Manuel Pérez Romero

Manuel Pérez Romero, brother of Sara Pérez, Francisco Madero's wife, entered the revolutionary diplomatic service as a colonel and an early supporter of the movement. He represented the Constitutionalists confidentially in Washington in 1913. Alberto Salinas Carranza later recalled that Pérez Romero summoned him to Washington to escort General Felipe Ángeles, returning from Europe, to join Carranza in northern Mexico. ¹

Salinas recalled meeting Pérez Romero at the agency, dining with Ángeles and the Pérez Romeros, and arranging the journey west with discretion. ¹

Pérez Romero subsequently became Mexico's representative in Japan, first as a confidential agent and then as accredited minister. He attempted to buy arms through Japanese commercial contacts, including Mitsui. Wartime restrictions and Japan's Allied commitments impeded those purchases, prompting discussion of Japanese technical help for Mexican arms production. He also pursued industrial and commercial contacts beyond weapons. ²

His Japanese assignment lasted into 1919. Its difficulties included protocol disputes over credentials issued in Carranza's name and the problem of turning political goodwill into supplies that Japan could legally and practically deliver. Manuel Téllez served on the mission's staff during this period. ²