Evening star., 1915-07-09
Mr.. L0MBARD0 TELLS
Of MEXICAN CONDITIONS
Villas Minister Of Foreign Affairs
Says Attitude of His Government
Toward q. s. Is Friendly.
Delivers Address Before National
Press Club-Interior Trade of
Country Not Materially Hurt.

THE attitude of the provisional gov
ernment of Mexico toward the gov
ernment of the United States is one of
the most cordial friendship said
Miguel Diaz Lombardo. minister of for
eign affairs for the villa government
of Mexico. in a talk at the National
Press Club ladies' night entertainment
last evening. MIR. Lombardo Is former
Mexican minister to France. He spoke
in Spanish. his speech being translated
for the clubs audience by Capt. Sher-
bourne G. Hopkins.
After giving a detailed and interest
ing account OF the social unrest and
some of the military tactics made use
of in the revolution in Mexico. Senior
Lombardo said:
How may the American people most
efficiently help Mexico? / believe You
will agree with me that the ofhciai
position ! hold in the government OF
one of the factions precludsS my reply
ing to this question.
Reforms Must Be Implanted.
The reforms which the revolution
ary leaders must iynplant so soon as
peace Is restored are substantially
those outlined in the platform Of 1911,
since from that time to the present
there has been no fundamental change
in the political and social life Of our
country. ---------'---- -----
1T cannot be said that the present
economic conditions of Mexico are
prosperous, although there has been
much exaggeration regarding the gray
ity of conditions obtaining throughout
the republic.
1T is a fact that many industries
are paralyzed, that the volume OF I'M
ports has much decreased ana tnat OF
exports lessened to a great extent be-
cause of the difficulties of transporta-
ton; but 1 should say here that the
interior trade Of the country has not
suffered to any appreciabie extent ana
that the business men are still deriv.
inc handsome profits; a great part Of
our industries are being developed,
Notwithstanding the distress attendant
ON the issuance OF paper money and Its
depreciation on the market
Natural Resources Boundless.
II feel sure that all these unhappy
results proper to every state of war
will soon disappear as the natural re-
sources of the country are almost
boundless, and I am convinced. too, that
with the return of peace much foreign
capital will come and And a safe and
profitable Investment in Mexico, even
without the enormous concession
g a proof that the civil war has not
desolated. Mexico so completely as is
popularity supposed. shall cite one
fact, the importapce OF which l leave
to the Judgment OF my my hearers ens;,, Dur. na.
swept the country We have had no
greater number of failures, and, in
fact. the average Of these has not ex-
ceeded that of former years
Regarding the last question as to
the present military situation. my
opinion might be thought possibly
tinged with partiality owing to my
connection with one of the contendfnE
factions, but I may state in general
terms that our troops are we'll sup
piled with arms and ammunition. and
that their line Of communications Is
absolutely safe, thus assuring rapid
transportation from one point to
vantage of cohesion OF which our
enemies cannot boast. The recent VIC
tories to the south OF Aguascalientes.
when the city Of Lagos and other ad-
joining towns were taken, and in the
north, where our forces recaptured the
city of Saltillo and inflicted severe
losses on the Carranza troops, are. In
my opinion. sufficient confederation OF
what ! have just said
The musical and entertainment por-
tion of the program contained Miss
Belle Blanche, prima donna and i'm
pers0nator: Lady Sen Mel. the Chinese
Patti" both from the Ketth's Theater
bill. A double sextet sang several mu-
sical compositions. one being the sextet
from 'Licia": sopranos. Mrs. NJ Sher-
rier Bowie. Miss Mabel Roberts; con-
traltos. Mrs. Anna Brett Sunny, Miss
Nancy Reynolds: first tenors. ]. F. N.
Bowie, Leroy Glider; second tenors.
Calvert Bowie. d. g. Angevine; BARI
tones. Earl Carbaugh, Newton Hammer:
b4ssos, Charles Moore, Edwin Callow;
accompanies. Donald Freese, George
Wilson and Il. z. Blodgett.