Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-03
Former Attempts at a League.


Guatemala had a grand scheme Of Cen
trail American unity. He sought to enforce
it on his neighbors by warlke persua-
sion. He was shot through the heart in a
bloody battle. After that Guatemala was
torn by internal dissensions and did not as
pire to the headship of a Central American
confederation.
During the COS the plan was tried by
three of the countries, Nicaragua, Hon
duras and Salvador, which formed what
was known as the Greater Republic. Costa
Rica held aloof and Guatemala was not
sympathetic at that time to the purpose.
| The general idea was that the different re-
publics should maintain their territorial
AMI political integrity for while at least
but that they should form a union as to
foreign affairs and as to much of local con-
Germ. There were to be no customs bar
riers of any kind. and the citizenship was
to be Identical minister was appointed
to the United States and was formally re-
ceived He performed his functions until
the Greater Republic dissolved into it's
original elements.
The main cause for the failure of the pro-
pcsed confederation IVES that neither Sal
yador Nicaragua nor Honduras was ready
entirely to disarm. l. was arranged that
each country should collect Its arms and
munitions of war and deposit them at
Amapala which is the Pacific port of Hon
duras end the only one that country has on
the western side. When the time came each
country sent about 200 soldiers and there
was a military review or imposing charac-
ter. But no munitions of war were brought
to be cid in joint trust and even the small
attachments of troops were not quite ready
t. disarm themselves. So the project failed.
Seat of Present Movement.
Amapeia is the seat of the present move
n,ent lnd 1t is said thai the league is now In
process OF formation there. But this is
mistake. The formation begun a year
ago when plenipotentiaries or ENJOYS from
Nicaragua Salvador and Honduras met
and formulated a treaty. DR.. Fausto Davila,
the vice president of Honduras, was the
moving spirit Afterward he visited all the
Central American countries and urged on
the governments the desirability of forming
the union.
This treaty has not been made public I
was told In Guatemala few months ago
that ii does not go as far as the previous at
tempts at confederation, yet that II does go
far enough to keep the countries from
clutching at one anothers threats and to
insure their settling their differences by ar
bitration instead of By war. II this state
| ment IS correct, and 1 have reason to think
1t is. the treaty is q good one and should
be supported. There may be something in
4. about mutual defense against foreign ag-
gresson, but IL this Is SO no harm is done
The various governments have indicated
that the treaty IN It's main provisions Is
agreeable TO them, yet they are slow to
raufy 1t. Probably the present meeting or
reported attempt 10 form the league Is for
the purpose of amending some of its provis-
ions. 1t is certain that as the outcome of
| this movement the diplomatic relations of
| the different countries have improved and
they are much more neighborly.
Hottest Place on Earth.
Amapala. where all these meetings are
held. is chosen because 1t Is the most CEN
trail point since all the republics border on
the Pacific and 1t is about midway between
the Nicaraguau ports and those of Guate-
mala. II has become famous for the con-
ferences of this kind ard also for less peace
full events that lave taken place In years
past 1t Is a very pretty little place, but II
not the Hottest SPOT ON earth II certainly is
the hottest point on the tropical coast of