New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
MEXICO SENDS
NEW AMBASSADOR
CAREER OF SENIOR DE La
BARRA.
Has Had Taried Diplomatic Erpert-
ence in Europe and South !
american Republics.

Washington, March 27.-With the United States
and Mexico joining hands in the effort to maiEtafH
peace and prosperity in Central America. the posS
Of Mexican Ambassador to this country becomes
one Of great Importance. and the personality OF thu
envoy who has come to I'll II is OF unusual
interest Mexico's accredited agent at Washington
IS the equal IN diplomatic rank Of any OF the Euro
pean statesmen accredited to capital, and this
emnence Is shared only on the part Of Pan-Amsri-
can countries by the ambassador from Brazil The
republics Of Chilli ard Argentina have considers&
elevating their diplomatic representatives at Washs
ington from ministerial ambassadOrial rank, bUt
formal action has not been taken
Mexico has sent the United States as her dipfo-
matte spokesmen statesmen OF uniformly high at
tainments and capabilities. With no disparagemens
TO his predecessors therefore Senor Don Francisco
Leon de Ia Barra, the new ambassador, has been
hailed OF the ceverest OF these dipomatlsts-
Washington IS his first ambassadorIaI post Here
tofore he has held rank minister. The am
bassador. who Is fOrtysix years of age, and looks
younger, is the junior member Of the anbassadoriai
corps at Washington, being year younger than
the new German Ambassador
Probably no New World diplomat has had a more
varied experience in stateCraft than Senior de u
Barra. His academic and legal education was ac-
quired at the College OF the City OF Mexico. ana
from the date Of his admission 70 the bar he mad9
a speciality Of international 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 foreign powers. and
among the international agreements LudL Ale pus
through in this capacity we're treaties OF commerce.
and NAVIGATION with Holland and OF extraditto1
with Italy For five years he was a member OK
the Mexican Federal Congress and in the course OF
this legislative career was chosen by the Mexican
Academy Of Legislation and Jurisprudence as its
delegate to the IberO-Anerican Judicial Congress
which in Madrid in 1892
He took leading part in the Pan-American Con-
gress which in the City OF Mexico in 1884, being
the president Of the international law COMMITTEES
off prio in
compulsory adjustment Of pecuniary claims Hs
was likewise a conspicuous figure at the congresses
held in Ecuador and in Rio de Janeiro. and vas
equally active at the second peace conference az
The Hague
His best grasp o. the I.atin-Arlerican situatioa
was gained. however. during comprehensive as
sgnuent as envoy extraordinary and minister pten-
fpotentiary all the republics on -hs Atlantis
coast Of South America. In the discharge OF the
duties Of this position he spent much time in the
various capitals Of the coast particularly Rio
de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres. and gained a thoT-
ough insight into official sentiment as affecting ths
questions of Pan-American unity Following TINS
detail he went as Mexican Minister to Belgium and
tbe Netherlands and it was from this post that he
was transferred to his present one in the Unitss
States.
Ambassador de la Barra is a Of peastns
address and cordality OF manner He speaks
French and English almost as fuently as ne does
his native tongue His decorations include tns
insignia OF the Ordre ROYAL IHustre de Charles III.
conferred by Spain. and the Ordre de la CourOnHs
dItaHe bestowed by Italy. He is an honorary
member Of the Royal Academy, OF Madrid, and
has received degrees from several Of the leading
universities this continent and in Europe
His wife whose maiden name was Bornequss
comes Of distinguished Mexican family, and there
are two children. boys of seven and nine years.
respectively. The mistress OF the Mexican
Embassy who rejoices in the name OF SehOrs
Dona Maria Elena BOrneque de Leon De la Barras
II hr--
pitaIity. and the Mexican envoy and his wife By
reason of their positions. share. with the Brazilian
Ambassador and Nine NabUco the leadership OF
Iatn-A American official society in Washington
cosmopolitan circle than numbers more than ons
hundred persons. who are natives Of eighteen south
and Central American republics
The new first secretary Of the embassy is senor
Don V SaIado-Alvarez. one of Mexico's most
promising younger statesmen. who will be joined
a little later by his wife As second secretaries
there have been detailed Senior Don julio W Ba7
and Senior Don LeopoIdo Blazquez- The third sec
retares are senor Don J. Bermudez Ge Castro and
Senior Don A AIgara Romero de Terreros.
military attache IN the person Of Major Don For
tino NJ DaviIa an officer in the Mexican regular
army. completes the list
Mexico is one Of the powers. and the only
Pan American nation, which own outright their
embassy buildings and arnbassadorfaI residences IN
WASHINGTON. The imposing red brick and stons
building. within walking distance Of the Whits
House was purchased some twenty-odd years ago.
when Seror Romero was minister. and for a ttus
WAS rivalIed in spIendor only by the 100000
bassy of Great Britain. Latterly, however, other
nations have acquired bits Of territory in our cap
itaI and provided embassies which excel the Mext-
can establishment Senior Romero. who was made
an ambassador the eve Of his death. was sue
ceeded as master OF the Mexican Embassy by
Senor AzDiroz who likewise died at his post OF
duty. Then came SehOr Casasus, and. finally.
5enor Creel who retired TO take up the duties Oe
Governor of the Mexican Province OF Chihuahua
Senior de la Barra is statesman OF the new
school," an enthusiastic admrer OF Diaz. and .
subscriber to the theory that Mexico is done for
ever with revolutions and will not be inhuenced-
even by the death OF Diaz. to forsake the policy of
modern progressiveness that has been gradually
gathering force during the last quarter ef esar
fury.