Page:Mexico under Carranza.djvu/95

Rh the importance, and the necessity, of Mexico's recognizing her obligations under international law, and concluded with the statement that unless Mexico did recognize and live up to her international obligations she could never hope to have the respect of the other nations of the world, when, quick as a flash, came from Mr. Bonillas on the other side of the table:

"Then the other nations of the world can go to hell!"

Upon meeting one of the American members of the commission, afterward I told him of this story and asked if anything of the sort had occurred. The answer was:

"The incident occurred exactly as you have related it."

"Don't you believe that before the Mexican commissioners left the City of Mexico they were instructed by Carranza to make no commitments whatever regarding the protection of American owned property in Mexico, because he had in mind at that very time the confiscatory constitution which was subsequently enacted at Querétero?" I asked.

"I am absolutely certain of it," was the reply. Undoubtedly, this attitude of Mr. Bonillas toward his country's international obligations showed him to be so worthy a member of the Carranza government as to suggest his supreme fitness