Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-02
NOTICE OF WAR BLUNTLY SERVED
BY UNITED STATES ON NICARAGUA
Diplomatic Relations Severed at Washington---
Zelaya Branded AS Tyrant and Personally
Responsible for Torture Of Americans.

can citizens and American interests in
Nicaragua.
In these circumstances the President
no longer feels for the government OF
President XelaYa that respect and
confidence which would make 1t APP
propriate hereafter to maintain with II
regular diplomatic relations. simply the
will and the ability to respect aud assure
what is due from one state to another.
The government Of Nicaragu which vou
have hitherto represented s hereby
notified as vii! 'o also the leaders of tho
revolution, that tho government, Of tho
United States will hold strictly account
able for the protection Of American life
and property The factions de facto IN
control or the eastern anh Western pNr-
tons of the republic of Nicaragua
QUESTION or REPUTATION.
AS for the PREPARATION found due.
after careful consideration for the
killing of Mcssrs. Groce and cannon,
the government Of the United states
would he loath To impose the innocent
people of Nicaragua a too neNvy bur
den OF eNpiatinC the acts Of 2 regime
forced upon them. or to exact from p
succeeding government. II il have
quite different policies. the iraposition
Of such q burden. Into the question,
Of ultimate reparatinn therc must en-
tor the question of the existence nt
Managua OF government capable OF
responding to demands. There must
enter also tho question: SO far as it is
possible to reach those actually re-
sponstble and those WHO pc4petratch
the tortures reported to have preceded
The execution, If these be verified. ana
the question whether the government
he one entirely dissociatod from the
present intolerable conditions and
worthy to be trusted TO make i,npos-
sihle a recurrence Of such acts. in
which case the President, as "a friend
of your country. as he is also of the
other republics Of Central America
might h" disposed to have indemnity
confined to what was reasonably due
the relatives Of the deceased and punt
tive only insofar as the punishment
might fail really due.
w. pursuance of this policy, tho gov
eminent of the United states viii tenn
porariY withhold It's demand for rep
aration. in the meanwhile taking such
steps az it deems wise and prOper 10
protect American interest
OFFICIAL CAREER ~ END.
To insure the future protection of lcgiti-
mate American interests in considera lion
of the interests of The majority of the
Central American republics and in the
hope of making more effective the friend
ly Offices exerted under the Washington
conventions, the government of the Uni
ted States reserves for further consdera
ton at the proper time the question of
siipulatng, also that the constitutional
government Of Nicaragua obligate Itself
by convention for the benefit of all the
governments concerned. as a guarantee
for its future loval support Of the Wash
ington conventions and their peaceful
and progressive aims.
From the foregoing It will he apparent
to YOU that your office of charge daft
faires is at an end have the honor TO
enclose your passports for uso in case
you desire to leave this country. would
add at the same time that. although your
diplomatic quality is terminated, shall
be happy to receive you. as | shall be
happy to receive tho representative OF
the revolution, each as the unoff cial
channel of communiCat ton between the
government of the United States and the
de facto authorities to whom | look for
the protection Of American interests
pending the establishment in Nicara qua
Of government with which the United
States can maintain diplomatic relations.
Accept, sir. the renewed assurances OF
my high consideration.
(SignedD T. c. KNOX.
TO Felipe Rodriguez. ESQ. Washing