Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
Neither iE willing to Go Beyond Making
Earnest Representations
CONFERENCE HELDArsrATE DEPARTMENT
Ministers from All Central American Ma
tions Except Nicaragua Are Present
PLAN FOR FEDERATION OF NATIONS
Proposal to Draft Compact that VIII
Make Disturbances Less Free
quent in Future-New
Minister Talks.

WASHINGTON. April 6.-Secretary Root
and Mexican Ambassador Creel today de-
cided that the time was ripe for con-
certed action to terminate hostilities IN
Central America II that result could be
accomplished by moral suasion and ear
nest representations, beyond which point
neither the United States nor Mexico is
willing to go.
A series OF conferences was held today
at the State department between the in
terested parties A notable fact was the
absence Of the Nicaraguan minister, Sc
nor Corea. It was suggested that the pur-
pose OF the conference to frame an agree
ment for the future settlement of all dis
putes between Central American coun-
tries and to submit this to Nicaragua and
request its adhesion, falling which that
country would find itself standing alone
among the Central American states and
without their sympathy. 1t is believed
that a few days will bring about impor-
tant developments and that either peace
will be declared or a general war will
follow between Nicaragua on one side and
the remaining four states on the other
The appearance In Washington Of
e. minister from Salvador with large
powers, believed also to be author
lied to speak for Honduras seemed
to afford the opportunity for diplomatic
action here. Therefore the conferences
were begun at the State department be-
tween these interested parties, which It is
stated by the participants probably will
lead to a peaceful settlement Of troubles,
and, moreover, one that will endure longer
than the few months that frequently mark
the life OF these Central American COM
paots The basis for the agreement is yet
to be defined in its details. Indeed, 1t was
stated that beyond the agreement among
the parties to the conference that the time
had now come for action by them, the
plan had not been perfected.
New Minister Talks of Merger.
The war between Honduras and Mica
ragua, according to FREDERICK MeJia, the
new Salvadorean minister to the United
States, will likely be settled without en-
broillng other Central American republics
Senior Mejin said:
"It is highly to the interests OF the re-
publcs OF Salvador, Costa Rica and Guate-
mala that peace should be brought about
as soon an possible in order to avoid the
chance that the war may be extended into
their respective domains.
ITO that end the representatives Of these
countries here viii do all they can. Mean
while those countries have found It ex-
pedient to mobilize troops on their re-
spective frontiers. When 1 left home Sal
vador had about $500 men on the border,
though It would be possible to increase
that number 10 5000.
Even though Salvador, Costa Rica and
Guatemala are not directly engaged in the
war, they necessarily suffer as long as the
war continues. Their commerce Is de-
stroyed to q large extent. Business must
be dormant for the time being. Communi-
cation must be interrupted. The people
are thrown into unrest.
People Tired of War.
"The conservative people of Central
America are tired OF these wars which
have continued for half century. They
realize that II all the money that has been
spent for slaughter and the satisfaction
of the selfish ambitions of some individ-
uals during that time had been turned to
the building Of good roads. schools and
other instrumentalities Of civilization, Cen
tral America would probably compromise
united, prosperous and happy nation to-
day. Those means of communication that
have been established already have
brought the people of the countries into
| closer relations, but the time has not yet
come when when It would be possible to
amalgamate them into one eonfederacy
either by force or convention. The nation
would again break up as result OF the
insufficient means OF putting down numer-
| Gus instructions. But within ten years
the time may come when such q plan
would be entirely feasible"
Puerto COrtez Captured.
| MANAGUA, Nicaragua, April 6.-Puerto
Cortez, on the north coast Of Honduras, has
been occupied by Nicaraguan troops, ac-
cording 70 reliable advices received here.
with the exception of the seaport OF Am
apala, where President Bonilla is sur
rounded by his enem'es the revolut.onists OF
Honduras, In connection with the forces Of
| n-Irn 70 r,,a nra In rnssessinn Of practically