The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-30
ELAYA DEFIES SECRETARY KNOX Still Claims That He Is
 President. NO RECEPTION IN MEXICO Central Americans Greet Him With
 Enthusiasm. peposed Chieftain Thinks the Time Has Come for United states and Mexico to Bring About
 Consolidation of
 Republics. tl |

Mexico City. Dec. 2s--"Mr. Knox is not my judge. I am answerable only to my government for my actions
 In these words. Jose Santos zelaya. who arrived here this morning from salina cruz replica e . query toijght as to what attitude he would assume should Secretary Knox seek to extra dite him from this country. zelaya refused to discuss the probability of ] such situation. but strongly inti- mated that the Secretary of State would not have the right to request his presence in the United States.
 T have no feeling against the American people at large. nor the gov ernment,s he said. Secretary Knox has been systematically mislnformed and the public opinion in the United States has been prejudiced against me, but the real facts must become known in time. and it is to that trust for my vfndication.
 My relations with the preceding administration were progressing friendly. The situation contains many unfortunate conditions both for our people in Central America. and the Americans. Secretary Root had the complete confidence Of Central Amer lea. and his policies were drawing the people closer together. politically and commercially. am afraid that the attitude of Secretary Knox is dAdoing =, xt.. <.s- .1 ...,..<,,t s A.. ,,.a. lca."
 says Americans Were Killed.
 zslaya made the assertion that 2 American marIhes engaged in several recent battles in Nicaragua. and that twenty of them were Killed. He said;
 slSo you know that there were z90 Americans lighting with, the snsur- gents at She recent battle of Rama Do you know that at the baLtie of Colorado Junction. of November 1. the bodies of twenty American marines were picked up on the field by oar forces-aII dead. and all from the American gunboats anchored in the river to protect American interests The oft-explanation given me was that these men were deserters."
 Zelaya believes that the confedera ton of all the Central Amerisln re- publics will ultimately be brought about, as he says the great masses of the people are unionists and the prin. cipaI obstacle to It's consummation up to this time has been selfish attitude of parties in power animated by prl- vate interests. He favors a central government for the new republic ra- ther than strong federal govern ment. explaining his meaning that un- der a central government, the various ' fhafr idQntftX. having officers to transact such gen. erai business as might concern the whole of Central America and leav- ing each of the present republics more or less Independent and handling It's interior affairs.
 President zelaya declared that on December 20, 1907. he had wired Wash ington his willingness to retire from the Presidency and from politics alto gether If confederation of the five Central Ameican States could be brought about.
 .The immediate outlook in Central America" said Zelaya. "is difficult to prophecy.
 aThe struggle between the present gcvernmcnt and the forces of Estrada will probably reach climax In short time, but so many features en- fer Into the result that 1t would be a very wise man, indeed. who could dis- count the future. Estrada Cabrera will not set about. to dominate the en- tire country He is the evil genius of our people--for we are all Central Americans at heart, without sectional lines Cabrera has poisoned the minds at Washington. He has furnished money supplies and men to the in surgents in the recent fighting. hs will do the same against the actual government of Honduras, but he will never be accepted by out people and his machinations must be exposed in time and he will be known for what he is"
 Reception to ZeIaya.
 The former dictator reached here shortly after 8 o'clock this morning and was met by a delegation of Gen. tral Americans. As he stepped from 2 Pullman. sveral persons in the crowd crowd shouted: "viva Zelaya, Viva Mexico A Mexican timidly cried. sDown with the Yankees" and was
 Zelaya was met fifty miles from the Capital by Francisco Castro. Nicarl- vuan Minister to Mexico. and close personal friend of the dictator. From the railroad station he was conveyed ,n a coach to the Palace Hotel. where i've rooms had been engaged for him. self and party. &
 As yet no arrangements have been made for the Nicaraguan to meet President Diaz in conference. though it is believed he win call upon the Chief Executive of Mexico for the oc- casion of thanking him for his kind ness In permitting him to come to Mexico on the gunboat General Guer- rerro
 Zelaya said tonight that he would not make any attempt to regain power in his country. but might return If he was asked by his government, whom peace was restored. He says he now desires to remain permanently out of politics and live the rest of his days in peace.
 That he Is the titular President of Nicaragua to this day Is the declara- ton he repeated at his hotel. He as- serts he has two years more to serve. but will not be actively at the head of his government. He says he did not come 10 Mexico in any official capac- ity but as private citizen, and Rs such he is being received.
 There was no demonstrations along the trip from Salina Cruz to Mexico City. The only time the foFmen pres