The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-01
TO Put HONDURAS
on 4 FIRM BASIS
Real Object Of United States
Interest in Turbulent
Republic.
RESPONSIBILITY IS PLAIN
GOVERNMENT WOULD
CONCENTRATE THE DEBTS OF
CENTRAL AMERICA COUNTRY
IN YANKEE HANDS.

Washington, July 31.-With so many
contradictory reports in circulation as
to the purposes of the United States
government in Central America the
real object of the state department is
obscured. It may be stated fatty that
the Taft administration desires to es-
tablish no protectorates for the sake of
extending American influence The
difficulties which the president has ex-
perienced in keeping the lid on" in
the Philippines, Cuba and Panama
have convinced him that the govern
ment has enough irons in the fire.
Nevertheless the continuance of turbu-
lent conditions in certain Central Am
erican republics, notably Guatemala.
Nicaragua and Honduras, imposes a
responsibility on the Washington gov
eminent which it can not evade, nor
does 1t wish to do so. 1t is hoped here
however that the restles condition due
to long affiliation with the instruction
habit may be cured without recourse
OF protectorates or diplomatic inter-
vention.
Greatest Danger.
The greatest danger to the interests
of the United States in Central Am
erca fingers in the possible coercion OF
delinquent states by European credit
or powers. Therefore the state de-
partment is favoring every opportunity
that arises for the concentration of
obligations of these states in American
hands. That done. the United States
will not only have the moral argument
OF its role as policeman of the West
ern Hemisphere" but also a distinct
commercial reason for any representa-
tions 1t may make to put an end to pet
ty quarreling and chronic revolution.
In such course the government has
the support of the progressive Latin
American states, which feel that the
revolutionary republics are disgrace
to the name Latin America. 1t also has
the support of powers like Great Brit
ain, Germany, France and Italy, whose
subjects hold Central American bonds.
These powers are being constantly i'm
portuned to take strong measures, to
make the defaulting states pay up.
They dislike to act by force of arms
because punitive expeditions are never
popular in an international way and
offer possibilities of complications with
other powers especially the United
States, which is so sensitive about the
Monroe Doctrine.
The negotiations for the refunding
by an American syndicate are proceed
ing satisfactorily. The British syndi-
cate which had planned the refunding
of the debt and had entered into an
agreement to that end through the
British minister to Honduras is dis
posed it is understood, to stand aside
and let the United States have the
deal With the refunding accomplished
the United States will have good rea-
son to protest against the continuance
Of thermal warfare in Honduras or the
making Of war on that country by any
Of it's neighbors save for good cause.
Refunding the Debt.
The refunding of the Costa Rcan
debt reported to have been accomplish
ed through the National City Bank OF
New York, is another step in the same
direction. Already the United States
has exercised a compelling influence
for good order in Costa Rica by firmly
intimating that no scenes OF partisan
disodrer would be tolerated in close
proximity to the canal zone in Panama
which adjoins Costa Rica on the south.
The attitude OF President Zelayas OF
Nicaragua in encountering Senior il
minez, an anti-foreign candidate for
president Of Costa Rica, has caused
some apprehension here. The financ-
ing Of the debts of Honduras and Costa
RIGA by American bankers will tend
to isolate the influence Of President
Zelaya's strong influence over these
states