New-York tribune., 1879-02-24
THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT.

| MPORTA>T DECLARATIONS ON THr PART or PRES.
IDEST DfAz-uIs OPINIONS on THR PROPOSED
| JOINT EXHIBITION. INTERNATIONAL RAiLROADs
| AND aIE.HsHIP COMMUNICATIONS.
| PROV sTiTP CORRESPONDENT or TIE rErBUsE.1
Myxrco Feb. 7.-Thrcughou: the visit Of tho
American deputaton to this capital. President
Diaz has been all times ready grant the men,
Ders informal interviews, and discuss fully anybub'
| jet of interest to them. In the two interviews
with which | have been favored, President Dias
expressed opinions which at this moment are Of
considerable importance. Referring. in the first
place 70 the expediency NJ sending n Mexican COM
mission 70 the United States with che view OF pro-
noting greater t,ade between tho two Nations, tho
President said tO me that after no
came into power, be was most anxious to
conclude a commercial, railroad and extradtion
treaty with the United States but his desires were
countsracted by the order to General Ord, which
offended the National dignity, and thwarted his ef-
forts. He was disposed, he said, 10 accord the
United states greater privileges than any other
Nation. being desirous especially that Mexican
sugar should be admitted favorable terms 10 tho
American market The President further said,
with marked earnestness that he was anxious 10
this important measure carried into effect be-
fore bis term expired in 1881. He spoke Of Gem
sral Ord as the highest type Of commanding ofi-
Ger he expressed tho greatest regard for him, and
fouud 10 fault with him for merely executing the
order he he'd received.
Having suggested to the President that il wond
be we'll Ia send samples OF the products OF Mexico
To Mr.. Zamscona the Mexican Minister at Washing@
ton, in order that American manufacturers and
| merchants may be able TO learn what products tho
sis er Republic had to sell. General Daz regarded
the proposal fav0rsbly, and promised that it should
be carried intO effect.
In rcpv ~ my inquiry II the President were In
| III NJ
Diaz said he desired very much that one shonld be
held and he composed Of Mexican and American
products alone. He intimsted that. as Mexico IL
eetranced automatically from England and
France ne c0ud neither seek nor count
nnon their cooperation. He proposed that the ex-
hibitl0n ehou1 be held in Winter-a Mexican
Winter is as mild Indian sunlmcr-sO that
there need be mIsgivings to the prevalence OF
yellow fever at Vera Cruz. An engineer he OBJ
served had been sent TO the United states 10 obtain
| nformation regarding the proposed building, and
when told him that the information and experi-
ence acquired in organizing the Philadelphia Exhi-
biton would no doubt be readily placed at tho
disposal of his Government. the President said he
would avail bimself of it.
| Turning 70 the important question of railroad
communication, / asked the President If he pre-
ferred 10 have line built from the capital
| to the Pacific in advance of ono to the Amerl-
can frontier In reply he said that he ear
rsstly desired the construction of both as the ono
would promote business for the other; that they
were parts Of National system; that Mr.. Sullivans
| scheme for - central line 20 the American frontier.
| with branch to the Pacific, would have been ap-
proved by Congress last session, if II were certain
that M Sullivan was prepared to c4Try the project
! into effect. On my observing that the matter may
be greatly facilitated by Mexico declaring her terms
| passing in effect, a general law-the President
| said that state rights were somewhat IN tho
way but he deemed the suggestion good
| one being anxious To deal direct with such
! CAPITALISTS as may he disposed to undertake the
| construction of an international ne; ne was de-
slrOus 10 enter into a treaty with the United states
| regarding the proposed lines. Knowing tlat AmeT-
| can capital abhoTs the tOrtuOus ways OF diplomacy,
obs"rved that no treaty had been found necessary
for the extension of American lines across the Can-
aiau frontier. The President replied that he de-
sired the treaty. so that the Mexican populaee may
! harbor no apDrehensons regarding the security OF
tho Nation from the construction OF the proposed
lines. Referring TO the proposed Teuantepec Rail-
| road for which Sir. Hall. an Eng sh contractor IS
! now 81 eking charter the President said that ha
wished 10 have 10 built that ne was once Governor
of that district, and he knew that the line Goud DO
constructed with less difficulty than One-half Of tho
proposed Railway from Mexico 10 the Pacific
In respect TO the contemplated steamship line be-
tween Galveston and Vera Cruz, the President said
that the subject under consideration, and that
| Government were waiting FOR particulars OF tho
arrival and departure of trains at 9aiE"ston so az
to arrange their mail system accordingly Speaking
| in general way of steamship communication, tho
President said America ought to give some aid, hav-
| ing evidently in mind the fact that Mexico has
| given upward of $500, 900 10 American steamship
lines since 1868, without n single dollar having
been paid from the United states Treasury TO pro-
mote such communication with Mexico.
At my second conversation with the President, ho
manifested the of regret and diSpl"asuTo
at the cxis;eqce of the order authorizing General
Ord TO cross the frontier; observing, how
c;er, that he knew that there was q
broad distinction between tho order Of
department and the del berate act of the American
% Minister
INN that unless Mexico changed her lin o conduct
she would disappear from the map ~" President
said hat ho replied that Mexico would preserve hep
honor. and if she were TO fall she would tall with
diVuty On my asking for the date OF this remark
able interview the President promised 10 send II ID
mo- no did sO-It was August % 1875.
II was evident from these conversations with tho
President, aud from his candid eSpl1nltIons I'D
members of the deputatlon, that; y lie ls per-
Sonaliy in favor of the closest friendship between
Mexico and the United States that he does
not mean this in diplomatic sense which
often means nothing at all, but that he j!
prepared t. show his good viii by SubNtanuat
iayor~, such a commercial treaty, the encourage
mcnt ,ruie the establishment OF mah steamship
liuc, tine right to build railroads and rNrTy ia'llty
for Americans to obtain permanent tootlng ~
merchants, miners or manufacturers ~ he heAlcai
Republic. 81 That while the President 'hteItalna
these friendly sentiments, he feels thjt. "hateSer
may be- The ctuse his good will has not been reclpI
rDcattd at Washington. His cordial reception or
the American traders shows that he places Nat0nal
interests above every other consideration and thaO
personally he can hardly be provoked into
showing III will toward the American people.
But a. even in Mexico there are polit-
clans tho place party above pa,il"tisIIn, @ nf ,I,
ord decree and by the cold # not unireudly policy
which ii ndlcates. (3l Finally, that tie PrtsIdenG
feels tnai ms own popularity and administrative
skill ciVc Ium firm hold power and that 1t VIII
b. possible for HIM To shape permanently me com
mcrcal policy Of Mexico TO the common interests
of the Uued States and his own landIi TRIVIAL qucs-
lions are set aside and America dccTCco that con-
troll of the Mexican market shall be the paramount
consideration IN her diplomatic relations.