Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-01
New Books
A Diplomats Wife in Mexico.

A book just put out by Harper's
is certain to be widely read as re-
sultsof the mess into which our affairs
with Mexico have fallen. 1t is a col
lection of letters, written by Mrs.
Nelson O'Shaughnessy, wife of the
American charge d'affaires, to her
mother, covering the period of Huer-
( ta's regime in Mexico from the time
Mr.. O'Shaughnessy returned to the
Mexican capital after the overthrow
Of Madero up to and including the
Vera Cruz incident. Allowance must
be made for the partisanship Of the
writer, who is frankly an admirer Of
Huerta and equally frank in her criti-
cism OF President Wilson and Mr..
>Bryar, but even with this agreed to,
the record is one that throws some
startling light on the situation. Espe-
cially does it expose the pitiful stu
pidity of the policy adopted by the
president OF the United States and
his premier in their dealings with
very serious international affair.
Pledged not to mix in the internal
affairs Of their neighboring country,
the authorities at Washington went
from one mistake to another with
cheerful optimism, always meddling,
sending ultimatums to Huerta and en-
couragement to Carranza and Villa,
and John Lind is shown at one time
as actually comforting with Zapata,
who, if possible, is more unspeakable
in his villainy than Villa.
The pitiful aspect of John Lind, per-
sonal messenger from Wilson, with
out official standing, ignored by Huer-
ia and the representatives of other
nations, out Of touch with his own
embassy, and spending his time at
Vera Cruz, where he had communicas
tons chiefly with the rebels, whose
cause he espoused, Is made clear by
these letters. How little either Mr..
Wilson or Mr.. Bryan understood Of
the Mexican character is incidentally
shown by reference to several cpl
sodes. One of these had to do with Sc
curing the release Of Manuel Bonilla,
a prominent Maderista, who sought
asylum in the American embassy. Boz
nilla gave his parole not to assist
Athe rebel cause, and under this prom
4sf was given safe escort to Vera
Cfus, from where he immediately
joined Carrahza, and later rebelled
against him. Violation Of parole was
. slight thing for the patriots
An incident illustrative Of the deft
and diplomatic manner with which
Washington handled its dealings with
the Mexicans is found in sentences
running through several of the let
tiers. Other embassies were bringing
in arms for self-protection against
mob violence. O'Shaughnessy was
urged to, follow suit. He preached
the matter to Huerta, who told him
he might bring in all the arms he
id pleased, but it must be done
quietly" II was then arranged that
gatling guns and other weapons were
y to be brought in as stationery and
embassy supplies. This report was
made to Washington, with full in
4 structions as to shipping. The guns
did not arrive on time, and Onslaught
messy heard nothing from them. He
was getting little uneasy, when at
breakfast one morning he read i'll the
Mexican Herald of the fuss kicked up
ii Vera Cruz because the American
charge was importing arms. Imagine
his CONSERVATION on finding, as a re-
silt of a personal trip to Vera Cruz,
that the gatling guns had reached
The customs house there accompa-
MED by an invoice signed by the com
snanding officer of the Springfield ar
nnoryi II was on this basis the deli
cate negotiations through the criti-
seal period were handled.
Mrs. O'Shaughnessys letters are
full Of the personal touch, Of bits OF
embassy gossip, chats with Huerta
and ambassadors and ministers OF
other countries, and high officials and
prominent citizens of Mexico and Wis
itors from America, and make up a
very Important contribution to the
Z literature of the most dramatic period
In recent Mexican history,
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