The San Francisco call., 1909-12-02

of two years ago is disclosed by re1er-
ence TO that convention.
Through the efforts of Root, then
| secretary of state, representatives OF
the Central American republics then on
the point of general warfare, largely
due, it was alleged. to the ambition OF
Pesident Zelaya to become dictator OF
Central America. were brought to
Washington and induced to enter into a
compact to refrain from exploitation of
! the territories OF one another and TO
observe rules of civilized intercourse.
Especially were they pledged to submit
TO arbitration, instead OF putting to the
test of war any differences that might
arise between them. The integrity or
Honduras was guaranteed.
Now Secretary Knox practically
charges that all these stipulations
were violated by President Zelaya. He
has dominated Honduras, whose presf~
dent is declared to be only his mouth
piece. and Zelaya has not hesitated
TO violate, the laws of neutrality by
sending troops without warrant or per-
mission into Salvador and Costa Rica.
That he would have done the same in
the case of Guatemala had the revolu-
tion extended TO the northern frontier
of Nicaragua there is no doubt.
ZELAYA STIRRED UP STRIFE
Reports to the department of state
from its diplomatic and consular agents
have shown that President Zelaya has
been stirring up discomfort in other
Central American republics. giving
substantial aid to would be revolu-
tionists and doing everything possible
TO bring about a state of affairs that
would warrant him in invading terri
tory Of his neighbors
But internal conditions in Nicaragua
revealed by these reports have never
been made public. because the moral
turpitude involved is almost beyond
belief While these reports are still
withheld from publication, officials of
the department of state have disclosed
enough TO show that a condition of abb
solute despotism has existed in Mica
ragua with accompaniments such as
rapine, murder, extortion and bar
barous treatment of political prisoners,
unknown since medieval times.
In answer TO the departments de-
mand for an explanation Zelaya's s
agents simply stated that the execu-
tions were in accordance with the law
| of Nicaragua. but the state depart
ment finds that that law is Zelaya and
that the action was in violation of
all rules of civilized warfare
Realizing that there is no actual
! government in Nicaragua. the depart
I
clusion that Zelaya is only an interna-
tional brigand and must be so treated.
He must be held responsible for the
/ killing o. these two Americans as If
/ he were private individual, and it is
probable that he will be captured in
Nicaragua or reclaimed from any
country TO which he attempts to escape
( if an extradition treaty can be invoked
and tried as a common malefactor.
1t is believed that President Diaz of
Mexico was the deciding force in this
matter and that ii was because of
energetic declarations by him of the
guilt of Zelaya and the necessity for
Intervention, received in Washington
within the last "a hours, that the state
department reached it's decision.
In the ordinary course this govern
ment would content itself with the pay
ment of a heavy monetary indemnity
to the families of the victims of Ze-
laya's edict. But. as Secretary Knox
clearly indicates in his letter, il is not
the purpose OF the American govern
ment thus to tax the great majority of
the Nicarsg guam people, who did not
sympathize with Zelaya's action.
The status may be summed us as
follows:
Diplomatic relations between the
United States and Nicaragua have been
terminated. Doctor Hazera, minister