[Enclosure]
Senate Resolution 70, 74th Congress, 1st
Session
Resolution
Whereas serious antireligious outbreaks have occurred in Mexico under
the regime of the National Revolutionary Party now in control of the
Government of Mexico; and
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Whereas the persecutions of Christians of all faiths now being
practiced in Mexico have aroused indignation and protest throughout
the civilized world; and
Whereas American citizens of the Christian faiths have been outraged
and reviled, their homes invaded, their civil rights abridged, and
their lives placed in jeopardy; and
Whereas the vindicative antireligious policy of the present Mexican
Government has arbitrarily and unwarrantably restricted the number
of ministers, priests, and rabbis, permitted to officiate in some
States within the boundaries of Mexico, and has, in other States,
entirely forbidden and prohibited the ordinary spiritual
ministrations of clergymen of all creeds, thus resulting in the
complete denial of the right of the people to practice the religion
of their own choosing; and
Whereas it has been the national policy of the Government and the
dominant revolutionary party of Mexico to discourage religious
profession and obliterate religious worship; and
Whereas the present Mexican Government prohibits the time-honored
practice of private religious instruction and education of children
and compels parents as an only alternative to ignorance to educate
their children in schools teaching hostility to orthodox religion;
and
Whereas such antireligious activity in Mexico is contrary to the
traditions of freedom of conscience and liberty of religious worship
which are the cherished attributes of all civilized government;
and
Whereas many distinguished leaders of the Protestant, Jewish, and
Catholic faiths as well as outstanding religious and
interdenominational organizations and societies have emphatically
denounced and registered protest against such policies of the
present Government of Mexico; and
Whereas the Government of Mexico has even encouraged an economic
boycott against those sincerely professing and practicing the
Christian religion; and
Whereas Christians are expelled from public office and driven from
professions; and
Whereas Christian residents of Mexico who complain of such
intolerance are flagrantly mistreated and abused: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate of the United States
deems it fitting and proper to protest the antireligious campaign
and practices of the present rulers of Mexico; and that it views
with the gravest concern such ruthless persecution of helpless men
and women who have become the innocent victims of antireligious
persecution; be it further
Resolved, That it strongly condemns the
cruelties and brutalities that have accompanied the campaign of the
present Mexican Government against the profession and practice of
religious beliefs by our nationals of all religious faiths now
domiciled in Mexico; be it further
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Resolved, That it calls upon the Government of
Mexico in the name of humanity to cease denying fundamental and
inalienable rights to those of our nationals who may be resident in
Mexico regardless of religious convictions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the United States Senate, or a subcommittee thereof, be
authorized to conduct hearings and receive such evidence as may be
presented relating to religious persecution and antireligious
compulsion and agitation in Mexico for the purpose of determining
the policy of the United States in reference to this vital problem
and in what way we may best serve the cause of tolerance and
religious freedom.
For the purposes of this resolution the committee, or any duly
authorized subcommittee thereof, is authorized to hold such
hearings, to sit and act at such times and places during the
sessions and recesses of the Senate in the Seventy-fourth Congress,
to employ such clerical and other assistants, to require by subpena
or otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and the production of
such books, papers, and documents, to administer such oaths, to take
such testimony, and to make such expenditures, as it deems
advisable. The cost of stenographic services to report such hearings
shall not be in excess of 25 cents per hundred words. The expenses
of the committee, which shall not exceed $10,000, shall be paid from
the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved by the
chairman.
