A diplomat's wife in Mexico : $b Letters from the American Embassy at Mexico City, covering the dramatic period between October 8th, 1913, and the breaking off of diplomatic relations on April 23rd, 1914, together with an account of the occupation of Vera CruzO'Shaughnessy, Edith
History
A diplomat's wife in Mexico : $b Letters from the American Embassy at Mexico City, covering the dramatic period between October 8th, 1913, and the breaking off of diplomatic relations on April 23rd, 1914, together with an account of the occupation of Vera Cruz
O'Shaughnessy, Edith
Mexico -- Foreign relations -- United States; Mexico -- History -- 1910-1946; United States -- Foreign relations -- Mexico; Veracruz (Veracruz-Llave, Mexico) -- History -- American occupation, 1914
Yesterday at noon, Huerta, surrounded by his entire Cabinet, received
the Diplomatic Corps, and, though there was much excitement
beforehand, when his remarks were boiled down, nothing was changed.
The Mexican is a past master at presenting the same condition under
some other expedient and disarmingly transparent disguise. The way
out of what we all considered a great difficulty is amazingly simple.
There will be no President elected! Huerta declares he will not be a
candidate, and no one else will have the necessary majority.
The plain English of it all is--Huerta at the head of the government as
full-fledged military dictator. After the formal statement of affairs
he turned to N. and begged him to assure Washington of his good faith;
and he reiterated that his sole aim was the pacification of Mexico.
He then became overpoweringly, embarrassingly polite--even tender. He
took N.’s arm and led him out to have a _copita_[3] in the face of the
assembled corps, having previously embraced him, saying, with playful
reminiscence, “I arrest you.” Such are the vicissitudes of representing
the Stars and Stripes in Mexico! People tell me Huerta’s speeches are
generally masterpieces of brevity, with something magnetic and human
about them. The English support has strengthened him, within and
without.
Sir L. and N. were snap-shotted together by indiscreet newspaper men as
they were leaving the _Palacio_. A _pièce à conviction_, if ever there
was one. Sir L. was laughingly apologetic for N.’s being “found so near
the body.”
Mrs. Lind left yesterday for the United States, and I have written to
the Governor, who may be lonely, to tell him how welcome he would be
if he likes to return to Mexico City. I can make him comfortable--in
a bedroom and study adjoining--and we would really like to see him.
However, he may not care to come up for another _fausse couche_, as
one of the colleagues called his first visit.
Everybody is expecting disorders on Sunday--Election Day. There is
very little difference between lawmakers and lawbreakers in Mexico. We
foreign devils can scarcely keep our faces straight when we hear the
word “elections.” Sunday is sure to find Huerta still in the saddle.
_October 25th._
Yesterday L----, confidential agent of Felix Diaz, appeared at
luncheon-time. He is a clever and plausible individual, angling for the
United States recognition for Diaz’s candidacy. A special train has
been offered Felix Diaz, but he is afraid, and not without reason, to
venture up into the unknown, so he will wait presidential results at
Vera Cruz, with its attractive harbor full of fast ships.
_Tuesday, 28th._
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