New-York tribune., 1909-11-23
NAY RECOGNIZE
GEN. ESTRADA
FOR EXECUTION OF
AMERICANS.
administration Finds Itself an
Embarrassing Position
at Present.
at Present.
Inn Tie rrlhune Eurcan :

From The Tribune bureau
Washington, Nov. 2@.-bet"ee" -
determination 10 maintain the p"s'ie
% the United States in Central Amerlo"
and its earnest desire To deal equila".S
With Nicaragua. -hc administration hnos
t1self in a somewhat delicate ana en-
bsrrassing position.
After canYassiu, the situation thor
cughlv last night tho President and the
S..cretsr,- of state determined 10 defer
final decision regarding the course TO be
pursued until after the Cabinet meetis
tomorrow. when the subject viii he dis
cussed at length. and when, possibly
some further advices may have been re-
rsived from the american consul at
Nanagua. Jose dc Ciivares.
The situation as defined in the reports
shuS far received nav be summed up as
follows. Leroy Cannon and Leonard
Groce, American citizens, Joined the rev
olutionary army. and as members of
rGst force undertook 10 plant submarine
mines with the purpose Of destroying
transport loaded with soldiers Of the
NCiCaragl!an army They were detected
80 the act. condemned 10 death and shot.
Reports difer as 10 whether they en-
.oyed the somewhat meagre advantage
a. trial by a drumaead court martial
lhs American Consul declaring that they
GId NOT and the Nicaraguan Legation in
Washington asserting that they did.
Tnfortunately, the revolutionary forces
'udor Estrada have not been recognized
IS uelligerents by the United States or
auy other power, and IL is a question,
therefore. whether its members could
claim tho privileges Of prisoners Of war
"a hsu CAPTURED.
SITUATION COMPLICATED
As members Of an armed force seIv-
inS under reYoluuonist whose belliecr-
rnsy had not been recognized. Cannon
and Grooo. when CAPTURED in the act Of
attempting 90 blow up several hundred
->iyara guam soldiers. could not i'm the
'~fimatiou of some rNCellent authorities.
present much claim Tor consideration.
A further complication Of the situa-
tiou is found in the fact that the sym
Iathy Of this administration is unques-
u1nahly with Estrada. that 10y his meth
"ds President Zelaya has completely
7
government. and by previous acts has
aid himself open 10 the gravest sus-
Iicions. So much SO that the report that
De- was actuated largely by personal
hatred Of Cannon and Groce finds many
believers in Washington.
Whatever else the administration may
determine TO do, il is freely predicted
irat il viii decide that the time has
come 70 recognize the belligerency of
Estrada and thus obviate for the fut-
1re such excuse as Zelaya may have
had 5or ms summary course in the case
of rhe Two Americans who were exc
Cuted hy his order.
Tho fUrth1r question OF demanding the
immediate payment Of heavy indem-
urv for The execution of the TWO Ameri-
cams mUsi. in large measure. depend
.uau tho character of the evidence re-
e.lvcd from Managua.
MAY Not ASK INDEMNITY.
N Dis possible that the administration
Win conclude that il is not warranted
ln demanding indemnity from the Mica
. guam government, and will feel fur
Jasr that The formal recognition Of tn
btIEerency Of Estrada viii prove at
once a punishment Of Zclaya's conduct
and an elective check TO his political
aWlItIuue
According 10 all reports from Nicara-
pua. JHe requirement of the rcins Of
EHs.rument 10y Estrada could not prove
to fhs dstrimeut of Nicaragua and
might serve the purpose Of relieving
thar country of tho Dictatorship OF a
man who is regarded h-re as having
embraced every opportunity 10 demon
s,rat' his unhtncss Tor the responsible
lHst hc occupies.
Tho apparent inability ~ even the
diplomatic r-prcSontativcs of Zclaya to
realize the position i'm which he hats
placed himself Was demonstrated to-
CaE when the Nicaraguan Charge d At
.aTes Felipe Rodriguez, 50 Tar resented
-le TACT that II Was necessary TO ask
l.'0 90 wait a few moments when ho sen:
l.s card 20 tn Second Assistant Secre-
tarv ~ state that he left the Depart
u'a' ~ state IN great indignation, al
though Assistant secretary Adee had
conveyed 10 him the information that
b. would soon be at liberty and would
H. pleased 60 see him. The charge
mad. up ,ffort to sec any other official,
hlt ia Immediately, obviously under
'H. impression that due consideration
had not been shown him.