The Washington times., 1920-07-14
.HUERTA ASSISTS
CORRESPONDENTS
New Mexican Head Establishes
Press Bureau At Capital for
ScrlbeS' Benefit.

MEXICO CITY, July i4-This
dronish metropolis OF the Land OF
Manana, with its massive buildings
OF continental architecture and Bohe-
milan ways. now boasts OF being the
rendezvous OF no less than twenty
two newspaper correspondents. rep
resenting the most important news
gathering agencies and leading
dailies OF the United States. All OF
whom, without exception. have found
their way within the good graces OF
the new administration--a govern
mcnt which is made up OF body OF
men representing the enlightened and
progressive citizenship OF the re-
public.
Provisional President Adolpho De la
Huerta. himself more than familiar
with the ways OF the American be-
cause OF his long residence in New
York city. where he acted in the ca
pacity OF consul general for the
Mexican government. and later as
governor of the border state or
Sonora where he came inu contact
with hundreds OF American business
men while functionhng in the capacity
of chief executive. has. due to MS
OF the presence of the American news
paper correspondents in the Mexican
capital. and as a result has arranged
for regular conferences with the
press representativeyt be held about
every three weeks for the purpose OF
more fully discussing Mexican issues
as they affect the foreign policies or
the republic. and further for the pur-
pose of exchanging views relating to
current issues open for discussion In
the foreign press.
Further. in order to more fully CO.
operate with the American press, the
provisional president has ordered es-
tablished an official bureau of infor-
nation for the foreign press, where
at the close of each day are filed by
the various governmental depart
ments daily reports covering the
more essential developments OF the
day from a news standpoint OF view.
This department has been put In
charge of Senior Paul Coblenz, who
was designated by the President pc
cause OF his knowledge of handling
American newspapermen and because
of his varied experience in the pub
licity field abroad. Mr.. Coblenz Is n
fluent linguist and the master or hVe
languages. and most capable man.
efficient Of rendering most valuable
service not alone to his government,
but also to the foreign services, well
knowing the difference between news
and propaganda.
In order to facilitate the duties OF
the American correspondent, the
Mexican government hit upon the
happy scheme of issuing identihca-
ton cards. These cards bear the
name of the newspapermen. the IN
stitution he represents, together with
his photograph and signature, bears
the official seal of the President OF
the Republic, and is countersigned by
his private secretary. This card mas
proved of great value and help, and
gains for him an Immediate interview
with any of the department heads OF
the government and eliminates an
abundance of red tape which has hero
tofore proved most detrimental to the
correspondents desiring to immediate
ly verify some important piece or
news in order to rush 1T either to the
cable or telegraph office. while 1t was
news" instead of having to wait two
and sometimes four hours to gain the
desired interview, and as result
haze some more enterprising corre-
spondent who was willing to take n
chance and run the gauntlet of the
censor's office file a news beat and
leave his competitors holding the
sack" in order to keep within the
good graces of the powers that be.