The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
Armed Raids Prevent Develop
ment and Hinder Trade of
Central America
Excepting Costa Rica, Repub=
lies Are Poorer Than in
1910 Under Spain
DespOts Welcomed Treaty of
Washington, but Mischief
Makers Gain Strength
By Frederick Palmer

copyright Iso3 by Tribune company. Chicsgo.)
Central America has no volcano as
dangerous as its political volcano. boil
ing all the tine and likely 70 erupt
any day with consequences which viii
demand our attention. Nothing can
prevent the spread Of modern Industry
from brea king. in one way or another,
tue isolation Of that homogeneous ter
-tory now divided into four sealed
satrspies.
With the exception OF Costa Rica.
which makes the fifth national unit.
Central America is poorer today than
ln 1915 on its secession from Spain.
AT that time a single republic. the
Central American federation, was
formed. Disintegration was due TO
The ambition Of warning leaders. each
~ whom would create q despotism for
himself Local prejudices have been
inhamed and developed for partisan
purposes. Warfare and lack OF com
munication have further aIlenated the
different sections
ties has more trade with half dozen
foreign nations than with any OF its
nei ghbors Population Is scanty on
the borders. where brigaud depreda-
lions and revolutionary excesses are
most common. and centers around the
towns % the interior and along the
main Travelled roads, leaving large
areas Of rich land uncultivated. Cross
tpg The frontier without arrest for
completely in plot for invasion
amounts no "a feat Of political cunning.
PEACE CONTACTS
not KEPT
The ceaseless political turmoil and
armed raids, which check all progress,
can best be illustrated by simple
record 0f the events Of the last seven
years Ia 1902. with a view 70 i'm
proving conditions, all I'VE republics
met ia conference at CorintO. Nicara-
So where they made compact OF
peace and union All the presidents
20 greed 70 assist in maintaining one
another in power. All sOlemnly prom
i-ed not 70 abet any effort in revolu
-t0rarr propaganda gainst any neigh
her, For no less than three years thex
were good "a long time. Then their
pertup passion for intrigue began to
break loose.
Iu 1905 Cabrera Of Guatemala was
exposed for aiding a secret revolution
against salvador by Alfaro. which
-sied- In the spring Of 1905 the troops
of salvador invaded Guatemala with
out any declaration OF war. The mill
rary results were undecided when the
United States interviewed. A treaty was
arranged aboard the United States
cruiser AIarblehead with the repre-
sentatiVes Of all five republics pres
ert and also the ministers 10 Central
America from the United States and
EeNic0
Later. in 1907. they met at san Jose.
Costa Rica. IN conference and further
bound themselves TO good behavior.
Zelaya u Nicaragua refused 10 Join
Fne conference The compact Of Co
riuro, made IN 1892, was still binding.
he said. and he \ sanity exception.
had strictly adhered 10 its provisions
y prove this he put his troops aboard
fae war steamer Momotombo and with
our any warning, invaded Salvador and
was beaten.
Then Zelaya and Figueroa, president
OF salvador. made a treaty OF good
n-ill and amity" At Amapala. Honduras
lor public purpOses-that is. for the
ears of the United States Privately
f-eE agreed to make revolution in
honduras ana put Sierra. whom they
could control, in Office as president