Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-02
WI ASHINGTON, Dec. L.
w Secretary of State Knox
returned the nasspor+s -.

. PNSoPOA 10 "a
Felipe Rodriguez, charge daft
faires of the Nicaraguan legation,
late today with a letter scathing
)y denouncing the Zelaya ad-
ministration of the government of
Nicaragua.
The letter is definitely declared
70 represent the views of Presi-
dent Taft and is about as plain
spoken as anything emanating
from the state department in
many years.
The extraordinary feature of
letter is that it seems to evidence
an intention on the part of the
United States to hold President
Zelaya personally responsible for
the alleged torture and execution
of the Americans, Cannon ana
Groce, and exhibits the unique
situation of one government hold
ing the chief executive of another
practically as a common male
factor.
Zelaya is branded as a violator
of solemn international conven-
tions, a disturber of national and
international peace, a tyrant
whose administration has been
blot upon the name of good gov
ernment.
Recognizes Rebels
Secretary Knox virtually announces
the recognition of the Nicaraguan rev.
olutionists, declares it to be the con-
viction of the United States that the
revolution represents the sentiments of
majority of the Nicaraguan people
and that there is evidently no respon-
s!ble government with which the Unit
ed States can deal He therefore an
nounces that all parties will be held
accountable for their actions as af-
fecting the interests of Americans and
the peace of Central America.
He further informs Senior Rodriguez
that while he has lost his diplomatic
quality he may still serve as an ''un-
official" channel OF communication
with the faction which he is regarded
as representing.
This brings the crisis as near to the
status of war as 1t could be brought
by executive action without a definite
declaration by congress, which viii
convene next Monday. Mr.. Knoxs
letter in all but so many words makes
it plain that the action represents the
wish and attitude of all the Central
American states, with the single eX-
ception of Honduras, which is regard
ed here as entirely dominated by Ze-
laya. Mexico has its sympathy with
the United States in this matter Just
what status consular representatives
of the United States in Nicaragua now
enjoy is not definitely explained today.
To Get Passports
1t is expected, however, that Vice
Consul Caldera, who has been occupy
ing the legation in Managua, and other
consuls in that country will be given
their passports tomorrow. This is the
usual method of procedure. Following
is the text of Secretary KnoXs letter
to Senor Rodriguez:
Department of State, Washington,
d. c., Dec. l. 1909.
"Sir-Since the Washington conVen-
tion of 1907 it is notorious that Presi-
dent Zelaya has almost continuously
kept Central America in tension or
turmoil, that he has repeatedly and
dagrantly violated the provisions Of
the conventions and by baneful in
fuence on Honduras, whose neutrality
the conventions were to assure, has
to discredit these sacred inter
national obligations to the great detri-
ment of Costa Rica, Salvador and Guat-
emala, whose governments meanwhile
appear to have been able patiently TO
strive for the loyal support of the en-
so solemnly undertaken at
Washington under the auspices of the
United States and Of Mexico.
"It is equally a matter of common
knowledge that under the regime OF
Continued Page EIghp