The morning times., 1895-08-05
ALLIANCE OF REPUBLICS
BaniOs' Plan for Union of All
Central American States.
ATTEMPT A COUP D'ETAT
BOniIla to BE Removed from the Presi-
dency of Honduras and Marco Soto
TO BE Appointed-Sensat De-
velopments in Al Shert Time-Situa-
tion Is Pregnant with Significance.

Private advices received from Guatemala
last evening indicate that sensational de-
yelopments affecting possibly the future
| of Central America may be expected within
| the next thirty days.
These advjces state that President Bar
rios, of Guatemala, has formed secret
| alliance with Costa Rica looking to the
formation of union of all the Central
| American States. with Guatemala exercising
| the dominant influence in the new fedora
| ton.
The first step in this programme will be
| the downfall of the present Bonilla admin
| jstration in Honduras, and the appoint
| ment of his successor in the person of
Marco Soto
The last-named gentleman is favorable
TO the proposition and if the presented plans
are perfected so that he may by a coup
d'etat assume the Presidential office, the
| asst stance of Honduras can be obtained in
the plan for Il federation of the five States
and Nicaragua and Salvador will thus, it
is claimed, compelled TO join with
the other republics as matter OF self
interest.
BARRlOS' GREAT PLAN.
Marco Soto filled,for a number OF years
owed his elevation to the chief magistracy
to the powerful aid Of Gen Rufino Bar
rios, who was then the dictator OF Guate-
mala, aud easily the great political aud
military force in Central America.
When Barrios made war on Salvador,
| Soto refused TO cooperate with him.
| BarrioS at once iucited a revolution in Hon
duras. Through his aid the revolutiouists
pp.a nj
Subsequently Barrios was killed, aud
| his ambitious scheme OF a Central Ameri-
| can uuiOn, with himself as the central
| figure came To ia ught
The Presidency OF Guatemala is now filled
| by another member OF the BarrioS Iamily,
a nephew OF the distinguished dictator.
| II is claimed, without any qualification,
that, folio wing the example of his uncle,
| lie VIII again Use has influence to place
Sotoin the Presidency OF Honduras.
Those who are familiar with the po-
| litical conditions in the little Latin-Ameri-
| can republics say that a new revolution
! can be easily started III Honduras composed
\ of the dissatisfied elements now out Of
/ power, with Soto at their head, and that
! these, with the assistance or Guatemala,
Honduras, and Costa Rica, therefore, would
| practically dominate the situation.
President BarriOs, OF Guatemala, 1t is
said, IS the more desire OF thlsnew alliance,
| inasrnuch as at present Honduras, Nicaragua,
and Salvador are closely allied
This trio of republics, which are con-
! tiguous TO each other, forms a geographical
| wedge, so 10 speak, between Guatemala
| On the north and Costa Rica on the south.
SOME DIFFICULTIES.
without the active cooperation OF one
| OF the three it would be difficult for
| Guatemala and Costa Rica to assume an
offensive attitude toward the remainder
The withdrawal OF Honduras from the
| triple alliance aud her cooperation with
| the other republics would give to the
| latter a preponderance OF power, the value
OF which can lie readily appreciated. To
/ what extent President Barrios can carry
| through his programme can only be con-
| ieCtured, but 1t is believed in Guatemala
| that he Will succeed.
What renders his plan the more feasible
| is the hereditary enmity or lack OF comfy,
| at least, which exists between Costa Rica
| and Nicaragua.
Costa Rica, it is said, would delight TO see
her ancient enemy, Nicaragua, humbled,
as she would necessarily be if compelled
| perforce 10 join Central American feder-
alton, the controlling influence of which
would be friendly to Costa Rica Should
| Nicaragua on the other hand decline to
join the union, she would still be at a dis
| advantage in that she would enjoy none OF
the benefits which would result from it,
| The situation, therefore, is pregnant with
| significance and future developments are
awaited with hinterestb by the political leaders,
in all of the Central American States by
whom the foregoing facts seem to be well
understood.