New-York tribune., 1916-06-24
MEXICAN AFFAIRS
The United States and Huerta-
Some Marginal Notes.

A DIPLOMATS WIFE y MExIc9 6,9, B{ a11 ae1f
Illustrated. s7o. pp. $50. Harper Bros.
Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's book consists
Of the letters which she wrote to her
mother from Mexico during the period
of her husbands service there as our
charge d'affaires, from October 8, 1913,
TO the breaking off Of diplomatic rela-
tions. on April %, 1914. An account of
the occupation Of Vera Cruz Is in
cluded
The letters are a clear, informing and
often revealing commentary on the
events and developments Of this period
I as they were seen and judged on the
spot by the diplomatic corps and not a
few Americans in Mexico City. The
author herself has strong opinions OF
her own on the conduct OF AFFAIRS at
Washington. Suffice il TO say that she
more than once pointedly dwells on the
need of trained diplomats in our State
I Department, and that the resignation
of Mr.. Moore filled her with dismay.
For Huerts she says many good word.
lie might have become, with proper
support, the strong man Mexico needs,
notwithstanding. perhaps on account Of,
charged. Mrs. 'Shaughnessy knows the
country and its people; she knows that,
for the sake of that very humanity OF
which we have heard so much, 1t and
they would have been all the better off
under a masterful mind and a heavy
hand. Carranza has none Of the ability
of Huerta. and none Of his force; he is
not a bloodthirsty villain, but the physl-
lu
less, book reading kind. Those
who have watched his long career tell
me that quiet, tireless, sleepless
greed has been his motive force through
life, and his strange lack OF friendli-
ness TO Washington is accounted for by
the fact that he really hates for
eigners."
The point OF view Of the diplomatic
corps in Mexico the author sums up
briefly IN the statement that they be-
lieved that 10 was "our policy TO weaken
these people by non-recognition, and
when they are agonizing, 70 come IN
cheaply and easily, thus avoiding
armed intervention. which would be
much better for the MeXicans, though
more expensive for US. All the chers
coU6Ques veil behind unassailably dis
| Greet remarks their not very fattering
i idea Of what they doubtless call among
I themselves our little game
Sir Lionel Garden. Won Hintze, the
/ German Minister, and his military at
I tache. Captain Won Papen; the French
I and Russian ministers, the Mexican po-
+ ltical leaders, all fit through these
pages. whose review Of events is relieved
4 by descriptions of ambassadorial house
/ keeping and its difficulties, official and
: social functions, glimpses Of the old
| Mexican aristocracy. which keeps alooi
/ from politics, and of the common peo-
pie. with constant references to the
/ iawlessness, rapine and murder which
/ have marked the history Of Mexico
since Poririo Diaz's fall. And always
these horrors leap into contrast with
/ the uncertainties. yacillations and in
action. the drift from bad 20 worse, n
our policies where drastic action was
so sorely needed.
Mrs. O'Shaughnessy book will GER
tainly be consulted by the historian oi
our diplomacy in Mexico under the
present Administration when the time
for the writing OF its history comes.