The Washington herald., 1907-07-31
TO
GUATEMALAN EXILES

| 1t is said in Washington that alleged
news Of affairs IN Central America, pur-
porting to come from The Hague. IN
reality emanates from band of conspfra-
tors In Mexico City and travels a round
about route. Those intimately acquainted
with the psiltical situation in Guatemala
and the adjacent republics attribute a
recent dispatch, published in the United
States under the date line OF The Hague
July 2S. as having its true origin among
eight or ten GuatemaIan emlgres. now
residing In the capital of Mexico. Strong
evidence is offered in proof Of this ale
CATION.
1t is charged that these exiles have been
sadly disappointed in the failure Of their
design 10 induce the government of Presl-
dent Diaz 10 assist them IN the active
prosecution Of their design against the
government Of their own country. These
exiles were also enraged because the pi-
ratical assaults upon his neighbor by
President Zelaya, OF Nicaragua, had met
tn glorious failure because of the justice
that directed the attitude Of the American
{
south of Mexico. Moreover il is pointed
out that the dispatch dated from The
Hague, IN part OF its language, Is identi-
cal with a document issued in Mexico
City on June IS OF this year. which is
known 10 have been circulated by the
same band OF exiles
This alleged dispatch accuses President
Estrada Cabrera Of Guatemala Of crimes
so Enthusiastically atrocious that their in
veuuOn would do credit to the magma
ton Of Poe OF Hoffman. One charge is
that Mr.. Cabrera was concerned in the
tragic death Of his predecessor Those
familiar with history in tha; part Of the
world. il IS declared. are well aware that
this crime was perpetrated by a lunatic,
suffering from the mania Ct persecution,
named Oscar Zolinger. Il has been es-
tablished, it is further said, that Estrada
Cabrera did not know Zolinger even by
sight, and that when this deplorable
event called Mr.. Cabrera to the Presi-
dency he was about to leave politics and
devote himself to the practice Of law,
which would have insured him an indie
pendent fortune
II is also pointed out that the murder
of Gen. Barillas could not be Of the
slightest advantage TO the present gov
eminent of Guatemala At the time Of
his death, Barillas was old, worn out. and
without prestige. His administration had
been weak and uncertain and had pre-
pared the way for a financial crisis
Moreover. by pracipitating the war Of
1850 he had damaged the homogenlc In
/ fluence of Guatemala over the other re-
publics Of Central America. His career
multiplied his enemies, and a fispassion-
ate review attributes TO its unfortunate
outcome the true cause OF his death.
The charge which, II is alleged. was
presented TO The Hague Conference. that
President Cabrera had caused the muir
der of 1000 political opponents also ex-
cites rldicule among those in Washing
ton who are familiar with the situation
In Guatemala. The ridicule. however. is
tempered with some natural resentment
It is said that if these alleged dispatches
would cite the names Of fifty real persons
as victims. the list would necessarily in
clude the entire diplomatic corps at
Guatemala City, and It's compllers would
I be forced 10 invent the names of per
sons who never existed.
The attacks upon President Cabrera
are especially resented by those interests
| in the United States that are concerned
I'm the material progress and prosperity
Of Guatemala. Those interests are large
and important. and they are inclined 10
contrast sharply the digniied and earnest
devotion to public welfare OF the Cabrera
administration with the bald and gro
tesque inventions that are disseminated BY
the little group of emigrants in Mexico
CITY