Plutarco Elias Calles

Born Sept. 25, 1877, in Guay-mas, Sonora; died Oct. 19, 1945, in Mexico City. Mexican statesman and political figure. Teacher by profession.

Calles was one of the participants in the Revolution of 1910— 17, and in 1914 he became a general. From 1918 to 1923 he occupied important ministerial posts. He was president from 1924 to 1928. At first he pursued a policy aimed at strengthening the national sovereignty of the country, defending Mexico’s right to its own natural resources against the encroachments of American monopolies and supporting Nicaragua in its national liberation struggle against US imperialism. However, he eventually capitulated totally to native reaction and American capital, supporting a policy of concessions to US oil monopolies and suppressing democratic forces within the country. In 1930, under his immediate influence, Mexico severed diplomatic relations with the USSR. From 1933 to 1935 he was minister of finance. In 1936 he was expelled from the country for his antinational reactionary activity and interference in the affairs of the progressive government led by L. Cárdenas y del Rio. Returning to Mexico in 1941, he abandoned politics.