Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-12-09
RELATIONS SEVERED
WITH NICARAGUA
Charge d'Affaires Rodriguez Receives Pass
ports from Secretary Knox Following
Denunciation of President Zelaya

| President Zelaya. He has dominated
Honduras, whose president is de-
clared to be only his mouth piece, and
Zelaya has not hesitated to violate
the laws of neutrality by sending his
troops, without parrant or permission,
into Salvador and Costa Rica. That
he would have done the same in the
case of Guatemala had the revolution
extended to the northern frontier Of
Nicaragua there is no doubt.
1t was well understood though
never reduced to the form of treaty
that not only the United States, but
Mexico, would undertake to see that
the provisions Of this treaty were eff
fective, though purely moral suasion
was supposed to be the main reliance
to accomplish its purpose. This has
utterly failed, after a trial Of nearly
two years. Reports to the department
Of state from it's diplomatic and con-
sular agents have shown that during
that period, President Zelaya has
been stirring up discomfort in the
neighboring Central American re-
publics, giving substantial aid to
would-be revolutionists and doing
everything possible to bring about a
state of affairs, that would warrant
him in invading the territory Of his
neighbors.
Rule Of Barbarism.
But the internal conditions in
Nicaragua revealed by these reports
have never been told to the public be-
cause the moral turpitude involved 10
almost beyond belief. While these re-
ports are still withheld from publica-
ton, officials of the department OF
state have disclosed enough of their
contents to show that condition Of
absolute desportism has existed in
Nicaragua with such accomplishments
as rapine, murder, extortion and
harbarous treatment of political
prisoners, as has been unknown since
the period of medieval Europe.
AS Secretary Knox said in his letter,
the other Central American republics
have protested in vain against the
existence of the conditions in Near
aqua, but the state department has
felt loathe to violate its old traditions
of noninterference in the internal af-
fairs of other nations, and probably
would have refrained even now had
not Zelaya gone to the length Of
torturing and killing two Americans
engaged in honorable warfare.
only Law is zeIaya.
In answer to the departments de-
mand for an explanation, his agents
simply stated that the executions
were in accordance with the law of
Nicaragua, but the state department
finds that that law is Zelaya, and
that the action was in violation of all
the rules of civilized warfare. Reason
ing that there is no actual government
in Nicaragua, the department neces-
sarily arrived at the conclusion that
| Zelaya is nothing more nor less than
an international brigand and must be
so treated. He must be held respon-
sible for the killing of these two
| Americans, as if he were a private
individual, and n is probable that he
will be captured in Nicaragua or re-
claimed from any country to which
he attempts to escape, If an extradi-
] ton treaty can be invoked, and tried
as a common malefactor.
1t is believed that President DiaZ
was the deciding force in this matter,
and that it was on account of a
straightforward and energetic de-
claration by him of the guilt of Zelaya
and the necessity for Intervention that
was received in Washington within
the last twenty-four hours that the
| state department reached it's decision.
In the ordinary course this govern
ment would content itself with the
payment Of a heavy monetary indem-
nifty to the families of the victims Of
Zelaya's edict But as Secretary Knox
clearly indicates in his letter, it is not
the purpose of the American govern
ment thus to tax the great majority
! of the Nicaraguan people who did not
syIhpathize with this action.
The status may be summed up as
follows: Diplomatic relations between
the United States and Nicaragua have
been terminated. DR.. Hazera, the
minister designate FROM Nicaragua,
will not be received at the state de-
partment, Senior Rodriguez, the charge
Of the Nicaraguan legation, has been
given his passports, and so has no Of
fiscial standing here.
On the receipt of the letter of Mr..
Knox through a state department mes
senger, Senior Rodriguez notified his
government by cable. He is awaiting
reply and will remain here few
days.
Wife Farewell at Pen Gate.
Jefferson City, Missouri