Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-25

ADEE, Acting Secretary of State.
Last Official Act.
The last official act of Col. de AZpiroz
was performed Monday when he signed
a treaty with the United States concerning
the boundary line between the two coun-
tries. The treaty had been prepared and
was at the State Department ready for
the signatures of the Secretary of State
and the Mexican ambassador, but the lat
ter was unable to leave his bed. Accord
ingly secretary of the embassy took the
document to the bedside. where propped
up by pillows, the aged diplomat took his
pen and wrote his name for the last time
officially.
On state occasions Senior Approx wore
three decorations, all presented to him by
foreign monarchs in recognition of his
diplomacy and ability as a statesman and
of commander in the Military Order of
Jesus Christ of Portugal, and another
honor was conferred on him in 1902 by the
Shah of Persia. Mexico and Persia ne
gotiated a treaty at that time, and Senior
Azpiroz, then in Washington, represented
Mexico. The shah was well pleased with
the treaty and as a token presented to
the ambassador the decoration of the sec
ond class of the Order of the Lion and
Rising Sun. Only few weeks ago the
Dowager Empress of China decorated Senior
Azpiroz with the insignia of the Order of
the Dragon as an appreciation of his efforts
in making treaty of amity and friendship
between Mexico and China.
Action by Bureau Of Republics.
AT called meeting ofthe governing board
of the international bureau of the Ameri-
can Republics held in the diplomatic recep-
ton room of the Department of State yes
terday afternoon at o'clock, the acting
secretary of state, A. A. Adee presided.
The following were present:
Mr.. A. A. Adee, chairman; Senior Don
Jorge Munoz, minister from Guatemala; Mr..
]. N. Leger, minister from Haiti; Senior
Don Joaquin Bernardo Calvo, minister from
Costa Rica; Senior Don Luis F. Corea, min
lister from Nicaragua; Senior Don Joaquin
Walker Martinez, minister from Chile; Sen
or Don Eduardo Acevedo Diaz. minister
from Uruguay; Mr.. Alfredo de M. Comes
Ferreira. minister of BRAZIL Senior Don
Carlos E. Zavalia charge d'affaires of the
Perez Triana charge d'affaires of Colombia,
and Mr.. William c. Fox, acting director of
the bureau.
While the meeting had been called for a
special purpose, Mr.. Adee mentioned the
critical condition of the ambassador of
Mexico, of whom he spoke as follows:
Since the call was issued for the special
meeting today very sad change has oc-
Mexican ambassador is, l informed, at
the point of death-his physicians hold out
little hope. His prominence in our coun-
ellis, the place which he would have held
had he been here. and the respect and love
which we all feel for that respected gentle
man makes it proper that l suggest that
we adjourn today until such time as the
acting director may again convene the
meeting. l would be very glad if my sug-
gestion is accepted by the board
The suggestion of the chairman was unan- !
imously accepted and the board adjourned. |
Col. de Azpiroz was received by Pres1- |
dent Mckinley as ambassador of Mexico |
on March 30, 1899, and at once entered |
upon the performance of his duties. He is |
ever served as such. Prior to 1893 the |
highest rank in the diplomatic corps in |
Washington was minister plenipotentiary, |
and by virtue of seniority Senior Don Ma !
tias Romero, a man Of great distinction |
and ability, who was Mexicos representa- |
tive here, had before then been dean of |
the diplomatic body. When the first am
baSSador, Sir Julian Pauncefote, later Lord |
Pauncefote of Preston, arrived in Wash
ington, he became dean of the corps by |
virtue of his higher rank, displacing Senior |
Romero. Other ambassadors were APP
pointed and also took precedence of the |
Mexican representative. The preferential |
position accorded ambassadors applied |
likewise to the order in which they were |
received by the Secretary of State on his |
business reception days.
Under Ban of Emperor.
Because of the fact that Col. AzpIroz
served as prosecutor in the military trial OF
which resulted in the execution
of the invader. he had been under the ban
placed upon him by Emperor Francis Jo-
seph and the Mexican ambassador has not
therefore been officially recognized by
Baron Hengelmuller, the Austrian ambas-
sador. This has on several occasions re-
suited in rather embarrassing situations at
Diplomatic and other functions.
A lady who has been well acquainted
with Ambassador AZpiroZ and his family
since they came to Washington early In 1889
stated today that the senior was man of
to ySnoy or,dt
was dearly loved by all the members of the
He was, she added, loyal to his
friends and while he was almost childlike
n his simplicity, yet he possessed force
IF character which made him always a
powerful factor in a controversy and made
ds decisions masterful.
His Long and Active Career.
Before Senior Manuel Azpiroz became
Mexican ambassador to the United States
early in the spring Of 1885, he was as
istant secretary of the department of for
,ign relations of Mexico. He was born at
ouebla, Mexico, June 8, 1885, This town
g in the Mexican state OF Puebla, and Is
is beautiful situation. In the state Of
Puebla is the noted volcano Popocatepetl
The town was captured by the French in
March, 1868.
study of Latin and humanities in the Pala-
foxian seminary. He went through his
course of philosophy in the same college
and in 1866 he graduated as bachelor of
arts in the University of Mexico.
He continued his studies at Puebla, partly
in the state college and partly in the Pala-
foxian seminary, during the years 1857, 1858
and 1859.
During part of this time he held a clerical
position in the government offices of the
state of Puebla.
Throughout his school and college career
ne was always at the top of his class.
In 1860 and 1861 he applied himself to the
study Of the law at Puebla. During part
Of the last named year and 1862 he acted
Is secretary of the state college and taught
The fourth year of law.
In the year 1862, on the return of the
army of the east to the city of Puebla, Mr..
Azpiroz presented himself to its command
erin chief, Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, offering
his services against the French interven-
ton.
His offer was accepted, and on May 4.
1862, he was appointed second lieutenant OF
artillery The very next day 1t was his good
fortune to take part in the famous battle of
May s. in which the French were repulsed
before Puebla, and he obtained for his valor
and compartment on that occasion the
medal of honor specially created by con-
gress for those who distinguished them
selves in that engagement.