The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17

/ am very glad TO welcome you. sir;
am very glad. indeed. said President
Taft.
Il am very happy 20 meet you and 70
nave the honor Of being one OF the first
foreigners 20 come over 70 give you a
hearty welcome" replied Gen. Diaz.
IL gives me not only great pleasure
10 welcome the President OF the great
republic OF Mexico. but 20 welcome the
present President Of the great republic
OF Mexico. who has made Il so great, q"
was Mr.. Tafts next remark.
Record I'm Life.
I am very proud to grasp the hand
OF the great statesman who has made
such a record in his life. in the Phil
ippines. in Cuba and at present at the
head Of the great nation Of the United
States"
The conversation continued:
President Taft wish TO express to
you my belief that this meeting Is looked
upon by both peoples with a great deal
Of interest, not as making stronger. but
as tyDfying the strength and bond be-
tween the two countries.
! President Diaz-My friendly relations
and my personal acquaintance with you
viii make thousands and thousands OF
friends Of American and Mexican people.
and streams and wonders OF beneficial de-
yelopment viii have 10 follow for the
good OF the countries.
President Taft-You have alreaGv met
the Secretary OF War and the governor
( Of Texas. 1 shall be glad TO have the
privilege OF presenting TO you the Post
master General
/ The Postmaster General was then pre-
scented 20 President Diaz, and Mr. Taft
said: Il should be glad TO have the
privilege OF meeting your stan"
The minister OF war and the other
! President Taft.
DIaE Spoke I'm Spanish.
President Diaz spoke In Spanish. and
his aid acted as Interpreter Following
this brief conversation. there were intro
ductlons all around for the official par
ties. and then President Dlaz and Presi-
dent Tart retired 10 a private room with
the Mexican interpreter No questions
OF state were discussed al this private
conference. Both executives merely
sought an opportunity to exchange their
respects in private.
It was a little after u o'clock when
the Mexican President paid his final re-
spects 10 President Taft. and again en-
tering Secretary Dicklnson's carriage.
was escorted TO the boundary line OF the
disputed territory. There he entered his
own gold-mounted carriage again, and.
with a final salute OF twenty-one guns
from the American battery. started for
the Mexican border with his personal
escort
The Mexican President had hardly
reached the custOm-house AZ Juarez
when President TAFT, accompanied by
his military aid and the escort 81 Ameri-
can soldiers. started for the Mexican line.
The main body OF his escort left him.
as did President Diazs at the edge OF the
disputed territory. and the President went
on with his twenty soldiers.
The Mexican guns fired an Official sa-
lutte as Mr.. Taft crossed the line. and tho
crowds cheered. II was the second time
in the history OF the United States that
a President OF the United States had
set foot on foreign soil Mr.. Roosevelt
was the first. He went 20 the Isthmus
OF Panama IN HIS second administration.
Met in Custom-hOuse.
The meeting between Diaz and Taft on
the Mexican side took place in tho Gus
toms-house.
President Riaz stepped forward with ex-
tended hands as President Taft entered.
Their conversation was again taken by
tom-house.
President Diax stepped forward with ex-
the Mexican people and / feel very
proud. indeed. TO have you on Mexican
soil I believe that the personal ac-
quaintance which have made with YOU
and the friendly feelings which already
exist between the United States and Mex
leo will be guarantee OF the continu-
ance OF the friendly. cordial and strong
relations between the people OF the two
countries. and that success and prosper
ity viii follow"
This IS the first time, so far as I
know, that a President OF the United
states has stepped beyond one border OF
the United States either TO the north
or 10 the south" said Mr. Taft. and I
esteem IL great privilege 70 be the
President at the time when that event
has happened I hope Il is significant
Of the tightening bond between the two
countries
Railroads and other means OF COM
munication. like the telegraph, have
brought us closer 10 each other. so
that the city OF Mexico and the city OF
Washington are FAR nearer to-day than
they were before: and that means closer
union OF feeling between the two peoples.
closer feeling between those respon-
sible for the government or each coun-
try. and ] esteem Il the greatest honor
Of my life 20 have the privilege Of repre-
senting the United States IN such a Sig
nificant ceremony"
Il thank you very much" said Mex
ico's President.
Presented His Son.
Then President Diaz presented 10 Presi-
dent Taft his son, Col Porfrio Diaz. r.,
OF the Mexican army. and his nephew.
Gen. Felix Diaz, chief inspector OF ths
Mexican police.
President Taft returned Immediately
after the interview 20 the American side.
where he found great civic parade
waiting for him. lie reviewed It and de-
livered an address 70 the people OF El
Paso in the city park. A reception by
the Ohio Society and the Yale Club fol-
lowed. The Ohio Society presented a
sombrero trimmed with gold TO the Presi-
dent
At $3.50 o'clock the President started
with his escort for the Mexican side
again. this time to be the guest OF Pres
UTNOO