The San Francisco call., 1909-03-14
End OF CENTRAL
AMERICAN WARS
MAY BE NEAR
Washington and Mexican Cow
ernments Weary of Com
slant Turbulence
Secret of Present Trouble Lies
in Rival Ambitions of
Two Presidents
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

| Especial Dispatch 10 The CALI
NEW ORLEANS, La, March 13-The
real secret of the present trouble in
Central America rests in the rival am
bitions of President zelaya of Nicar-
aqua and President Cabrera of Guate-
mala to dominate the FIVE republics. They
are both strong men and have retained
power long enough to feed their am
check on the other so far, but those
conversant with the Central American
affairs have been expecting the test of
strength for some time. Unless the in
tervention of the United States and
Mexico squelches the outbreak between
Nicaragua and Salvador, that will only
be the curtain raiser for a general con-
| hagration in the four republics. The
republics are now lined UP with Nicar-
aqua and Honduras on one side and
Guatemala and Salvador on the other.
End Trouble Forever
There have been many other causes
Of friction. Mexico has had almost as
much to complain of as the United
States. That the Washington and
Mexican governments are acting in ac-
cordance. and that they have made up
their minds that now is the time to
put an end forever to the constant tur-
bulence in Central America, is fact
beyond dispute The fact that Costa
| Rica has been able to maintain a sta
Bile government and has kept out of
brawls with her neighbors makes it
improbable that any project for an
nexation would include that country,
but in many quarters annexation is
regarded as the only solution of the
and it can be stated that there have
been interchanges on this subject be-
tween Mexico City and Washington
Swaying of Power
Some years ago Honduras was
friendly to Guatemala, while Salvador
was friendly to Nicaragua. In Hon
duras over two years ago Manuel
Bonilla was driven from power. Mica
raguan troops helped the revolution
lists and Manuel Davila was tenn
porarily installed as president, it being
Zelaya's intention to make Policarpo
Bonilla, just out of jail and refugee
in Salvador, president again, but Da-
villa, having got a taste of power,
refused to make way, and is still pres
ident, though it is generally conceded
that his interests are still lined with
Zelaya.
When the revolution in Honduras
was about to develop into great test
between ZeIaya and Cabrera, involving
all four republics in destructive war,
the United States and Mexico inter-
vened, brought about peace and created
a peace tribunal Andrew Carnegie
gave s1oO,O for a peace building,
which has just been completed at Car
tago.
Last July another revolution that
broke out in Honduras was suppressed.
Trouble Starts Again
Then Honduras accused Guatemala
and Salvador of being implicated in it.
Honduras made charges to the peace
tribunal, and last December the
tribunal rendered a decision not sus-
tanning the charges. Zelaya and Da-
villa were incensed, especially as Da-
villa claimed to have absolute evidence
that the revolution was started from
Tor 4, -
message to congress, denounced Ca
brera.
The Guatemalan minister to Honduras
demanded instant apology and expul-
sion from the congressional records of
the offensive language, and Davila
yielded. This was followed by the
withdrawal of Guatemala and Salvador
ministers from Honduras. Senior
Saenz, who represented Guatemala at
Tegucigalpa and called Davila down.
is now in New Orleans, having been ap-
pointed consul general.
Republics Are Warned
Three weeks ago the situation be-
came so acute that Washington gov
ernment sent hot message to every
one of the republics warning them
that the finding of the Cartago court
must be respected and that the first
one to commit an overt act would feel
the consequences of an armed inter
vention by the United States and
Mexico. The United States and Mex-
leo have much cause to complain Of
treatment of their citizens. especially
in Nicaragua and Honduras.
The United States has been unfor-
tunate in prosecuting claims in Mic
aragua. The most important of these
is the Emery claim. regarding a ma
hogany concession to a Boston syndi-
cate Zelaya almost struck Minister
Merry, Californian. over this question.
Merry Immediately left for Costa
Rica At Corinto Nicaraguan sol
diers' sought to search his paper
Zelaya complained to Washington about
Merry. and in order to avert friction