The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-20
Our Interest in Central America

'Nh ~ hN"s
In addition TO what there may be OF
sentimental or humane interest in the
continuance Of peace and progress in
Central America the United States has
also a considerable commercial interest.
We sold to those little countries last year
some $40, SOC, 900 worth Of goods, and we
bought from them a little more than
s12, 900, 900 worth Of their products.
In the percentage Of requirements
obtained in the United States, Honduras
stands at the head Of our list Of custom.
ers. The year 1905 is the latest for which
such statistics are available. During that
year the Hondurans came to us for
1877 per cent. OF all their imports; Mica
ragua came to us for $500 per cent. OF
her needs; Costa RIGA came for 81 IS per
cent of hers; Guatemala for So.55 per
cent, and Salvador for 3l.18 per cent.
AS they prosper our business with them
increases, and every political upheaval
means lose Of trade for us, as we'll as
heavy expenditures, ruined credit and
loss of human lives for them. Ameri-
cans hold important concessions in those
countries, and the number Of American
residents there is greater than is gener-
ally realized. Every revolution, every
disturbance Of the existing political
order, brings it's own menace to interna-
tional relations and it's danger Of forcing
a situation which would compel our active
Intervention.
Trustworthy information from that
area is limited, Most OF the commune
cations received from Ii official repre-
s~entatives are either entirely or in some
degree confidential, and the Ministers
OF Foreign Affairs Of the different coun-
tries do not spend much time in cabling
to their representatives at Washington.
From all that can be learned the situa-
ton is open to the following summary:
Costa RIGA is peaceful and progressive,
minding its own business but keeping a
watohful eye on the proceedings in its
neighborhood. In Guatemala President
CABRERA holds a strong position in spite
OF menace from both internal and external
sources. In Salvador President FIGUERoA,
i~naugurated only a few weeks ago, faces
a CullDllldllOl1o VI lllbCl hdl lCNOlb IN VIZ
araguan filibuster. This is not excited by
anything that he has done since his install
lation, but is a continuation Of an agitation
against the party which he represents.
Honduras is in the hands Of a Provisional
President who holds his job by the grace
OF President ZBLAYA as a result OF the
recent international conflict. Nicaragua
has peace at home, but there is little
doubt that her President is the active
cause OF disturbance elsewhere.
That JOSE SANTOS ZELAYA is the prime
mover in all Of the present disturbance
is the conviction rather than the opinion
Of those who are familiar with Central
American affairs. He seeks a unifica-
ton Of the FIVE republics and is ambi-
tious to hold the Presidency Of a United
States Of Central America. The various
movements Of recent months are re-
garded as steps in his plan for carrying
out this purpose. II this scheme is car
ried IN it will fail, and the failure will be
costly. A Central American ~confedera-
ton cannot be established, with the
slightest hope Of even temporary peace,
by revolutions, conquest n force OF
arms. The only possible result Of an
attempt to establish such an institution
by such methods is anarchy and dis
tress. Intervention, probably by the
United States and Mexico acting in CON-
bination, would be IN Inevitable from the
present view,
II these various disturbances are no
more than an epidemic Of local revolu-
tions our interest is limited to the due
protection Of American lives and prop
erty. II, q so many competent author
titles are convinced, this is a larger
and more serious movement the affair
takes on a more important interest for
this country. 1t means a serious dis
turbanc e Of our commercial intere sts and
a dire menace Of a compulsory armed
Intervention.