Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-02
Execution of Groce and Can:
non Pronounced Gross Viola
ton of All Rules of Civilized
Warfare and Meriting Prompt
Punishment.
LETTER REPRESENTS
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT
Proposes to Treat Central
American Ruler as Common
MaIofactof; Recognition Ac-
corded Insurgents by State
Secretary,


IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wirel
Washington, Dec. 1-Secretary oil
State Knox late today returned the
passports of Filipe Rodriguez, charge
a. affares of the Nicaraguan lega-
tion with letter scathingly denounc-
ing the Zelayan administration of the
government of Nicaragua. The letter
is definitely declared TO represents the
views of President Taft and is about
az plain spoken as anything emanat-
ing froR. tho statc Z JepafunelH ln
many years.
The extraordinary feature of the
letter is that it seems to evidence an
Intention on the part of the unlteo
States to hold President Zelaya per
sonally responsible for the alleged
torture and execution OF the Amerl-
cans Cannon and Groce, and exhibits
the unique situation of one govern
ment holding the chief executive OF
another practically as common
maefactor.
Zelaya is branded as a violator OF
solemn international conventions, a
disturber of the national and interna-
ti0nal peace, a tyrant whose admihls-
tration whose name has been plot
on the name of good government.
Secretary Knox virtually announc-
es the recognition of the Nicaraguan
revolutlonists, declares it to the con-
yction of the United States that the
revolution represents the sentiments
of a majority of the Nicaraguan peo-
Pile and that there is evidently no re-
sponsible government with which the
United states can deal. lie therefore
announces that all parties will be held
accountable for their actions as al
fecting the interests of Americans and
the peace of Central America.
He further informs Senior Redri-
giez that while he has lost his diplo-
matte quality he may still serve as an
unofficial" channel of communica-
ton with the faction which he Is re-
sarded as representing.
This brings the crisis as near to the
status of war as it could be brought
by executive action without definite
declaration by congress, which VIII
convene next Monday.
Nv, Knox's letter in all but so many
words makes it plain that the acton
represents the wish and attitude OF All
the Central American states with the
single exception of Honduras which Il
regarded here as entirely dominated
by Zelaya. Mexico has all along shown
its sympathy with the United States
in this matter.
Just what status the consular rep
resentatives of the United states ii
Nicaragua now enjoy is not definitely
Mas A.. tod
ever, that Vice Consul Caldera, wh'
mas been occupying the legation II
Managua, together with the othe'
eonsuls in that country will be givei
their passports tomorrow. This IS th'
usual method of procedure. Follow
ing is the text of Secretary Knox
letter.
Department of State. Washington
December !. 1909
Sir: Since the Washington conven
uon of 1907, it is notorious that Pres
ldent Ielaya has almost continuous
R Kept Central America in tension
OF turmoil, that ne has repeatedly an
liagrantly violated the provisions q
NE convention. and by a banetul in
liuence on Honduras, whose neutral
ity the conventions were to assure. Ia
sought TO discredit those sacred in
Wrnauonal obligations. to the srea
aetriment OF Costa Rica. salvador an
Guatemala. whose government
meanwhile appear to have been able
patiently 10 strive for the loyal sup
port of the engagements 50 solemn
undertaken at Washington under IN
auspices Of the United states and q
Mexico.
II Is equally matter OF eommo
hho"iedge that under the reign q
resident Zelaya. republican institu
oohs have ceased in Nicaragua to =
81 except in name; that public opir
"h ana the press have been throttle
ana that prison has been the rewar