Evening star., 1899-03-18

part in the ca,nra'gn. being promoted to
commander of battalion. While active in
the field. he did not neglect his law studies.
and late in 1863 his appointment as lawyer
was confirmed with ihe right to practice
in all the tribunals of the republic.
While foreign enemy was on the sol!
rA2piEoz, however, would not lay down his
sword. Under Gen. Meta. he saw service
from 1863 to 1866. and in the siege Of Paso
ldeI rNsrte so distinguished himself as to
earn the promotion To lieutenant colonel.
The next year he a ternated from civic pc
sitions to duty with the army. and after
the fall of Queretaro was appointed prose
cutting attorney in the court-martial Cf
Maximilian. Miramin and Meja. At the
end of this trial he obtained his discharge
and abandoned the career cf arms.
Secretary of Foreign Relations
After the republican government was re-
established, Col. Azpiroz became assistant
secretary of foreign relations. which posi-
ton he held until March, ts12, having on
three different occasions entire charge of
the department. In that year he came to
Washington to act as agent and counsel for
Mexico on the joint claims commission. and
discharged his duties in that connection
with marked ability. Early in 1SIi he re-
turned to Mexico to fulfill a confidential
mission intrusted to him by Mr.. Marisca',
then minister of Mexico in Washingt on.
Later he was appointed consul of Mexico a
San Francisco, and was there until March
%, 1875. When the revolution of TuXtepec,
under Cen Porfirio DaZ, overthrew the
existing government, Col. AZpiroz retired 10
private life.
As a consulting lawyer for the foreign
relations department, being a recognized
authority the rights and status of for
~eigners in Mexico, he served however. in
succeeding years on the commission ap-
pointed to draw up the general principles
for rMeXico'S foreign treaties. After filling
several positions of trust in his native city
of Puebla, he continued to practice his pro-
fession. Being again offered the position
Of assistant secretary of foreign relations
by President Diaz in 1890. he accepted the
office and held it until his appointment
early in this year as the second Mexican
ambassador to the United States.
Highly HOnored.
Besides the medals and decorations al
ready referred to in his military career the
ambassador received the Cross of the First
Glass, decreed by the congress of the union
in behalf of those who fought for the re-
public from the commencement of the war
of foreign intervention until the downfall
of MaXimilian, well as the gold medal
granted by the state of Puebla to those
who fought in its territory against the in
tervention and the empire the Order of
Christ from the King of Portugal the siege
of Queretaro medal of the first class and
a chair in the Academy Of Legislation and
Jurisprudence, corresponding to the Royal
Academy of the same class at Madrid
In addition to his treatises on foreign
rights in Mexico. which are recognized as
standard works he is a'so the author of
another book entitled civil Liberty as the
Basis of International Law"
The family of the ambassador consists
of his wife, daughter. a younger daughter
and son. Mr.. Rodrigo Azpiroz, who will
be member of the embassy staff, being
transferred from Japan. He will join his
parents here shortly,