The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-02
Head of the Nicaraguan Dele
CATION Given His Passports.
Also a Searching Letter for Pres
ident Zelaya.
KNOX READS RIOT ACT
Uncle Sam Will Hold the Cen
trail American Executive
Personally Responsible for the
Death of GrOce and Cannon.

washington Dec. 2.-There is re-
ioicing today in the ranks of the Nicd-
raguan insurrectionary party and cor
responding gloom among those who
have been friends of President Zelaya,
over the ultimatum given by the United
States to the Nicaraguan government
in the note which accompanied the
passports delivered by Secretary OF
State Knox to Felipe Rodriguez, charge
d'affaires of the Nicaraguan legation.
The strength of the note and it's per-
sonal tone are the subjects OF comment
in diplomatic circles. 1t is generally
recognized that the United States has
decided the time has come to put an
end to further attacks on American
life and interests in Central America.
The far reaching effect of the note is
a matter of especial comment. The
fact that President Zelaya is, apparen--
". to be held responsible for the shoot
ing of the Americans, Groce and Can
non, and that the note intimates that
Zelaya is the culprit, adds a sting to
the matter.
Concealed in the vigorous note die
tated by Secretary Knox is seen
warning to the Central American re-
publics, that they must behave and con-
duct themselves as other republics i'll
the western hemisphere conduct them :
selves. This and the direct announce
ment that the United States intends to
see that the family of the western
hemisphere lives tremendously, is be-
lieved by diplomats to be epochal.
The Knox document Is one of the
most scathing issued from the state de-
partment in late years.
Relations Are severed.
Washington. Dec. 2.-Secretary of
State Knox has returned the passports
of Felipe Rodriguez, charge d'affaires
n tho Mica lnQa fiO0 with a lei
ter scathingly denouncing the Zelayan
administration of the government of
Nicaragua. The letter is definitely de-
clared to represent the views of Presi-
dent Taft and is about as plain spoken
as anything emanating from the state
department in many years.
The extraordinary feature of the let
ter is that it seems to evidence an IN
tention on the part of the United States
to hold President Zelaya personally re-
sponsible for the alleged torture and
execution of the Americans, Cannon
and Groce, and exhibits the unique sit
uation of one government holding the
chief executive of another practically
a common malefactor.
Zelaya is branded as a violator of
solemn international conventions, a dis
turber of the national and International
peace, tyrant whose administration
has been blot upon the name of good
government. Secretary Knox virtually
aguan revolutionists, declares it to be
the conviction of the United States that
the revolution represents the senti-
ments of a majority of the Nicaraguan
people and that there is evidently no
responsible government with which the
United States can deal. He therefore
announces that all parties will be held
accountable for their actions as affect
Ing the interests of Americans and the
peace of Central America.
He further informs S.nor Rodriguez
that while he has lost his diplomatic
quality he may still serve as an Jun
official channel of communication with
the faction which he is regarded as rep
resenting. This brings the crisis as
near to the status of war as it could be
brought by executive action without q
definite declaration by both houses of
congress, which will convene next Mon
day.
Mr., Knox's letter in all but so many
words makes it plain that the action
of the Central American states with
the single exception of Honduras, which
is regarded here as entirely dominated
by Zelaya. Mexico has all along shown
its sympathy with the United States in
this matter.
Just what status the consular repre-
sentatives of the United States in
Nicaragua now enjoy, is not definitely
explained. 1t is expected, however, that
Vice Consul Caldera, who has been &C.
cupying the legation in Managua, to-