The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-28
Former President Makes State- ment Declaring Knox's Judg-
 ment Is Warped
TROUBLES ARE LAID UPON
 AMERICAN VllE CONSUL
Zeiaya Says United States Has Been Mislnforned Upon Nicaraguan Affairs, and That Is Why
 He Had to Resign.

Salina Cruz, Mexico. December 21.-De- claring that the attitude of Secretary Knox toward him could not fail to be disapproved by all fair minded people, and that he believed the secretary's judg- ment was warped by false representations of conditions in Nicaragua, made by the American vice consul at Managua, for mer President Jose Santos zelaya. en- deavored In an interview today to justi- fy his treatment of the Americans. Can non and Groce, as an act which any one in his position would have committed.
 zelaya debarked from the Mexican gun boat General Guerrero this afternoon and left tonight for Mexico City in a private car attached to the regular pas senger train, due in that city on wednes- day morning.
 q am going to Mexico City to remain for six months,' he said, eff the climate agrees with me, I will send, or go for my family. If 1t does not agree with me I will go to some place in Europe. am going to Mexico City to thank Presi- dent Diaz and the Mexican officials for their kindness to me-
 The Guerrero with Zelaya and his party on board, arrived outside the harbor last night, where the boat lay until this morning. At little past o'clock 1t steamed to the dock and Zelaya appeared on deck to wave a, greeting to a crowd l,s eo~nspoopIe which had gathered. He was accompanied offsfifs "Trip ht,saer by Louis A. Cousin, his former secretary of war; Robert c. Bowe, his secretary, and former jefe politico, and several friends.
 zeIaya's Statement.
 To representative of the Associated Press whom he received this afternoon on board the gunboat, Zelaya discussed the killing of Cannon and Croce, and the note of Secretary Knox.
 Cannon and Groce." Zelaya declared, "were engaged by the conservative party and were brought from Guatemala by that party which was working hand in hand with Cabrera. As he never had any ground for accusing me of any infringe ment of the treaty adopted by the Gen. tral American republics, they attempted to creatae cause and began trying to instigate a mutiny and an armed rebel lion in order to force the United States government to intervene.
 "As regards Cannon and Groce. no one else in my position would have acted other than as I did. Neither of these men had any property in Nicaragua. Americans and other foreigners holding property in Nicaragua enjoyed protection at my hands, the same as native born citizens, and they had the advantage of not having to pay direct taxes.
 T think that Secretary Knox took harsh action against me. I believe his object was that I resign. That I have done. I am now only g. private citizen and such ] shall remain. It Is my intention not to enter political life again. The re- t1orf that had taken comma v,1 of fha government forces was absolutely false. I have not and never intended to do Bo."
 Blame Laid Upon CaIdera.
 Zelaya attributed much of his woe to Harry Caldera, the American vice consul at Managua. Of this he said:
 'The United States government was grossly mislnformed through this man about conditions in my country. The vice consul is . member of the conservative party, and an ardent defender of that partys views. With the object of ovef- throwing my government he made false representations to Washington, which I firmly believe had much to do with the note of Secretary Knox. have no doubt that those reports led him to adopt the attitude he did towards me. That atti- tuds, I believe. cannot but be disap- proved by all fair-mfnded people,
 During the afternoon Zelaya was called upon by several Mexican officials here, among whom was Juan Broising. collec- tor of the port, who welcomed the for mer president with the words:
 T receive you like brother.'
 Zelaya said he had had a good voyage, but that he was feeling badly and had a slight fever. He did not appear i'll at ease or excited. and during the afternoon sat for photograph on the deck.
 Official With zeIaya.
 He left Managua accompanied by Min ister Carbajal of Mexico. who escorted him aboard the Guerrero at Corinto
 T was at perfect liberty at all times and was not intercepted fs- said. .I boarded the Guerrero in broad daylight on the afternoon of the 24th. The Eng fish minister at Managua offered me con- veyance upon the sloop Clearwater. then at anchor at Corinto. to any country I wanted to go. but preferred to come to Mexico"
 Zelaya declined to discuss the arrest of Passes, his brother-in-law, and of Martinez, his finance minister, who are charged with misappropriation of funds of the government. He left the gunboat at o'clock and entered the private car which he had chartered. and which had been switched to the dock. Attached was freight car in winch was loaded much baggage of the Nicaraguan and his com