The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-02
History of Two Years Turmoil
and Contention Now Reviewed

Just what Secretary Knox meant in
his letter to Scnor Rodriguez by the
reference to the Washington agreement
| oil two years ago is disclosed by refer
one to that convention
Through the efforts of Mr.. Root. then
secretary ot state, representatives OF
the Central American republics, then
on the point of general warfare.
largely due. it was alleged, to the ambI-
tion of President Iclaya 10 become die,
tator of Central America. were brought
TO Washington and induced to enter
| into a compact 10 refrain from cXpiolta-
ton OF the territories of one another
and to observe rules of civilized inter
course. Especially were they pledged
TO submit to arbitration instead OF put
ting TO tho test of war any differences
that might arise between them. The
integrity of Honduras WAS guaranteed.
Now Secretary Knox practically
charges that all these stipulations were
violated by President Iclaya. He has
dominated Honduras. whose president
is declared to be only his mouthplecc,
| and Hclaya has not hesItatcd TO violate
the laws of neutrality by sending
! troops, without warrant or PERMISSION
into Salvador and Costa Rica, That he
of Guatemala had the revolution extend
ed to the northern frontier of Nicaragua
there is no doubt.
Plain Understanding.
1t is we'll understood though never
reduced to the form of treaty, that
not only the United States, but Mex
leo would undertake to sec that the pro-
visions of this treaty were effective,
though purely moral persuasion was sup
posed TO be the main reliance to ac
complish this.
This has utterly failed. after trial
Of nearly two years. Reports to the
department Of state from its diplomatic
and consular agents have shown that IN
that period President Iclaya has been
stirring up discomfort in other Central
American republics. giving substantial
aid 10 would be revolutionists and doing
everything possible 10 bring about n
state of affairs that would warrant
HIM IN invading territory of his neigh
bors
But internal conditions in Nicara qua
revealed by these reports have never
been made public because the moral
tnrpiiudc involved is almost beyond be-
llef. While these reports arc still with
held from publication, officials Of the
department Of state have disclosed
enough to show that a condition Of alb
solute despotism has existed in Nicar-
aqua with accompaniments such as RI
treatment of political prisoners, un-
known since medlaeval times
AS Secretary Knox said in his letter
other Central American republics have
protested In vain against conditions in
Nicaragua, but the state department
has felt loath TO violate its old tradi-
tions of non interference in the internal
affairs of other nations and probably
would have rcfraincd even now had not
"a N ,f
and killing two Americans engaged in
honorable warfare.
zelaya the Law.
In answer To the departments de-
mands for an explanation. Zelaya s
agents simply stated that tho eXccu.
ilons were in accordance with the law
OF Nicaragua, but the state department
finds that that law is Zelaya. and that
the action was in violation of all rules
of civilized warfare.
reasoning that there Is no actual gov
crnment III Nicaragua. the department.
necessarily arrived at the conclusion
that Ielaya is only an international
brigand and must be so treated. He
must be held responsible for the kill.
ing of these two Americans, as if he
were private individual, and il is
probable that he Will be captured in
Nicaragua or reclaimed from any coun-
try TO which he attempts 10 escape If
an cXtr3dltion treaty can be invoke
and tried as a common malcfactor. Ii
is believed that President Diaz of Mex
leo WAS the deciding force in This mat
ter, and that ii was because of ener-
gctic declarations by him of the guilt
of Ielaya and the necessity for inter
ventlon. received in Washington within
the last twcnty-four hours. that the
state department reached its decision
In the ordinary course this govern
meut would content itself with the pay
ment of Il heavy monetary indemnity TO
the families pf the victims of Ielaya S
ediet. But, as Secretary Knox clearly
| indicates in his letter, IL is not the
purpose of the American government
TINS TO tax the great majority of the
| Nicnraguan people, who did not sympa.
thize with Zelaya' S action"
Situation Summarized.
The status may be summed up as
follows:
Diplomatic relations between the
| United States and Nicaragua have been
terminated DR.. Hazera, minister des.
| igDate from Nicaragua. viii not be re-
ceiyed at the state department.. Senior
Rodriguez, the charge of tho Near
nguan legation, has been given his pass.
ports and so has no official standing
here.
On the receipt of the letter of Mr..
Knox through a state department mes.