter. Among other things he must get the approval of a majority of the 30 Mexican Bishops. He sent last week a circular telegram to all the other Bishops, of whom only eight remain in Mexico. When the answers of the 30 Bishops are received Archbishop Ruiz must forward their replies to the Vatican. The Holy See will then transmit final instructions to the Apostolic Delegate to the U. S., the Most Rev. Pietro Fumasoni-Biondi, and Archbishop Ruiz y Flores will be able to proceed.

Quite as interested as President Portes Gil in settling the Mexican religious disputes is Pope Pius XI. At the Apostolic Legation it was broadly hinted that whatever orders are issued from the Vatican in this matter will be the personal work of the Pope, even though they will appear over the signature of Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State.

Among the Mexican religious laws which President Portes Gil and Archbishop Ruiz must endeavor to adjust are those which state:

1) Churches and religious institutions must belong to the Government of Mexico.

2) All priests must be native born, and must register their names and addresses with the local authorities.

3) Parochial schools must be suppressed.

Also irritating and impossible for Catholics to obey, are such local anti-Catholic laws as that one in the State of Tabasco which requires all priests to be married.

*The U.S. Army, 134,505 strong, contains 81 generals.