The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-05
Fear That He Would Not Be
Able to Fill Roots Shoes
vanishes by the Way He
Has Handled Zelaya.
SHIRT SLEEVE PLAN
Is NO LONGER USED
Secretary Of State Has Appar-
emily Overcome Handicap
OF His Dismissal of Minister
To China.
american News Service)
(ey Jonathan Winfieid.)

(ey Jonathan Winfieid.)
Washington, Dec. 4.-H the now
famous Crane incident" has inspired
distrust over the Knox administration
of the state department. and caused
fear that its standard was to fall be-
low that OF the Root regime, the event
Of the last week has done much to
dispel such condition OF the public
mind.
The Nlcaraguan affair has been
handled In such firm and vigorous
manner that foreign chancellories
have come to the conclusion that the
days of shirt sleeves craftsmanship
in the United States are over. The
public may well take the same view.
Many ugly and sinister reports were
scattered broadcast concerning dis
missal of Charles r. Crane once min
ister-designate to China. Some OF
them reflected on Secretary Knox,
some on his subordinates, including
Assistant Secretary Wilson.
The incident gave the state depart
ment heavy handicap at the very
moment when it was about to launch
an aggressive Far Eastern policy. II
aroused strong prejudices against Mr..
Knox, and predictions were freely
made that his administration would
be a failure.
Then came the Nfcaraguan revolu-
tion There was no direct way for
the United. States to interfere. al.
though morally the state department
would be justified In throwing all pos
sible influence against President Zela-
va. who has been a great mischief
maker In Central America for years.
An Opening Wedge.
When the Nicaraguan dictator,
however. executed two Americans.
Leonard Groce and Leroy Cannon on
November II. this provided the open
ing wedge for which the state depart
ment had been overlooked. He here
overshot his mark, arrogantly confl-
dent that the United States would
pursue the uncertain policy which at
one time characterized its treatment
OF Latin-American affairs. Probably
he has already suffered a rude awak-
ening.
LJNAOaC vAC ui0PNSNh WILLING ~ SAAS
summary fate dwelt out to the two
captured Americans has been in the
hands Of Secretary Knox three hours,
two war vessels had been ordered to
Nicaraguan waters even before a pub
lie announcement of the circumstance
was made. the state department had
adopted a clearly-defined policy, and
the public mind was not kept in sus-
pense longer than the time required
to read two simultaneous newspaper
dispatches.
Three warships, the Vicksburg, Des
Moines ard the Marietta are all this
time in the harbors OF Corinto and
Port Lmon, and fourth. Tacoma
is ready to steam from Colon to any
Nicaraguan port on an hours notice
The transport Buffalo Is en- route
from Pichilinque bay. California, to
Panama. for the purpose OF transport
ing 800 marines into Nicaraguan ter
ritory. ready to protect American life
and property.
Another troopship to carry 400 ma
rines. II ready to sail from Philadel
phia. Action followed swiftly upon
the outrage to the American flag OF
fcred by Zelaya.
Regarding the international law
points involved, an American military
man. who was a member OF the last
Hague conference. and is recognized
authority on International law says:
An Expert Opinion.
1.-THE international law regarding
neutrality prevent filibustering or 9th
or armed and unfriendly expeditions
invading another country. II men II
such expeditions are captured the!
must be returned to their own govern
ments for trial."
This government cannot, however
prevent one or more citizens iron
joining the military forces Of anothc
country. whether governmental O
revolutionary. II they do as individu
ais. and Of course the government can
not be held responsible for their acts
II two men, as appear in this case
allied themselves with either a regu
lar or revolutionary army and wer,
acting under directions OF their super
Tor officers. or army authorities, the,
can be taken es prisoners of war an,
tried by military court.
mo court acting within the lines o
the agreements can sentence an,
man, native or foreign. to execution
except that he be proved to be sp,
acting independently Of any militar
organization. But these men do no
appear to be classed as spies. Tn
moment man enters any army of
foreign country he forfeits his RICH
TO the protection of his own govern
n,ent, and is subject to the laws Q
that country
According to this explanation, tn
only right under which Nicaragu
eould have summarily executed Car
non and Groce was that they wer
held as spies. This was not the cass
however, since the official c-.''s
Hons show that they were givI w s
49,. trial and we're declar