The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-15
Voice of the People
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. n,,,,o,,,.,

| POfnsett--I'orgottcn Diplomat.
TO the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
f Sir,--In your issue OF the 10th In
slant appears an item from Greenville
| 5. c., stating that tho Poinsctt Club.
/ OF that city, would give an informa,
reception to tho Richmond business
men who are coming there In the in
| tcrest of regional bank for Rich
mond.
| The name "Ponsett." especially, in
view of our present strained relations
with Mexico, suggests ono Of the most
interesting periods or our national his
tory in connection with that country,
as this club is doubtless named after
joel X. P"insett. who was tho first
United States minister to Mexico. np-
pointed In March, 1925. Probably no
man In tho country at that time had
inc knowledge and experience which
| so well qualified him for the place
At inc time OF his appointment. he was
SoDgi eastman from South Carolina.
no Was n careful student and q polish
cd gentleman. He had Travelled OK
tenSiHeiy III Europe. In 1910 he had
gone TO South America with COM
mission from President Madison to re-
port on conditions I'm Argentina and
Chiie, then just beginning their strup-
sre Tor Independence. In 1922 he went
on a similar mission to Mexico was
the country and people. and made an
Intelligent and, Us events proved. a
prophetic report to Tie State DcDart-
ment. which WAS the principal rcli-
"hve OF mo government in shaping it's
policy with reference to Mexico II,
iS2t he published his Notes on Mex
ico' giving an account Of his travels
TWO years earlier, ana his comments on
political conditions.
Ar Do
niue over three Years. as our minister
10 Mexico, that country was In n state
Oh chronic revolution, in which Mr.
Folnsett took most interesting part.
AZ the time he went 70 Mexico as
minister Masonry was already nour-
ishihg there, in spite OF clerical ONO
si'ioh' but all of the lodges officially
VI sahiseu belonged TO The Scottish
rite, which were very active In polui-
cal intrigue ana practically dominated
the country Mr. Poinsett was instru
uieh'al IN the organization OF the York
rte Masons, which ut once began no.
ii'icai activities In opposition TO the
scottish rite, and soon dominated the
country.
lie was charged ny those in au
thority at the time in Mexico with IN
.srierihs with the internal AFFAIRS OF
the country, and his recall was lie
mandcd by Guerrero then prcsidcr, n,
MeNico and on December -, 1929. his
let'er OF recall having reached him a
lew days previous, he had a confer
ehco with the provisional executtye
ana TOOK formal leave OF Mexico. On
uhe last day of that year the Pro
.isioh"l President of Mexico, in let
Yer 10 the President OF the United
states acknowledged the lattor's note
announcing Poinsetrs recall, and said
.nat act was looked upon as a testi-
nohN TO the sincere friendship of the
onltcd States for Mexico.
ne foregoing. Mr. Editor. is brief
an" 'hromplete statement OF the most
intensely Interesting incident in our
rc'ttions with Mexico; and NAV we
NOT hopo that The sincere friendship
oi inc TWO countries existing at that
''the may experience no change or ~.
'hihu'lon. Notwithstanding the unhapnv
coho''ioha existing in that country at
pieseA' and the necessarily strained
!eia'iohs they have produced for tho
time being with ourselves?
4. SIDNEY LANIEH.