New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-25
NO DEMAND YET.
State Department UaHts To
Be Sure of Its Grounds.
IFrom The tribune Bureau. :


Washington. Nov. 24-Actuated BY a
determination TO ascertain beyond per-
adventure all the facts connected with
the capture and execution OF the two
Americans. Cannon and GrOce. BY tho
NicaragUan government before taking
final action. the administration is stilI
refraining from submitting any demand
TO the Zelaya government
The cirCUmstantial evidence in the case
is strongly preiudicial 70 the supposltiOn
that Zelaya acted with anything approx
imating proper regard for the laws OF
civilized warfare. and the officials of this
government make no attempt 10 conceal
their indignation. There is no lack OF
realization. however. OF the Importance
Of absolute certainty as 70 the facts ON
which TO base a demand for reparatiOn.
such demand, IL made. as now seems
highly probable. viii be in terms which
admit of no doubt of the firmness and
determination OF the United States. This
government will not retrace its steps.
and for that reason il is the more impor-
tant that it be sure OF its ground befors
formulating its demands Any DISPOSE
tiOn. however. TO attribute TO supineness
the caution with which the administra-
ton is proceeding is based on wholly
erroneous premises.
There are two points on which the evf-
dence thus far is deemed circumstantial.
and action will be deferred until they
have been clearly established The De-
partment OF state is now taking the nee
essary steps TO ascertain beyond slt
question. first. whether Cannon and
Groce were actually members OF Es-
trada's army. and. second whether they
were planting mines under the orders oc
General Estrada or one OF hts officers.
The fact that General Estrada has teIe-
graphed his condolences 10 the parents
OF Groce is regarded as clearly indicat-
ing that the two men were attached To
his forces and a communication from
the American Consul at Managua seems
20 confirm that indication Nevertheless
the department desires additional and
more explicit evidence on these points
before proceeding officially.
HAS AMPLE FORCE
The proceedings OF the department.
have not Yet advanced % a point where
SIOo.O0o. or any other amount. has been
fixed as proper indemnity % be demand
ed from ZeIaya. Neither is il true that
preparations To she'll NiCaragiIan ports
BY the Atlantic feet OF TO mobilize a
large force Of five thousand marines on
Niearaguan soil Gre being made. The
Nicaraguan ports have not sufficient
depth Of water 90 accommodate Amer
lean battleships. and most OF the reports
regarding the use OF the marine corps
grow out OF the normal exchange OF
marines between this country and the
Panama Canal Zone. where the present
force has completed its tour OF duty and
will soon be relieved by detachments
sent from the United states. This does
not mean. however. that the United
States will not be prepared 20 back
up With ample force such demands
as u may deem proper On make. bur
rather that the administration sees no
occasion 20 load and train its Finch
rifles % blow a pirate sloop cut OF water.
With the facts established the United
States will present 20 President ZeIays
such demands as they NAV warrant. AMI
II he exhibits in thu future as much