"Most Solemn Hour!"

Mexicans were among those puzzled when a certain President said: "I do not choose. . . ."

President Plutarco Elias Calles of Mexico said last week:

"I have decided to declare in solemnity and with such clearness that my words may not be misinterpreted, that I shall not seek the prolongation of my term, either by accepting prorogue of office or by accepting the appointment of Provisional President. . . . Never for any reason or under any circumstances shall I return to the Presidency.

"This does not mean the remotest intention on my part of abandoning civic duties nor retirement from the life of struggle and responsibility which are the lot of every soldier. I know there are plenty of situations in the military, administrative, political, or civic field which I can occupy and which no matter how modest they may seem in comparison with the Presidency I now hold . . . could give me opportunity to discharge my duties as a man of the revolution."

The speech of President Plutarco Elias Calles was delivered before the Congress of Mexico, in the presence of 22 Divisional Generals, 16 Governors of Mexican States and the Diplomatic Corps. Not since the glamorous days of Dictator Porfirio Diaz has Mexico City been the scene of a spectacle so imposing and resplendent.

The Congress had met to deal with the grave crisis resulting from the recent assassination of President-Elect Alvaro Obregon (TIME, July 30). Until President Calles mounted the Tribune and began his 5,000-word address, Mexicans were half persuaded that he would attempt to succeed himself as President, though Mexico's Constitution forbids.

Calles has been called a Dictator, as was Obregon, as have been most Presidents of Mexico. Therefore the Nation was moved in the very depths of its emotional being, last week, when President Calles said: "For the first time in Mexican history the Republic faces a situation whose dominant note is the lack of a leader of military power. . . . This is the most solemn hour of our national life. ... I consider it necessary that we pass from a system of government by one man to a government of institutions. ... It is useless to seek an outstanding or dictatorial person. May I say there are none! . . .

"It is no longer the man but the exaltation of the law that must be our source of strength. ... I need not say that I should not advise legality for legality's sake, forgetful of the national needs or the real condition of the country." President Calles then indicated that he advises the legal election to Congress, without obstruction from the party in power, of representatives of all opposition factions--a thing unheard of up to now in Mexico. "My advice," he continued, "is based on my conviction that admitting into Congress representatives from reactionary groups, even from clerical reactionaries should not alarm true revolutionaries,* because if we all have faith, as I have, that our new ideas are now shared by the great majority of the Mexican people . . .then we must know that the electoral districts in which political or clerical reactionaries might obtain a victory over men representing the advanced social movement in Mexico must be for a long time to come in the minority."

Having thus arrived at a burning issue --the struggle between the Mexican State and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in Mexico--President Calles said:

"The rebellion of the Roman Catholic clergy against the laws established in the matter of religion continues, and because of this the executive has dictated measures necessary to enforce compliance with these laws. As the clergymen of the creeds other than the Roman Catholics have submitted to these laws during the year of 1927, permission for the establishment of six Protestant churches has been granted, and in 1928 nine similar permits have been issued. Likewise, in accordance with the laws, permits have been granted to the clergymen of American and other nationalities, allowing them to conduct their religious teachings for six years, during which period, as the law specifies, they are to train clergymen of the Mexican nationality to replace them.

"The clerical propaganda outside the country [has] assumed virulent proportions, worst in the United States, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Peru, Belgium, Chile, Holland, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay and England.

"Unfortunately in Italy such activities trespassed all limits of prudence to a point where relations between the two governments [Italy and Mexico] suffered serious disturbance which may grow worse."

In conclusion the President called upon all present--specifically upon the Divisional Generals and the Governors--to cooperate in the disinterested choice of a provisional president ad interim, and to facilitate the legal election of a candidate to replace assassinated President-Elect Obregon. Senor Calles retires from office on Dec. 1, 1928.

The Congress, after receiving the President's great and inspiring address with cheers, heard from Speaker of the House Colonel Ricardo Topete who is also leader of the Majority or Obregonista Party, a crisp declaration that the Party pledges itself to follow the advice and program laid down by Plutarco Elias Calles.

*Sons of the Mexican Revolution (against Spain) are of course quite as respectable, in Mexico, as are Daughters of the American Revolution (against Britain).

*i.e. Sons of the Mexican Revolution.