Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-16
WILLING TO D|SARM
Honduras Agrees to Submit to
Arbitration.
DEPENDS ON THE OTHERS
Will Await Action of Guatemala and
Salvador.
OUTLOOK IS MORE PACIFIC
Offer of the Good Offices of This Coun-
try to Restore Conditions Of
tranquility Accepted.
DEPENDS ON THE OTHERS
OUTLOOK IS MORE PACIFIC

its grievances TO arbitration as soon as
Guatemala and Salvador agree to do like
wise. A dispatch announcing Honduras
willingness 10 arbitrate was received today
by the State Department from Philip Ii.
Brown. who is looking after the interests of
the United States in Honduras and Guate-
maIa during the absence of Mr.. Combs, min
lister to those countries. who was on his way
to the United States when the war broke
out. and has not yet been able to get back
to his post at Guatemala City
Mr. Merry United States minister to Sal
vador advised the department today that
he is still negotiating with the Salvadorean
authorities trying TO get them to agree to
disarm and meet Guatemalan ENJOYS in
Washington, or elsewhere. to arrange for a
settlement of the difficulties,
a. Both Guatemala and Salvador have ac-
Tepted the tender of the good offices OF
this government looking to a settlement or
their differences. This information is con-
veyed in official dispatches received at the
State Department from diplomatic repre-
sentatives in Guatemala and Salvador an
nouncing that the two belligerent countries
have availed themselves of the tender Of
the good offices OF the United States, look
ing to their approaching each other In
conference having in view an adjustment
of their differences, the cessation Of host1ll-
ties and the bringing about of peace.
The advices to the State Department. II
is stated, make no reference to the queS-
tiOn of declaration of wa, regarding Wnlcn
President Bonilla of Honduras announced
that Honduras had made no declaration
and that Guatemala invaded territory
without previous declaration" 1t is stated
that although both Guatemala and Salvador
have accepted in principle the proposition
for peace conference, the question OF ar
bitration would be a subject of future con-
sideration. A fortnight ago there was
disposition on the part of the bellgerents
to arbitrate. The question then was
whether Guatemala had injured Salvador
by harboring insurgents on her territory,
or whether Salvador by doing the same
thing. had inquired Guatemala. But the re-
cent battle, with the death of Gen. Regala-
do the former president of Salvador, ana
the leader of the SaIvadorean troops,
changed the situation. 1t is pointed out
that as no territorial or boundary question
Is I'm dispute the matter of indemnity for
invasion of territory would be main ques-
ton before the peace conference,
The President Notified.
The advlces regarding the Central Amer
lean situation were forwarded to the Pres
.dent at oyster Bay by Acting Secretary OF
State Bacon, who is IN charge of State De-
partment affairs during the absence of Sec
retary Root. Mr. Bacon went to oyster Bay
on the midnight train. It is understood he
Is carrying dispatches and other papers
bearing on the situation to lay before the
President All that Mr. Bacon would say
regarding the situation was that everything
is progressing favorably.
1t is stated that the next step looking
to peace negotiations is the fixing of the
time and place for the meeting of conferees
and that while these matters are being de-
terrnined the diplomatic representatives OF
the United States in Guatemala and Saliva
dor will be the medium through which COM
municatlons will be exchanged This pro-
Cedure may consume some time.
Washington officials are now hopeful of a
peaceful adjustment of differences which
have brought the Central American gov
erumeu's to a clash at arms.
Progress of Negotiations.
State Department officials have received
no dispatches here today which throw any
additional light on the war involving
Guatemala, Salvador and Honduras The
representatives of the United States in
Guatemala and Salvador assure the depart
ment that negotiations for the peaceful set
tlement OF the differences between Guate-
mala and Salvador seem to be progressing
satisfactorily, but give no details as TO ex-
actly how the difficulties will be adjusted
The suggestion of Guatemala revolution
lists that they VIII be willing to accept any
president for that country who NAV be
agreed upon by President Diaz and PresI-
dent Roosevelt is not considered seriously
by the State Department. Reyolutionists
have no international standing whatever.
and II would be Impossible for the Presi-
dents of Mexico and the United States to
recognize tne insurgents IN any unless
they should completely overthrow the gov
ernment of Guatemala. In that case the
teVolutionists would undoubtedly select n
PRESIDENT to their liking without referring
the question to the executive heads of sis
ter republics.
Presidents Attitude Misunderstood.
President Roosevelt's activity In the Cen
trail American dispute has been m!sunder-
stood in some quarters, according to State
Department officials. 1t would be highly
improper. they say, for the President 10 Of
fer his services as an arbitrator, and he has
done nothing of that sort. He has merely
suggested TO the warning republics that he
will exert his good offices to assist them
In settling their difficulties. By that ofreI
he has In no sense put himself forward as
the proposed arbitrator OF the difficulties
which involving all Central America
2 but advocate of international peace
he has indicated his disposition to do all in
his power to end a war which is threatening
the national life of several republics
Assistant Secretary Bacon, who is to con-
fer with President Roosevelt. has not ad-
vised Acting Secretary Adee of any change
whatever in the situation since last night
but Mr.. Adee is expecting advices in a
short time which win indicate that the
troubles may be ended by arbitration.