The Washington herald., 1909-08-29
Bv RUDoLPH DE zAPP.

the CORDS or the moral prOLectOrale which
Mexico and the United States have al
ready established in the Central Ameri-
can zone" will be discussed and settled,
Central American diplomats would like
Senior Don Francisco Leon de la Barra.
the Mexican Ambassador. to answer This
clever and highly popular diplomat has
remained In Washington the greater part
OF the summer. which action those who
would like to be enlightened construe as
being contrary TO the custom prevailing
among diplomats. unless a matter Of
great Importance requiring their undi-
vided attention retains them at the seat
OF the American government. But, then,
at the Mexican Embassy it was said that
| the ambassador remained IN Washington
Tor no reason in particular.
II IS argued in connection with this ru-
mored Central American protectorate on
! the part OF the United States and Mexico
/ that. IL the United States had a right to
/ put an end TO an intolerable condition
/ and state OF affairs fl Cuba. which lay
right at her threshold, Mexico has the
/ same right with regard 70 her unruly
neighbors, whose strife and constant
broils tend to work injury 10 the interests
OF Mexico. The United States and Mex
/ leo, being the two nations directly con-
! cerned in this matter, and being regarded
by other governments as guardians Of
| and expected 10 keep order in Central
| America, Il would be a wise conclusion
/ from every point OF view = these two
| powerful and progressive countries took
/ their smaller and noisier neighbors in
I land and taught them a lesson 70 behave
/ themselves. But the Bureau Of American
/ Republics adds 10 the mystery by saying
\ that II was not believed that President
/ Diaz would propose any Central Ameri-
! can protectrate scheme to President Taft,
/ and the latter. so far has not stated his
/ intentions in the matter: and the puzzle
/ thus remains unsolved. 10 the chagrin OF
| those whose interests depend on IT,
/ Occupying a prominent place on the list
Of successful and popular diplomats, It
is feared by those VINO are moving 20
| thwart his plans that Senior de la Barra
/ will accomplish the mission intrusted 10
! him by his government. and thereby not
I only cOnfound them. but add more fame
10 his name and assist IN making more
/ cordial every day the existing relations
between Mexico and the United States
and to consolidate more and more the
/ links Of friendship which bind them to-
| gether." Senior de la Barra. on various
/ occasions, has laid particular emphasis
/ on the fact that the relations between
Mexico and the United States must day
/ by day be more cordial. because their
respective economic interests, with mu-
tual advantage, require them to be So"
But II IS not only the Mexican Ambassa-
dor who Is imbued with this sentiment,
which he so eloquently expressed as he
/ presented his credentials 10 President
/ Roosevelt February q last. The Ameri-
can President, replying 10 the distinguish
| ed Mexican. said, in part.
For the great republic adjoining our
own the American peoples have ever had
/ a peculiar regard, Like institutions and
| Ike fields Tor the development Of re-
sources and trade have formed a strong
/ bond Of economic union. while Ike aims
| OF the two governments for the peace
/ prosperity. and progress Of the republics
| have brought the United States and Mex
| leo into close and sympathetic inter
! course. Your announced purpose 10 use
your utmost efforts TO still further
strengthen and consolidate those ties OF
/ friendship Will therefore meet with the
/ hearty cooperation and support OF this
/ government and Of the American people,
/ who have so often and abundantly testi-
( fed their friendly esteem for Mexico and
/ the Mexican people"
/ Considering the present pourparIers be-
tween President Taft and Ambassador
/ de Ia Barra and the ever growing in
/ terest this country IS taking in the re-
pubHcs % the south OF US. the person
ality OF the Mexican diplomat. who
stands IN high favor with President Taft
/ and Secretary Knox. becomes Of IN
| usual interest. IL must be admitted that
J President DiaZ has intrusted Senior de Is
/ Barra with a momentous mission. in
! whose successful elimination not only
/ the United States and Mexico, but the
whole civilized world Is deeply interested.
marking. as 1t VIII, an epoch in Pan
! American history.
/ It has been said in this connection that
Mexico has sent 20 the United States as
/ her diplomatic spokesmen statesmen of
uniformly high attachments and capabili-
tics. With no disparagement TO his prede-
/ cessors. therefore, Senior Don Francisco
de Ia Barra has been hailed as one OF
the cleverest Of these diplomats Wash
ington Is his first ambassadorial post
Heretofore ne has held rank as a minis
ter. The Ambassador. who is forty-six
years Of age. and looks younger, is the
! JUNIOR member OF the ambassadorial CORPS
at Washington. both In point Of service
as well as in age. being a year younger
than Count Won BernstorH. the German
Ambassador.
Probably no new world diplomat has
/ had more varied experience in state
1 craft than Senior de Ia Barra. His aca-
demic and legal education was acquired
/ at the College Of the City Of Mexico
and from the date of his admission to
tile bar he made a speciality Of interna-
/ tiOnal law His first service on behalf
Of his country was as a plenipotentiary
with what might be termed a rowing
| commission, TO negotiate treaties with
various foreign powers and among the
4 international agreements he successfully
negotiated in this capacity were treaties
/ of commerce and navigation with HOl-
I land and Of eXtraditon with italy For
five years. from 1881 to 1886. he was a
member OF the Mexican Federal Con-
SicSS' anu III the CouLsc oA t4llS LcslS-
lative career was chosen by the Mexican
! Academy Of Legislation and Jurispru-
! dence as its delegate 10 the hero
/ American Judicial Congress. which met
I in Madrid in 1902
/ He took a leading part IN the Pan
/ American Congress which met in the City
/ of Mexico IN 1901. being the president of
the international law committee and the
| foremost advocate OF action IN favor OF
/ the compulsory adjustment Of peCUniaTy
claims He was likewise a conspicuous
/ figure at the congresses held IN Ecuador