The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-01
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Rr THE sPEcTAToR.

BY THE SPECTATOR.
Francisco L. dc Ia Barrs, who succeeds
Enrique Creei as Ambassador from Mex
leo, is the youngest member Of his rank
in the diplomatic corps. lie was born June
IS, 1863. and is. therefore, only forty-six
years old Count Bernstorff. tire new
German Ambassador. is year his senior.
while the other Ambassadors lave all
passed the half ssntury limit Nr. de Ia
Barra received both his academic and le-
gal education at the College Of the City Of
Mexico. and upon being admitted to the
bar mace specially or International Law
His first important public detail was that
as pienipotentisry. ad hoe. 10 negotiate
various treaties with foreign powers.
Among those he brought to d successful
outcome were the treaty OF friendship.
commerce. and navigation with Holland,
and an extradition treaty with Italy,
which was signed on August 30. 1895.
For five years. from 1881 to 1896. he oc-
cupied seat in the Federal Congress.
and during that time was sent By the
Mexican Academy Of Legislation and Ju-
rispruGence as a delegate to the hero
American judicial congress that was held
IN Madrid In 1892 Mr. de la Barra took a
ieading part In the second Pan-American
congress which met in the CITY Of Mexfe
co IN 1901. when he was president Of the
international law committee. and the fore
most advocate OF the measure fc- the
compulsory adjustment OF pecuniary
claims He Al 4 - -
two following congresses. the first in 1895.
in Ecuador, the second. in 1907. in Rio de
Janeiro. at both OF which he was con
spicuOus figure. and 10 the second peace
conference at The Hague
Mr.. de la Barra's first Diplomatic ap-
pointment was e most important and
comprehensive one. that or envoy extra
Ordinary and minister pIenipctentiary 70
the HOuth American republics on the At
lantie side OF the continent. He relin-
quisbed this mission the conduct OF which
was eminently successful, 10 accept the
billet 10 the Netherlands and TO Belgium.
The leading part Mr.. de Ia BaTra has
taken in the various congresses 20 which
he has been a delegate and the special
commissions intrusted TO him have earned
for him recognition and decorations from
the various governments that have bene-
fited by his work Spain has conferred
upon him the Ordre Royal Iilustre de
Charles III, and from Italy he has re-
ceived the Ordre p De II COurOnne
d1talie. he has also received degrees from
many universities both IN this country
and Europe. and has been elected an hon.
orsry member Of the Royal Academy 81
Madrid
The new Ambassador is a handsome
man Of the Spanish type. with fine eyes
Intellectual forehead. and slender. grace
ful figure He speaks French and Eng
lish almost as fuentIy as he does his own
tongue. and Is an interesting publiC
speaker. His manners are gracious and
he has the affabIlity and charm which
add so much 20 the usefulness OF q
diplomatist. and he became. in the shor-
two years he was stationed in Brussels
one Of the most popular members OF ths
foreign colony Mr.. de Ia Barra's family
consists OF his wife the daughter OF q
distinguished Mexican family. BorneQue
and TWO children. who are az present ir
Paris. but expect 70 Join him IN April
The Mexican Embassy built some TWEEN
/ ty-odG years ago. FL I street. between
/ Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. Is ;
spacious house. arranged with g specia
view for entertaining. and with sep
arate addition Tor the chanceIlery-
was. next to the British Embassy. n
most imposing diplomatic residence Il
+ town for q long tine, but IN the last teI
wears all Of the embassies have been in
stalled in handsome buildings The onll
nations besides Mexico that own their en-
/ bassies. however. are Great Britain. Italy
and Germany 1t the time the legation
/ Mexico had not then promoted her envO
/ here 70 the rank OF smbasssdor-was bull
I Mr.. Romero vas minister. and as soon a
/ he moved into the new quarters HIS Amer
7 lean wife. a lovely and gentle person. too
the lead in all social affairs and bega'
90 entertain or a scale that had neve
/ before been attempted here There wer
weekly dinners. receptions balls. an
/ dances even in the afternoon. and 70
I the few seasons she lived, after tskin
! possession OF the new legation, Nine Ro
/ nero did more than any other one persO
/ for the pleasure Of society. Il Is said. In
deed. that her efforts 70 make the coUn
/ try her husband represented popular 2
/ this Capital shortened her life. but this
! rather a sentimental view. for she va
/ not overstrong and her doting hUsban
/ never permitted her 10 tax herself undul1
/ Mt. Romero was a heart-broken ma
after his wife's death, and died himsel
! soon thereafter His successors. all g
them. have endeavored 70 keep up n
Z standard he SCI. and the Mexican Ell
/ bassy is one OF the most hospitsbie Of Il
/ Diplomatic houses. but it would be TO
much to expect Of any one 90 excel. q
/ equal. even. the remarkable man who 10
more than four decades represented hi
| country at this Capital. for he was nC
/ only one Of the most accomplished diplC
matists We ever received. but he was
profound scholar. a deep thinker, and
most kindly and genial gentleman. II
had lived here so long that he was
| fairly good American in his point q
view. and his best and wsrmest friend
were in this country. When Gen. Grar
met with the misfortune through his cor
nection with Ferdinand Ward it was NJ
!
him financial aid In fact he put hi
entire bank ACCENT at his DISPOSAL fae
that the general never ceased 10 remem
Der with the liveliest gratitude.
Mr. Romero was promoted to the ran
| Of ambassador on the eve Of his dealt
and since then Mexico has sent tire
ENJOYS Of the same rank 70 this Capita
Mr.. Romero's immediate successor wa
Mr. Azpiroz who was followed by NJ
Cssasus and Mr.. Creel Mr.. Azpiroz me
with some difficulty on his arrival becaus
OF the part he had taken in the Max
MILAN trial. He was the attorney 70
the state. a fact that did not endear hiT
| 20 his Austrian. French. and Belgian CO
leagues. but his winning personality, hi
honesty. and diTeCtness soon disaTme
those hostile against him, and he va
{ entirely 2 perSOna gTata when no was II