The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-02

WASHINGTON, w Dec, 1.-Sccrctary
Of State Knox late today returned the
passports Of Felipe Rodriguez, charge
affairs Of the Nicaraguan legation,
with letter scatblngly deuouncing the
Zclayan administration Of the govern.
mcnt of Nicaragua. The letter is def
nitely declared to represent the views
Of President Taft and is about as plain
spoken as anything cmaDatlng from
the state department in many years.
The extraordinary feature of the let
ter is that it seems TO evidence an in.
tenion on the part of the United States
to hold President Zelaya personally re-
sponsible for the alleged torture and ex.
ccutiop of the Americans, Cannon and
Groce. and exhibits the unique situa
ton of one government holding the
chief executive of another practically
as "A common malcfactor.
Branded as Tyrants.
Ielaya is braudcd as vioiator OF
solemn international conventions, dis.
turber OF the national and information.
al peace, tyrant whose administration
has been a blot upon the namo Of good
government.
Secretary Knox virtually announces
the recognition of the Nicaraguan revo.
lutionists. declares 1t 10 be the convic-
tion of the United States that the rcvo
luton represents the sentiment OF
majority Of the Nicsra guam people, and
that there is evidently no responsible
government with which the United
States can deal. He therefore announces
that all parties viii be held account
able for their actions as affecting the
interests of Americans and the peace OF
Central America,
He further informs Senor Rodcrigucz
that, while be has lost his diplomatic
quality. he may still serve rs an ''un-
Official = channel of communication with
the faction which nc is regarded as re-
presenting.
Comes Close to War.
This brings the crisis as near 10 tho
status of war as il could bc brought
by executive action without a definite
declaration by congress, which VIII con
vcne next Monday. Mr.. KnoX's let
ter IN all but 50 many words makes ii
plain that the action represents the
wish aud attitude of all The Central
American states with tho single cXccp.
ton of Honduras. which is regarded
here as entirely dominated by Ielaya.
Mexico has it's sympathy with the Unit
cd States in this matter
Just what status consular representa-
lives Of the United States in Nicaragua
now ENJOY is not definitely explained to
dav. II is expected, however, that
Vice Consul Caldcrs, who has been oc-
cupyin% the legation in Managua. and
other consuls in that country, will he
given their passports tomorrow. This is
the usual method of procedure.
Following is the text Of SecrHtarT
Knox 5 letter 10 Scpor Rodriguez.
Knox's Pointed Note.
Department of state, Washington
December J, 1909
''Sir: Since the Washington con
vcntion of 1907 il is notorious that
President Iolaya has almost cOntir
uouslr kept Central America in tension
or turmoil. that he has repeatedly and !
haPrantly violated the provisions of the |
convention and, by baneful Influence !
on Honduras, whose neutrality the con |
vcntions were 10 assure, has sought 10 !
discredit these sacred international oh /,
legations to the great dcTimcnt of Costa /
Rica, Salvador and Guatcmala. whose |
governments meanwhile appear TO b1vr |
been able patiently TO strive for the I
loyal support Of thc engagements SO
solcmnIr undertaken 1T Washington.
under the auspices OF the United /
No Longer Republic.
cit Is equally \ matter of common
knowledge that under the regime of
President Iclaya republican Institutions
have ceased IN Nicaragua TO exist eN
cent in name; that public opinion ana
tho press EaNc been throttlcd. and that
prison has been thc reward of any
tendency 10 real patriotism. NV con
for YOU personally nnpcls me
10 abstain from unnecessary discussion
Of the painful details of n regime winch
has been n blot upon
the history Of Nicaragua aud discour
agement TO group of republics whose
aspirations need only the opportunity
OF free and honest government.
In view of interests Of the United
States and of IFS relation to the Wash
ingtcn conventions: appeal against this
has long since been made TO
this government by a majority of the
Central American republics. There is
now added the appeal, through the
revolution. of u great body of the
Nicaraguan people,
Refers to Executions.
"Two Americans. who this govern
ment is now convinced. were officers
with the revolutionary forces
and therefore entitled 20 he dealt with
according TO the enlightened practice