Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-27
POLITICAL REFUGEES
Salvadoran Fugitives Still on Board
the Bennington.
EN-. EZETA BADLY WANTED
Many Have Left on Pledges Of
Protection on Shore.
OUR FUTURE COURS z

There have been no important develop
ments in the case Of Gen. Ezeta, the Sal
vadoran refugee OH board the L. S. s. Ben
nington at La Libertad, since the appoint
ment of DR.. Guzman, the Nicaraguan minis
ter, as the diplomatic representative of Sal
vador at Washington. In conducting the
pending negotiations for Ezeta's surrender
on various criminal charges, such as mu--
der. robbery, etc. The statement that Gen
Ezeta has recently made formal applica lion
for permission to take passage on an Ameri-
can mail steamer, touching at La Libertad
Is erroneous 1t is probably based on the
application made by him soon after he was
granted asylum OF the Bennington, to be
furnished with a guard In transit to an
american mail steamer then in port. At
that time he was informed that he was free
70 go where he pleased, but that the Ameri-
can government could not furnish the do
slred guard and would not be Responsible
Ioc MS safety II he left the ship. InasmIich
as the ship was surrounded bv boats CO.
tanning Salvadoran soldiers charged with
ms arrest the instant he left the iu-isdic
,. non OF the United States and as arrest, in
ms case meant almost certain death he
wisely concluded not to attemnt iha dan
gerOuS passage. '
since then his case has assumed a new
asPect altogether, and the United States
government Is seriously considering the
question of his surrender to the Salyadoran
government, and would do So IN il ,sid
n satisned that he would receive a fair
lrial ana humane treatment His sur
render has been demanded on the oroupd
.hat ne Is a criminal His political mis-
1eeos nave been apparently overlooked, and
ms extradition is asked solely on the
laws OF the country Murder and robbery
aIe the principal charges against nim
Ihese charges are believed to relate solely
TO acts committed by his direction tor the
M fhA
thai time he was vice president Of the re-
public. and II is difficult to draw the line
between his official and his individual con-
duct
He has protested vigorously against his
surrender to his political enemies He saws
ne Is guilty OF no crimes, and certainly not
OF murder and robbery, as alleged by the
SaAvadoran government. He sought the
American war ship the only available
asylum from the pursuit Of the revolution
lists, who sought to kill him. He says IL he
Is given up that he will most certainly be
put TO death without a proper hearing and
expresses the hope that the United States
will act In his favor in deciding the n at
ter. He contends that he has done nothing
to justify his extradition. According to his
statement he simply did what he could as
an omcer OF the late government 10 put
down an insurrection.
Pending the settlement Of the question,
Capt. Thomas. commanding the Bsnning-
ton. has been instructed to retain sthe Gus
tody Of Ezeta, neither allowing him to
escape nor to permit the local Authorities
to wreak vengeance on III. head InS1uding
Ezeta, there are now but four officers of
the late government under the protection of
the United States. All the others. to the
number Of twelve. have been, allowed 10
land on their written request to that effect,
based on assurances from the Salvadoran
government that they will not be molestei
In any respect on account Of the part they
took to prevent the success Of the present
government No such guarantee has been
given in the case Of the four remaining
fugitives on the Bennington. At least If
1t has, they have hot shown a desire 10
accept 1t. by an application to the COM
mander for permission to leave the ship