Our relations with the government and the people of Mexico are controlled and affected by three somewhat distinct elements of relationship and obligation. They are: Primarily, the reciprocal duties and obligations incumbent on all civilized nations and enjoined by international law and usage. Secondly, those duties and obligations, and the problems they present, as affected by the fact that we are only important immediate neighbor and, as secretary of foreign affairs, Ghmboa, puts it, Mexico's nearest friend. Finally, those duties and obligations as enlarged by the responsibilities we have assumed under the Monroe Doctrine. The maintenance of a correct attitude toward the government and people of Mexico is rendered the more difficult by reason of the fact that our proximity to Mexico tends to make our-border people partisans in case of civil strife in that country, and multiplies the opportunity for, and the likelihood of, losses and injury to our citizens and their property under unsettled conditions. On the other hand this intimate relationship and the responsibilities we have assumed under the Monroe Doctrine, as applied to Mexico, increase the importance of the maintenance of a correct and defendable attitude in our dealings with that neighboring state. A brief r6sum6 of recent occurrences in Mexico may aid in elucidating the character of the problems there and our relation to them. The unfortunate Madero revolution started from our border. The Diaz government which it overthrew had, in my opinion, abundant ground for criticising our failure to exercise proper precaution to prevent the hatching and launching of revolutionary movements aimed at the life of a neighboring friendly power. However that may be, the revolution was successful and was promptly recognized by our government. But the Madero government was destined to be shortlived. Undermined by plots and conspiracies and overpowered in 175