The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-02
zELAYA IS BLAMED FOR
DEATH OF AMERICANS
Secretary Knox Lays Down the Prin
ciples Of international Law In His
Letter and Congress Will Soon
Act Upon the Affair.

passports of Felipe Rodriguez charge
daffafres of the Nicaraguan legation,
with a letter scathingly denouncing the
Zelayan administration of the govern
ment of Nicaragua. The letter is def
nitely declared to represent the views
| of President 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
as common malefactor. Zelsya Is
branded a violator of solemn inter
national conventions. disturber OF tbs
national and international peace, q
tyrant whose administration has beer
a blot upon the name of good govern.
ment.
Secretary Knox virtually announces
| the recognition OF the Nicaraguan revo-
| lutionists, declares 1t to be the convlc.
| ton of the United States that the revo-
| luton represents the sentiments of
ajority of the Nicaraguan people, ane
| government with which the United
| States can deal. He therefore an
nounces that all parties will be held
| accountable for their actions as af-
fecting the interests of Americans and
| the peace of Central America.
| May Still Serve.
He further informs senor Rodri ue,
! that while he has lost his diplomatic
! quality. he may still serve an "un-
| official" channel of communica ton with
the faction which ne Is regarded as
| representing.
This brings the crisis as near to the
status of war as it could be brought
by executive action without a definite
| declaration by both houses of Con-
| gress which will convene next Monday
Mr.. Knox's letter In all but so many
| words makes 1t plain that the action
represents the wish and attitude of ali
| of the Central American states with ths
single exception of Honduras Which
is regarded here as entirely dominated
by zelaya Mexico has all along shown
it's sympathy with the United States
| in this matter.
just what status the consular repre-
| sentatives of the United States now in
Nicaragua enjoy is not definitely ex-
planned tonight. 1t is expected, however
that Vice Consul Caldera, who has been
|
gether with the other consuls in that
country. will be given his passports to-
morrow. This is the usual procedure
! in case of such action between govern
ments.
Compact Of Republics.
| Two years ago, through the efforts OF
| Mr.. Root, then Secretary of State, repre-.
sentatives Of all the Central American re-
| publics, at the moment on the point OF
general warfare owing, it was alleged,
to the overweening ambitions of Presi-
dent Zelaya to become the dictator OF
| Central America, were brought to this
! capital and induced to enter into soemR
! compact to refrain from exploitation OF
the territories of one another, and to OBJ
serve the rules of civilized intercourse.
Especially were they pledged to submit
| to arbitration instead of putting TO the
| test of warfare any difference that might
arise between them. The integrity of
/ ragua there is no doubt.
| Now Secretary Knox practically
charges that each one OF these stipula-
| tions WAS violated by President Zelaya.
He has dominated Honduras. whose Pres
| ident is declared to be only his mouth
piece, and Zelays has not hesttated to
violate the laws of neutrality by sending
his troops. without warrant or permits
sion into Salvador and Costa Rica That
he would have done the same In the
case of Guatemala had the revolution ex-
tended to the northern frontier of Mica
| ragua theer Is no doubt.
Watching Nicaragua.
! It was well understood, though neve,
reduced to a form of treaty, that not
only the United States. but Mexico, would
undertake to see that the provisions of
this treaty were effective though moral
| ali IN
| reliance to accomplish its purpose.
! This has utterly failed. after a trial O,
| nearly two years Reports to the depart.
ment of state from its diplomatic and
consular agents have shown that during
that period Of time President zelaya has
been stirring up discomfort in the neigh
boring Central American republics: giving
substantial aid to would-be revoiutionists
| and doing everything possible to bring
| about state OF affsirs that would war
| rant his invading the territory of his
neighbors.
+, But the internal conditions in Nicara-
+! qua revealed by these reports have never
been told to the public because the moral
| turpitude involved is almost beyond be-
| lief. However, state department officials
| have disclosed enough to show that
| condition of absolute despotism has exs
| isted in Nicaragua with such acconpan!-
| ments OF Tapine. murder. extortion and
| barbaro1s treatment OF political prisoners
I, ss has been unknown since the middle
| ages.
+, Protests Are Many.
| Other Central American republics have
| protested against conditions In Nicaragu ia,
| but the state department. has felt loaih
to interfere in the internal affairs OF an
| other nation. and probably would have
refrsined even now had not zelaya gone
| to the length of torturing and killing two
| Americans engaged in honorable war
| fare.
| Zelaya's agents simply stated that the
executions were in accordance with the
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