The Spanish Civil War and Mexican Relations with Latin America

Beginning with the founding of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, Mexican administrations sought closer relations with the madre patria on the basis of both governments' attempts at social reform. When the Republic came under attack form reactionary forces in 1936, the Mexican government became one of the most ardent defenders of the legitimate government of Spain, support that influenced Mexico's political and cultural relations with Latin America during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940). Mexico's Spanish policy has received ample attention in the literature, but the effect it had upon relations with its Latin American neighbours clearly demonstrates what was at stake for the Mexican government in taking such an outspoken stand. During the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico presented itself as the moral leader of Latin America by virtue of its reform programs, but in the eyes of many professional and popular Latin American observers Mexico was best characterised by its Spanish policy. Latin American responses to the Spanish Civil War and Mexico's bid for leadership in Latin American affairs were intimately connected. This paper examines diplomatic issues, such as rights of asylum and diplomatic recognition, and popular issues, such as the organization of workers and the bombardment of civilian populations, that the Spanish conflict brought to the fore. It shows that Mexico's Spanish policy not only framed the positions it took on these issues, but also the way in which these positions were received.