Arizona republican., 1909-12-30
Held By Mi. Knox Says | the Late Dictator
fAV0Rs \ CONFEDERATION
He Makes Accusation That American Marines of Whom Twenty Were Kill ed, Were Fighting in the Revolutionist Ranks

Mexico. Dec 2s-"Mr. Knox is not my judge. I am answerable only to my government"
 Jose Santo Zelaya. who arrived this morning from Salina Cruz, thus re- piled to the question tonight as to what attitude he would assume should MT. Knox seek to extradite him. Zelaya re- fused to discuss such probability but strongly intimated that the secretary of state did not have the right to re- quest his presence in the United States.
 'I have no feeling against the Amer ican people, nor the government" he said. Secretary Knox has been sys- tematically misinformed and public opinion in the United States has been prepared against me. but the real facts must become known in time. IL is no time now to trust to my vindication.
 My relations with the preceding American government were exceeding Iy friendly. The situation contains many unfortunate conditions. Secre- tary Root had complete confidence in Central American, and his policies were drawing the people closer together, politically and commercially. I am afraid that the attitude of Mir. Knox is the undoing of all that work throughout atin-America."
 Zelaya said that American marines were engaged in several recent battles in Nicaragua and that twenty of them were killed. He said: Do you know that there were 400 Americans fighting with the insurgents at Rama? Do you know that at the battle of Colorado Junction November 1 the bodies of twenty American marines were picked up by our forces. all dead: all from American gunboats anchored in the river tn protect American interests. The official explanation was these men were deserters.''
 Zelaya believes that a confederation of all the Central American republics will ultimately be brought about. For, he says. the great masses of the peo- pie are unionists The principal ob stacles up to this time has been the selfish attitude of persons in power. animated by private interests. He ia vors a central government for repub- lie rather than a strong federal gov ernment. explaining that under d cen tral government, the various states would preserve their identity. having officers to transact such general busi- ness as might concern the whole of Central America and leaving each of the present republics more or less in dependent. handling it's own interior affairs. Zelaya declared that in 1907 he wired Washington his willingness 10 retire from the presidency and from politics altogether if a confederation of the five states could be brought about
 'The immediate result in Central America" he said, lis difficult to prophecy. The struggle between the present government and the forces of Estrada will probably reach climax in a short time, but so many factors enter that it would be a wise man i'm deed who could discount the future. Estrada and Cabrera are the evil geniuses of our people-for we are all Central Americans at heart, without sectional lines. Cabrera has poisoned the minds at Washington He has fur nished money. supplies and men to the insurgents in the recent fighting. He will do the same against the actual government at Honduras. but he will never be accepted by our people. His machinations must be exposed so that he will be known for what he is
 The former president reached here shortly after 8. He was met by a delegation of Central Americans. As he stepped from his Pullman several in the crowd shouted: Viva Zelaya; Viva Mexico," A Mexican timidly cried: Down with the Yankees" and was missed.
 Zelaya was met fifty miles from the Capital by Francisco Castro. the Mica raguan minister to Mexico and a close friend of the dictator. From the rail- way station he was conveyed by a coach to the Palace hotel. As yet no arrangements have been made for Ze- lava to meet Diaz in conference. all though i- is, believed he will call on the chief executive within the next few days to thank him for permitting him to come to Mexico on the Guer- rero.
 Zelaya said he would make no at tempt to regain power in his country, but that he might return if asked to do so when peace is retored. He de- sires to remain permanently out of politics. to live the rest of his days in peace and quiet.
 That he is the titular president of Nicaragua was still his declaration. repeated tonight. That Zelaya is at liberty to return to Nicaragua when he pleases was the information given at the foreign office. Sub Secretary of