Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-19
sentenced to death for participating in

the revolution.
The specific charge against them was
not reported. and the dispatch did not
say whether or not a legal trial had been
allowed them. Mr.. Caldera said he had
appealed to President Zelaya for a com
mutation of the sentences. President
Zc,aya, Mr.. Caldera reported, refused
this request, saying that the sentences
were final.
A second dispatch received at the de-
partment few hours later said II was
reported in Managua that the two Amer
leans had been executed. Mr. Caldera
added that he had reason to believe the
report was correct.
Although absolute confirmation is lack
ing, the State Department is acting upon
the theory that both men have been exc
Cuted.
AS soon as these dispatches reached
the State Department the instructions 10
naval vessels to proceed to the Near
aguan coast were sent out by secretary
of the Navy Meyer.
New Minister Not to Be Received.
diplomatic note was also sent TO
Senior Rodriguez, the Nicaraguan charge
d'affaires here. indefinitely postponing
the official presentation of Senior 1sadoro
Hazera, the new Nicaraguan minister 10
the United States. Senior HaZera arrived
in this city several days ago and made
formal call yesterday on Secretary Knox
to arrange for the presentation OF MS
credentials to President Taft.
Leroy Cannon has been In CehtraI
America for several years. He was
formerly chief of police at San Mlguel,
Salvador. This is not the first time ne
has been involved in the penis OF ZEN
trail American POLITICS.
Several years ago. during the last
revolution in Honduras. he was Captured
by President Davila of Honduras and I'M
prisoned in Tegucigalpa Presldent Dav1a
then intended to execute him, but through
the good offices of the American minister
to Honduras he was released
The antecedents of Leonard Grace are
not known here to any OF the members
of the Latin-American section OF the
diplomatic corps.
Relations Not Cordial.
Recent diplomatic relations between
Nicaragua and the United States nave
been far from cordial. In fact President
Zelaya has made It so unpleasant Tor
the American minister to Nicaragua that
the last representative there from TINS
country. John Gardner Coolidge OF MAS
sachusetts, resigned from the diplomatic
service in order to be able to get away
from the ''intolerable conditions In
Managua.
After his departure last winter the post
was vacant for a few weeks and John n.
Gregory, jr secretary and charge q al
flares of the legation there, was ordered
to Washington, leaving the diplomatic es-
tablishment at Managua vacant. ME-.
Coolidge's official dispatches. 1t was SAID,
were tempered with by the Nicaraguan
government.
President Zelaya has always been re-
garded by State Department ofiicers as
a political mischief maker. He Is charg-
ed with interfering in the political al
fairs of the neighboring republics In oroer
to elevate himself to dominating po-
litical position in Central American poll
tics.
First Step Toward Recognition.
Secretary Knox took the first step yes
terday toward recognizing that a state
of belligerency exists in Nicaragua. In
a dispatch to the Bluefields Steamship
Company of New Orleans he said that
the United States government would not
interfere with the blockade of the port
of Greytown by the revolutionfsts.
His dispatch was as follows:
"Washington. November Is, 1909.
Ito Bluefields Steamship Company, New
Orleans:
IF the announced blockade or invest
ment of the Nicaraguan port Of San Juan
tanned and the requirements of interna-
tional law including warning to APP
preaching vessels, are observed, this gov
eminent would not be disposed to inter.
fere to prevent it's enforcement. A naval
vessel will be ordered to Greytown to OBJ
serve and report whether the blockade
is effective. KNOX"
This dispatch was in response to a
telegram Of inquiry from the Bluefields
company, which had been Informed of
the blockade by L. SeQuilra. the consul
at New Orleans Of the provisional gov
eminent. The steamer Imperator, owned
from New Orleans for Biuenelds, Cape
Gracias and 9reytown, and the company
asked the department for this informa-
ton for the guidance of its captains.
0>I>
are said to be stationed, Is In a state of
siege The blockading force consists of
the gunboat Ometepe and the tug Blanca,
temporarily armed
Privileges Of Belligerency.
AccoIing to authorities on interna-
tional law, the recognition of the exist
ence of a condition of hostitties, or in
surgency, does not always imply the rec
ognition of legal state of war. the par
ties to which are to be treated as bellig-
erents. Belligerency is recognized by the
nations OF the world when q political
struggle has attained a certain magnitude
and affects the interests of the recogniz-
ing power.
The recognition Of belligerency involves
the right of blockade, visitation, search
and seizure of contraband articles on the
high seas and abandonment of claims for
reparation on account of damages suf-
fered by citizens from the prevalence of
warfare. 1t does not, however. confer
upon the community recognized all the
rights Of an Independent state but 1t
grants to its government and subjects
the rights and imposes upon them the
obligations of an independent state in all
matters relating to the war.
The reason which requires and which in
international law alone tustifies this step
by the government of another country Is
that its own rights and interests are SO
far effected as to require a definition Of
Its own relations to the parties.
When parent government Is seeking
TO subdue an insurrection by municipal
force, and the insurgents proclaim a polit-
ical nationality and belligerent rights
which the parent government does not
concede. as is the present situation, a
recognition by a foreign state of full bell
ligerent rights. IL not justified by neces-
sity. is regarded In international law as
. gratuitous demonstration of moral sup
port OF the rebellion and Of censure upOn
the parent government. The situation of
the foreign state with reference to the
contest. and the condition Of affairs be-
tween the contending parties, IL is held,
must be such as to justify this act.
Why Recognition May Be Given.
A man well informed as to the facts
has prepared the following statement in
explanation Of the policy of the United
States In recognizing the belligerency Of
the Estrada party:
AT this moment the insurgent forces
are In practical control of at least ONE
hal nR ha hnlA