New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-10

ing the northern rebels. This. he says, Is
not true. When / talked with him lie
brought this point up himself. lie sa'd
no believed that the rebels were more
efficient in many respects. or. rather, tha'
the people OF North Mexico were more
efficient than tho people of the south
lie didn't say so. but he meant In a mill
tary way. and events at Torreon have
shown that he was right. although villa
had the stronger force in the recent battle
at that point.
The Charge at the Capital.
While the unpublished swede of Mime
sofa has been resting in Vera Cruz. ap-
parently doing nothing in his task OF
waiting. quite another type OF American
citizen is looking after American inter
ests in Mexico City. and is doing HIS task
with exceptional ability-the American
with the Irish name of OShaughnessy.
Under the most difficult circumstances
Nelson 'Shaughnessy has managed 10
establish and maintain cordial relations
with Victoriano Huerta. II is easy TO
imagine that another man, without the
good humor and philosophy of this Irish
disposition, might long since have caVed
in under the strain OF endeaVorlng 10
carry on with Huerta in the friendly
fashion that O'Shaughnessy has sue
ceeded In doing. Time and again MT
O'Shaughnessy has been instructed by
the State Department to take disagree
able messages TO the old Indian VINO
controls Mexico City. lie has had 10
deliver a note telling Huerta that he must
get out Of office.
Huerta Likes O'Shauehnessy.
He has had more than once to demand
that Huerta release Americans in Jail
or TO make reparation for damage done
to Americans 1t is potable fact that
with the exception of his not unexpected
refusal TO retire from office HueTta has
almost invariably done what O'Shaughn-
essy has asked. aud there is not the
slightest doubt that in many instances II
has been a matter OF personal friendship
and liking. IL is not a matter OF
O'Shaughnessy giving in 10 Huerta or
of taking Huerta's side against Wash
ington, for he declines TO discuss with
Huerta the policy Of the Washington
government And Huerta doesn't dis
cuss President Wilson's attitude with
O'Shaughnessey to any great extent.
A feature of the whole Mexican stu
alton is Huertas abstinence from violent
criticism of President Wilson. There are
no Americans in Mexico City who have
heard Huerta turn loose on the Ameri-
can President, as he doubtless would
like to do. That Huerta is bitter against
Mr.. Wilson there is no doubt, and he
has expressed his views to Mexicans, but
to Americans and other foreigners he
says little along this line.
Nelson O'Shaughnessy is victim OF
circumstances TO a certain extent. and 1t
was through accident that he came TO be
the chief representative of the United
States in Mexico during these particu-
larly trying times. He was only second
secretary OF the American Embassy when
Henry Lane Wilson was recalled last
summer. There was no first secretary at
the time, and so 1t was that Mr..
O'Shaughnessy became charge d'affaires
of the United States.
His success is due to his training. He
is finished diplomat and thorough cos
mopoltan He was educated at Oxford
and has lived in Europe many years OF
his life. He speaks French and German
as well as he does English, and has
thorough knowledge of Spanish His
manner is that Of q trained diplomat. He
is easygoing. and permits nothing TO
throw him out Of step, although his
troubles are many. In Mexico city he
has host of friends among Mexicans,
as we'll as in the foreign colonies.
When Mr.. OShaughnessy wants to do
business with the Mexican government he
looks up Huerta He may have TO search
all day long to find the executive, for the
old general moves rapidly about the city
going from one place to another on busi-
ness or pleasure bent. and often 1t is a
long stern chase for O'Shaughnessy. But
when he finds the old gentleman he gets
a cordial greeting and OShaughnesSy
nearly always accomplishes the thing he
starts out TO do.
Sometimes members Of Huerta's Cabi
net are not willing TO do all that MIR
/ Shaughnessy may be compelled to ask
/ the State Departments requests are mo-
I always simple--but If there is any diff
/ Guilty on this score O'Shaughnessy al
ways has recourse TO Huerta himself
and on more than one occasion Huerts
has reversed his own Cabinet officers ii
favor of O'Shaughnessy.
Gets Arms Into Embassy.
Recently the American Charge accom-
plished wonders in getting into tn
| American Embassy a large shipment o
rifles from the United States. They wer
sent by the State Department for TIN
purpose of arming Americans in TN,
event of trouble in Mexico City. It wa
merely precautionary and It was a Wis
thing TO do O'Shaughnessy spoke &
Huerta about the matter before the arm
left the United States, and succeeded fl
getting Huerta's full permission TO hav
the arms shipped I'm. The fact that tn
guns landed in Vera Cruz. however. be
came known, and word was sprea
through Mexico City. although no news
paper was permitted 10 publish the facts
Huerta was very much embarrassed