The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-13
MAY STOP MENACE ..,,,.. .,

Mexico City, March 12.--"Conditions In Central America are becoming so intolerabie as to be a menace to civ- ilization. It Is questian of but 8 few weeks at the most when Mexico and the United States will be compell- ed to intervene in the affairs of at least three of the republics and bring them to a realization of, the pledge signed by them at the recent peace conference"
 This is the summing up of the Gen. trai American situation by a high Mexican official who. for obvious req sons. refused to allow his name to be associated with the quotation. It Is generally reported here that complete accord as to the proceedings to be taken within the next few months, Intervention being apparent ly inevitable it Is understood that the United States will take the initiative, Mexico backing up that country with moral support alone.
 Today the Government organ. Ei ImparciaI, issued a bulletin on re- ported naval engagement between the Nicarsguan gunbost Momotombo and and SAlvadoreap warship Presidente. The fight Is said to have occurred on Corinto.
 Teiegrams received by the Emisrado Colony here indicate that if the en- gagement has actually taken place. IL will be but a matter of few days be- fore the clash comes.
 According to the dispatches Presi- dent Zelaya has determined to wage war on Salvador in spite of the United States or Mexico., The republics Of Honduras and Guatemala will fnevi- tably be drawn into the conflict as al- lies, the former of Nicaragua and the latter of Salvador.
 Advocates Annexatien.
 In this connection. an editorial which appeared in today's issue or The Mexican Herald. and which Is looked upon in some quarters as having been inspired by the Government. Is creat- ating something of a sensation. The editorial advocates the annexation or General America by Mexico. and in- inmates that such a culmiuation or the question would not meet with the dis approval of the United States. In this connection the editorial says:
 Mexico, tn tough she has co-operated by her good offices to the maintenance of peace and the settlement of disputes in Central America. might hesitate at armed intervention. But we believe that the best interests of civilization and humanity would be served by the extension of Mextco's Southern border to Panama. Under the Mexicah HdB, the people of Central America would enjoy happiness and prosperity to which they have long been strangers. and the resources of their territory would be developed on a scale hitherto undreamed of under the sound admin istration which Mexico would afford. There are duties which nations and individuals would gladly shirk. but as the attempt to eIude responsibility Is ever unworthy and is apt to De fol- lowed by consequences worse than those which it was sought to avoid. prompt and decisive action proves In the long run the best policy. "One thing Is certain. and that Is that the undesirable condition that prevails in Central America cannot be allowed to continue unremedied. The European powers consider themselves bound by the claims of humanity and Christian civilization to intervene in behalf of populations enduring the evils of misrule and the standards of inter national conduct ought to be at-least as high in the New World as in the old"