Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
Court Acts to Prevent Revolution.

This court cannot certainly exercise
in any case its attributes as arbiter unless
at the solicitation of an interested party;
but it considers itself bound by its high
mission to exhaust the resources Of it's
friendly and we'll intentioned Intervention
for the maintainment Of peace and har-
mony in the five brother states. 1t be-
lieves that a remedy should be applied
to the evil that is beginning, with the
end of preventing the events unfortu-
nately begun in Honduras, that bring on
complications of international importance.
At this time any armed conflict would
make Central America the object Of uni
versal censure, and, apart from the ire
parable damages of a fratrcidal war,
would expose the nations composing it to
perils of extreme gravity"
The judges invited the parties involved
to make use Of that tribunal "if the
necessity has arrived, for a peaceful So
lutoO of whatever motive Of disagree
ment there may exist
At the same time the court suggested to
the President of Costa Rica that he should
''interpose your good offices between the
other governments Of Central America,
in order that by joint, harmonious ac-
ton they may proceed without delay to
the peaceful solution Of the unfortunate
be brought to the judicial knowledge of
the court in conformity with the cOnven-
ton of Washington"
Historical Precedent Set. :.
In response to this invitation formal
complaints were lodged with the court
by the governments of Honduras and
Nicaragua against Salvador and Guate-
mala and for the first time in history
pleadings and judicial orders were trans
mitted by telegraph This was re-
markable innovation in court procedure.
The court Immediately issued lnter1ocu-
tory DEGREES TO fix the status quo of the
nations and impose upon them rules OF
conduct 1t ordered that hoStilties should
cease at once; that the governments OF
Salvador and Guatemala should refrain
from all military measures and move
ments, naval or land, and from all acts
of whatsoever nature which might di-
rectly or indirectly imply interference in
the affairs of the republic OF Honduras
that they should confine in one place all
emigrants suspected of being interested
in the Honduras revolution of being
hostile toward the Honduras government
that they should prevent reparatiOnS from
being made. or any kind of requisites
intended to help or fOment the conflict
from being solicited within their terri
tories; that they should Vigorously prose
cute any person who abets the struggle
in any manner: that they should dis
arm and cOnfine in one place any revolu.
tonarX force entering their territory
that they should discharge any Central
American emigrants holding positions in
their service and compel them to reside
in their respective capitals subject tG
strict vigilance: and that they should re-
duce their military forces to the proper.
ton necessary for their ordinary service
plus the detachments required at suitable
places along their frontiers for the sake
of preventing assistance being afforded
the revolutionists in tine shape of men
war stores or subsistence supplies.
First Court Order Hating Nations
This is the first order of the kind tina
was ever issued by any tribunal. 1t j.
the first time that any court ever inter
vened to prevent preparations for war
Never before did any tribunal ever issu,
instructions to any government concerning
| the administration of its military or cvi
forces. And it is gratifying to know tina
| the revolution was promptly suppressed
| that the order was generally Obeyed ant
that the authority of the court to issu,