New-York tribune., 1909-12-10
GUARANTEES IN CENTRAL AMER


II Il
That IS an interesting Interpretation
of the Central American treaties Of 1907
which a current dispatch imputes 10 the
government of Honduras. II is 10 the
effect that the neutrality Of Honduras
is practically guaranteed by the United
States and Mexico under the Washing
ton agreement" We doubt whether
the full pu1Tort of it was fully appre-
ciated by those who maue ii. If il was.
then at least that one state Of Central
America appears TO contemplate de-
gree Of American and Mexican control
over lis affairs which We had not sup
posed il would desire and which surely
our government has had no thought OF
assuming.
For We cannot perceive that that first
general treaty OF peace and amity."
or the third article of II, which provides
tor the neutrality of Honduras. differs
in any respect in authority or binding
force from the rest of the conventions
which were made by the Central Amer
ican states in 1907. II says that Hon
"duras declares its absolute neutrality
'.in event OF any conflict between the
"other republics; and the latter, in their
turn. provided such neutrality be oh
served. bind themselves 10 respect IL
and in no case 70 violate the HOndura-
mean territory" That IS all And that
treaty was signed by the plenipotenti-
aries Of the FIVE Central American
states, and by them alone. The United
States and Mexico were not parties 70 il.
the meetings Of the Central American
ENJOYS. but they did not sign the treaties
ard these two powers gave no guar
antees.'
II. however, this Honduranean inter
probation were right. and the United
States and Mexico were practically"
parties 10 those treares, what would
that imply Assuredly, that these two
countries were empowered 10 see 70 Il
that all other stipulatons OF the treaties
were faithfully executed Just as much
rs this particular cne.- which would
mean. in effect, complete American and
Mexican control over the relations OF
those states among themselves and also
over a large part Of their domestic af-
fairs. II would make the tve repub-
lies prctectorates or dependents Of thei-
two larger neighborS TO an extent which
would definitely remove them from the
category OF sovereign states. We had
not supposed that Central Americans de-
sired the esta blishment OF such g status
as that
The United States and Mexico took n
deep benevolent interest in the Central
American negotiations OF 1907 and lent
their diplomatic presence and their
moral influence 10 promote their success.
They sincerely hope that the conven-
tions which were then made Will be
l0yally maintained. But they entered
into no guarantee 10 that effect. They
regard the five Central American states
as the makers Of the treaties and as
directly responsible for their mainten-
ance. And if any Of those treaties are
broken IN 2 manner Injurious 10 the In
terests Of these two powers they VIII
bold the Central American states re-
sponsible therefor. But any attempt TO
saddle them with original responsibility
for the treaties and 20 require them 70
prevent their violation would be con-
trary 10 the letter ana the spirit OF those
conventions and would imply the doing
Of things which this country at least
would regard with great reluctance and
which we should think the people Of
Central America would deplore as the
destruction OF their national indepen-
dence