Hidalgo

A heavy-swung, dark-curtained private car rumbled from Mexico City last week to Laredo, Texas. It was the Hidalgo, sumptuous equipage of rich Senor Alberto Pani, said to be the only Mexican statesman whose word is trusted by U. S. financiers (TIME, Jan. 31).

To reporters Senor Pani showed his sharp white teeth with a quick smile. He was on his way to Paris, he said, there to become Mexican Minister. He pointed with pride to an announcement made last week by Thomas W. Lamont of J. P. Morgan & Co. that Mexico has paid in full the interest on her external debt to U. S. investors for 1926. Senor Pani, as Mexican Finance Minister, put through this payment: $10,692,845.

But Senor Pani quarreled with the Calles Cabinet on matters of internal policy, resigned, withdrew his resignation, then resigned again last week and accepted the Ministry at Paris. Before proceeding overseas he will visit members of his family in Los Angeles.