New-York tribune., 1907-09-02
PEACE PROPOSAL LIKED
cu>-TR4L AMERICAN VIEW
ynfncnce Of This Country and -ucr-
eco RECOGNIZED.

-,.,,s4,- Americans Of prominence in this city
-. greatly interested IN the proposed peace
,ferAnce 70 be held at the suggestion OF Fresi-
aor+ Roosevelt and President DiaG 10 secure
,e-i,,- -,esce in Central America All OF the'n
,ress themselves unanimously in approval OF
.,,a -,iau These same persons IN close 1ouSh
So, +ba governmental and economic conditions
,-avalent in the turbulent republics or Cenual
.-,e,sca. assert also that only by the establish
mont Of permanent peace as is planned by Pfesi-
49, Roosevelt and President Diaz can they
,na eyer to advance 10 the position Of CONNER
,,1 -,roroinence that their vast natural wealth
,,olres possibIe for them under normal con-
dtions-
They recognize also that only under the
,,eDices of a conference called by the United
States can q peace agreement or treaty be made
that will be binding on the parties 10 it. 1t IS
,otorious that the governments of Central
America regard very lightly pacts and treaties
made among themselves to which there has
teen found no way TO make them comply. The
instances where these conventions have been
-iolated and even made with absence Of good
faith are numerous. The most recent example
was the secret pact made at Amapala between
Nicaragua and Salvador. Article Of the pact
bound the two countries TO use their efforts IN
maintaining peace in Central America and pre-
vent invasions from their territory into other
countries The second article, which nulllhed
the first and demonstrated with what faith the
nae. was made bound Salvador and Nicaragua
"a give what material aid they could TO an IN
surrection against their neighbor, Presldent
nayilla Of Honduras, TO be led by former Presi-
Gent Sierra.
LOOKING TO A STRONGER POWER
Under these circumstances the Central Amer
leans are looking for a power that VIII compe'
the compliance with such pacts that are made
in good faith. Some Of them are not aVerse TO
giving that power to the United States. or per-
hans also 20 Mexico. The plan Of President
Roosevelt is for arbitral tribunal Tor the
settlement of differences but if they should re-
gard the decision Of this tribunal in the light
that they do their own agreements they ask
-ben what2 The Central American no less than |
the South American is sensitive about his ma |
,oual dignity and sovereignty Ten years ago |
he would have resented even the kindly sug-
gestion of President Roosevelt for peace con- |
ference But in that time conditions have
undergone a great change. With the super |
vision Of santo DoIningo's financial policy and |
the consequent improvement in that country S |
commercial condition the Central Americans |
have come to realize that the permission of out !
side intervention in their affairs might be no /
less patriotic under the conditions than the na-
tional nursing Of ever recurring ruinous insur- |
rections.
WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE UNITED /
STATES.
A Central American diplomat said regarding
this:
IF the plan is to give the United States or .
Mexico tbs privilege to intervene In our affairs
by force Of arms then am opposed TO the
whole proposition don't want my country 70
he dominated by an outside government. but Il
the United States wanted TO make my country Il
part Of this nation, then would welcome the .
plan"
The commercial side Of the question also -
important to American interests. The latter 4
have grown steadily in Central America. but f,
not as they would with stable governments IN !
that part Of the world. In fact. the internecine
strtfes and the wars between the different re-
publics have worked great injury to American
commerce
lose q. Garcia editor Of Las Novedades. g
who has for many years had relations with the |
Spanish speaking countries, said:
There is no doubt that strong influence is +
required TO bring about change of conditions g.
We have before US the example OF Santo Do ,
riugo Before the United States took an active
interest in the republic il was revolution ridden
and almost bankrupt Now there is a great
change From every part hear OF great I'M
r-oxements in all branches Of industry, the re
suit Of which is also strongly felt in the United
States.
Several Central Americans. in private discus !
sion Of the situation did not hesitate TO express
the opinion that within another ten years with
affairs drifting as they are doing to-day the
United States would exercise an even more
active interest in Central America.
= COSTA RICAN VIEW
Or Juan J UIloa. Consul General Of Costa ;
Fica said of the proposed conference:
Ny personal opinion with regard tn the pro
posed conference of the Central American
publics to discuss treaty to guarantee the
future peace this section of the world is that.
although / shall welcome any measure tending TO
such end I unfortunately rather pesstnlstlc
in this line. because several experiences, some
rf very recent date. have demonstrated how
81; are broken the best intentioned treaties for
the maintenance Of peace and for the proper ad- p
.1stInent Of international difficulties I'm part Of
the so-caled centre of America.
AS Costa R-ca is a Very peaceful and pro
s-essiVe country. where elections are held regu-
asriy every four years in accordance with the
constitution OF the country; where there is COM
p,ete independence NJ the legislative, judicial
and executive powers: where there is a perfect
s-laTantse Of life and property. and where We
have not had q revolution in more than thirty
-ears and not q single case in history Of
intervention in the politics Of any OF the other
republics 20 the north or TO the south. suppose
fh3t the only reason why il is included in the
list OF the countries which are proposed TO hold a
conference 10 draw a treaty which shall guaran-
Zee The future peace OK Central America IS the
geographical OF its situation on the map.
although il seems TO me that TO be logical they
should incluce also the r~oHblic Of Panama,
which has place in this section Of the world
believe that the interest shown by President
Roosevelt and President Diaz IN trying TO find
e way assure peace in Central America is
vs-y nobio and praiseVg o-thv and I sincerely
hope that their efforts in this line shall tend
10 the drawing of q treaty which. without Eacri-
fios concerned, shall guarantee the future peace
which is indispensable TO the proper develop