The herald., 1898-12-31
REMOVES A VERY EMINENT
DIPLOMAT
WITH LITTLE INTERRUPTION
He Represented His Country at Wash.
ington for Forty Years, Doing
His Work Acceptably
associated Press Special wire.

| WASHlNGION, Dec. 3U.-Senor DOr
Matias Romero, the Mexican Ambassador
to the United States, died at the Embassy
here at 4:l0 o'clock this morning. On Wed
nesday last an operation for appendicitis
was performed upon the Ambassador and
although the operation was entirely sue
cessful, the resulting shock proved greater
than he could bear. Up to 1870 o'clock this
morning, however, it was thought he was
in fair way to recover but at that time q
high fever set in and he sank rapidly Until
his death. About his bedside were his sister
Mrs. Garcia, and his aunt, the secretaries
and attaches of the Embassy, his physicians
| and ex-Secretary and Mrs. John w. Foster
The death of Mrs. Romero, which occurred
some months ago, was great shock to the
Ambassador, and on his return from Mexico
whittier he had taken her remains for in
terment,. his friends remarked that he was
greatly broken and showed unmistakable
signs of failing health. While in Mexico
at that time Mr.. Romero was stricken with
fever and although he was soon able to re-
turn to the United States, he never fully
regained his health.
Up to this hour no arrange
ments have LeM made for the fun.
eral, but it is said that in all probability
| it will take place at l o'clock next Sunday
afternoon at St. Matthews Catholic church
Ihe Ambassadors newphew, Jose Ro-
nero, is now on his way from Mexico, hav-
ing been summoned when the Ambassador
was stricken, and although it is not expected
that he can reach here in time for the
funeral, he will probably take charge of the
| remains when taken to Mexico some time
in the near future.
Senior Romero probably was the best
known member of the diplomatic corps in
Washington and was for some time its
dean. When Great Britain raised her mis-.
sion to an Embassy, the added rank placed
Sir. Julian Pauncefote, the British Ambas-
sador, at the head of the corps, though a
junior in years OF service to Senior Romero,
who was raised only recently from the rank
OF Minister to that of Ambassador, Mexico
following the example of Great Britain,
Italy, Germany, France and Russia in order
to honor the diplomat who had represented
her so ably at Washington for more than
twenty years and in all had served her
faithfully.
A sketch prepared by the Bureau of
American Republics and published in it's
bulletin for the month of December, 1898.
gives. the subjoined biographical review of
the dead Ambassador:
"SenOr Romero is one of the most eminent
statesmen, writers and diplomats of Mexi-
co. He was born in the City of Oaxaca.
February H.. 1887. He received his first
education in his native place and finished it
at the capital Of the Republic, where he
received his diploma as lawyer. In 1855
ho entered the foreign office, although still
pursuing his legal studies. In 1857, when
President Comonfort made his coup d d'etat
forcing President Juarez to leave the capi-
tai, Senor Romero accompanied him to
Vera Cruz, where he continued in the serv-
ice of the Department of Foreign Relations.
In December, 1859, he came to Washington
as First Secretary of the Legation, and re-
manned here in that capacity until August,
1850, when, in the absence Of the Minister,
he became Charge d'Affaires. He returned
to Mexico in 1863 to take part in the war
against the French, and was appointed
Colonel by the President. General Porfirio
Diaz then appointed him as Chief of Staff.
Soon after that President Juarez accredited
him as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to Washington. He re-
til January, 1868, ahving rendered most i'm
portant services to his country.
"On his return to Mexico he was ap-
pointed Secretary of the Treasury, but was
obliged, on account of i'll health, to give up
that office in 1872. For three years he re-
mained in Soconusco, deyoting himself to
agricultural pursuits, and from 1877 to 1878
was again Secretary of the Treasury. In
1880 he served as Postmaster-G General. In
as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, and has remained in that
capacity ever since, with an interruption of
only ten months in 1892, when, for the third
time, he was called to serve as Secretary of
the Treasury. As representative of his
country in the United States, Senior Romero
has shown himself as most successful and
At,,1A, e. lox- L a
successful in strengthening the friendly ties
between the two nations, and with this OBJ
ject in view he has written great deal, his
productions always receiving the highest
encOmiums from the press of the United
States and other countries. Senior Romero
was a member of the International Ameri-
can. Conference, and in that body served
with great distinction, having been one of
its two Vice-Presidents.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
The funeral will take place at st. Mat
thew's Catholic church Sunday afternoon
at l oclocg, when requiem low mass will
be celebrated. The body will be placed
temporarily in vault in Mount Olvet
cemetery, to await the ability of Mrs. Ro-
nero to return to Mexico. She is now i'll,
and probably will not be able to make the
journey for some weeks.
The following have been selected honor
ary pail bearers: The British ambassador,
the German ambassador, the secretary of
state, the secretary of the treasury, the
minister of Venezuela, the minister of Guat-
emala, Senator John 7. Morgan, Represent
ative r. r. Hit, ex-Secretary John w.
Foster and John w. Thompson.
AT the cabinet meeting today it was
agreed that the president and all members
OF his cabinet should attend the funeral serv.
ioae Sunday oftarpoop