New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-02

Zelaya personally responsible for the
torture and execution OF Cannon and
croce. and exhibits the situation OF one
/ government holding the Chief Executive
OF another practically as a common
ntalefactOr. Zelaya is denounced as a
NiolatOr OF solemn international conven-
tions. a disturber OF the national and
international peace. and a tyrant whose
administration has been a blot upon the
name Of good government.
Secretary Knox virtually announces
/ the recognition OF the Nicaraguan revo-
lutionists i'm declaring il 10 be the con-
viction OF the United States that the
revolution represents the sentiments Of
a majority OF the Niearaguan people,
/ and that there is evidently no respon-
sible government with which the United
States can deal
/ BACKED BY CENTRAL AMERICA
Mr.. Knox's letter i'm all but SO many
words makes IL plain that his action
represents the wish and attitude of all
the Central American states. with the
I single exception OF Honduras, which is
re garded here as entirely dominated by
/ Zelaya. Mexico has all along 81 own its
sympathy with the United States in this
. affair.
( Just what status the consular repre-
/ scntatives Of the United States in Mic
! aragua now enjoy is not definitely ex-
piained Tonight. 1t is expected. how
/ ever. that Vice-Consul Caldera. who has
! been occupying the legation in Managua,
/ together with the other consuls i'm that
! country. will receive their passports to-
morrow. This is the usual method Of
! procedure in case OF such action between
governments.
/ THE WASHINGTON AGREEMENT.
Just what Secretary Knox meant in
his letter TO Senior Rodriguez by the ref
erenoe TO the Washington agreement Of
two years ago is disclosed by reference
10 that convention. Through the efforts
CT Mr.. Root, then Secretary OF State,
representatives OF all the Central Amer
/ lean republics, at the moment on the
Ioint of a general warfare, even then
owing, IL was alleged. largely to the
ambition OF President Zelaya TO become
the dictator OF Central America. We're
brought here and induced TO enter into
"A solemn compact 10 refrain from ex-
ploitation OF the territories of one an
other and tC observe the rules of civil
lied intercourse. Especially were they
pledged TO submit 10 arbitration instead
OF putting 10 the test of warfare any
differences that might arise between
them. The integrity of Honduras was
guaranteed.
Now Mr. Knox practically charges that
an these stipulations were violated by
Zclaya. lie has dominated Honduras.
whose President is declared 10 be only
his mouthpiece. and has not hesitated TO
Violate the laws Of neutrality by sending
his troops without warrant or permits
sion, into Salvador and Costa Rica. That
/ h. would have done the same in the case
/ oi Guatemala had the revolution extend
/ "a 10 the northern frontier of Nicaragua
! there is no doubt
IL was well understood, though never
reduced 10 the form of a treaty. that the
/ United States and Mexico would under
take 10 see that the provisions of this
! treaty We're effective, though purely
moral suasion was supposed 10 be the
main reliance 10 accomplish the purpose.
This has utterly failed. after a trial of
4 nearly two years Reports 10 the State
/ Department from its diplomatic and con-
sular agents have shown that in that
period Zelaya has been stirring up dis
/ content in the neighboring Central
American republics giving substantial
aid TO would-be revolutionists and doing
4 everything possible 10 bring about 4
state OF affairs which would warrant him
IN invading the territory OF his neigh
/ bors.
ZELAYA'S BARBARITIES
But the internal conditions I'm Mic
aragua revealed by these reports have
never been told to the public because
/ tie moral turpitude involved is almost
eeNond belief While these reports are
stiil withheld from publication. officials
! - the department have disclosed enough
OF their contents 10 show that condi-
uc1 % absolute despotism has existed
IN Nicaragua, with accomplishments as
raIine, murder. etortion and barbarous
treatment OF political prisoners such as
his been unknown since the period OF
medieval Europe.
AS Secretary Knox said in his letter
the other Central American republics
have protested in vain against the ex
istence OF the conditions in Nicaragua,
/ but the state Department has felt I'M
willing 10 violate its old traditions OF
non-interference in tie internal affairs
% other nations. and probably would
have resrained even now had not Zelaya
gone TO the length Of torturing and kill
Ing two Americans engaged In honorable
warfare In answer 10 the departments
demand for an explanation. his agents
simply stated that the executions were
in accordance with the law OF Nicaragua
But the State Department finds that that
law IS Zelaya. and that the action was
n violation OF all the rules OF civilized
warfare. Reasoning that there is no
"ctual government in Nicaragua the de-
paTtment necessarily arrived at the con-
ciusion that Zelaya is nothing more nor
less than an international brigand. and
must be so treated. He must be held re- |
sronsible for the killing Of these two /
Americans ~ If he were a private indi- 1
Hldual. and II is probable that he will be /
captured In Nicaragua or reclaimed from /
any country 10 which Ire attempts TO es- 1
cape, II an extradition treaty can be in 1
voked. and tried as common male |