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Manuscripts

A number of good items herein. For instance, letter dated from Paul Shoup to Hale Holden, SP Chairman, about a recent meeting among Shoup, Ambassador Dwight Morrow, Portes Gil, and Calles. "The Mexican government, as Mr. Morrow says, 'is broke.' It cannot pay the interest on the debts it owes, which in round figures, including guaranteed bonds of the National Railways, and accumulated interest on all debts, amounts to $1,800,000,000 pesos. ...Mr. Montes de Oca show[ed] me figures estimating the cost of the [Cristero] Revolution at $14,000,000 pesos, and loss in revenues $10,000,000 pesos..." Also discussion in this letter of Shoup's interaction with Calles; Calles "spoke of the value of our road in military operations now that it is completed through to Guadalajara, and said that in his plan of campaign he had done all he could to keep the injury to it to a minimum. He said he did not believe there would be any more military revolutions for a long time, the last three having been unsuccessful. I found that to be the view of the Government officers in general." Considerably more in this letter on prevailing views about current and future conditions in Mexico. Great 4-page letter from Shoup; closes by saying that some foreign property-owners in Mexico would prefer the big-stick method, but he finds Morrow's cooperative approach "infinitely the better one."


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