New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-17


o-day, in his sixty-fourth year.
When, in the middle Of July. 1918, il
was announced that Sir Lionel Garden
was 10 become British Minister TO Mex
leo, those who were ION the inside"
scented trouble. The selection was on
its face ideal and of precisely the kind
that had raised tho British foreign SER
vice TO so marked degree of efficiency
"a kind. unfortunately, not so com
mon In the American service. Sir Lilo
mel was o man of long and varied ex-
perience in both consular and diplo-
matte duties in the northern countries
of Latin America. But he was regard
ed, not without cause, as likely to clash
with American policies.
Sir Lionel's aptitude for and interest
in Mexican affairs were so marked
that he remained in that country for
several years. lie was made consul in
the City Of Mexico in 1885: from 1885
70 1889 he was Briti,h commissioner
on the Mexican Mixed Claims Commits
sion, and in 1894 was acting charge
d'affaires at the British Legation. In
| cdentally he became pecunisrily inter
ested in a valuable tract of land on the
/ lsthmus Of Tehuantepec, in the very
region in which Lord Cowdray and his
associates also afterward acquired ex-
tensive holdings.
On the expulsion Of the Spanish gov
eminent from Cuba and the establish
ment Of the American provisional gov
eminent preparatory TO Cuban auton-
omy, Mr.. Garden, because of his famil-
| iarity with Cuban affairs, was sent
back 10 Havana in 1898 as Consul Cen
eral, and four years later was trans
ferred TO the diplomatic service and
made Minister to Cuba, in which Office
he remained until 1905. His service
in both of those capacities was on the
whole efficient, but in some instances
il was more energetic than felicitous
He early came into conflict with Gen
eral Wood, the American military gov
I ernor, over the migration laws, in
sisting that British subjects were to
be exempted from some of the pro-
! visions thereof, and demanding In
demnity for the alleged indignity which
one Of them had suffered in being com
PEELED TO comply with the laws; a de-
mand which, of course, was not
granted Again, he sought exemption
for a British subject from the quaran
tine regulations concerning yellow
fever.
II may be added that, despite hi
reputation for anti-Americanism, which
was never so greatly deserved as wa
commonly supposed he married al
American. Miss Anne Eliza Lefferts
daughter of John Lefferts. Of Brooklyn
and a member of one of the oldest ant
most prominent Dutch families of Lonj
Island.
Urged Huerta to Resign.
Such was Sir Lionels record when
in 1918, amid the stormy days of Gen
eral Huerta's rule, he was sent bacl
to Mexico as minister, to succeed
Francis william Stronge. 1t was as
sumed by many in this country tina
his appointment would mean British
antagonism to the American policy
in the interest of British capitalists
and this feeling was strengthened b.
his recognition of General Huerta a
provisional President, while th'
United States government was persist
ing in its refusal to do so. Neverthe
less. he displayed no such antagonism
On the contrary, when John Lind's i'll
starred mission had failed to achiev,
any material purpose, unless II was u
delay the converting of the Mexican
| Congress which was expected TO be
about 10 ratify some alleged oil con
cessions to British capitalists, Sill
Lionel led the other foreign represent
atives into conference with General
Huerta and, acting as their spokesman
urged him 20 resign. Huertas situa
ton. Sir Lionel told him, was hope
less. since the United States was in
exorably hostile to him, and Grea'
Britain would support the United
States and give him no help. Wher
this appeal 10 the dictator failed OF rs
purpose Sir Lionel advised all British
subjects to get out of Mexico.
Alleged Criticisms of United States.
That WAS in the middle of November
1918. A week later Sir Lionel called
for British cruisers to hasten from
Barbados TO Vera Cruz, and demanded
that General Huerta should place spe
cial and efficient guards about the
Pearson syndicate's oil fields at Tux
nam. Before the end OF the month ne
warned all British residents to regis
ter themselves at the legation. AMID
these strenuous times there appeared
in print an alleged interview with MIN
held at Mexico City, in which he mao
some unfavorable comments on Amerl
can policy in Mexico. The autheh
ticitv or the correctness OF this wa
promptly denied by him, but his denia
was not fully accepted at Washington
where the increasing futility OF the
Presidents policy was inducing an
abnormal sensitiyeness TO criticism OF
anv kind. The conviction prevailed, OF
at least was protested, that Sir Lone
was an anti-American intriguer, whose
departure from Mexico would be pleas
inc 10 the United States, would con
firm friendly relations between TINS
country and Great Britain, and woul'
facilitate American solution OF th'
Mexican problem.
Sir Lionel Called Home.
there was little surprise. therefore
when. early in January, 1914, 1t was re
ported that he was to be transferred to
Brazil as minister.
AT the end Of February Sir Lionel
left Mexico, and on March 3 he had a
long conference with President Wilson
at Washington on Mexican affairs
which was, however. unsympathetic and
inconclusive.
Soon after his arrival in London il
was officially announced that Sir LioneI
would be sent back to the legation in
Mexico, and on April 8 he left London
for that purpose. Just week later
however, he was gazetted as Minister
10 Brazil and it became apparent that
b 10 u,a. 70 On IN Mexiro rnereiv IN sarvs