The Fuentes Affair

To the Editors:

Your readers may be interested in the following letter to the Attorney-General protesting the action of the immigration authorities in Puerto Rico against Carlos Fuentes.

Dear Sir:

Mr. Carl Brandt has just given us the following communication from the distinguished Mexican novelist, Carlos Fuentes, who was travelling by ship from Spain to his own country with a stopover in Puerto Rico:

Yesterday, on arriving at San Juan, the United States Immigration authorities tore up my transit card and confined me to the ship like a common criminal. From the decks I saw land that is mine, part of Latin America, but an occupied land I cannot set foot on.

We wish to protest against the discourteous action taken by the United States authorities in refusing to permit Mr. Fuentes to step ashore in Puerto Rico. Since we hope at some time in the future to invite Mr. Fuentes to come to Columbia University and accept a joint appointment with us, we are naturally disturbed by government agents. Most of all we object to the uncivil treatment he has been subjected to as an individual and as a world-renowned author.

Charles Wagley

Franz Boas Professor of Anthropology

and Director of the Institute of Latin

American Studies, Columbia University

Frank MacShane

Chairman of the Writing Division

of the School of the Arts,

Columbia University