The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-02

country, will be given their passports.
Knox's Letter in Full.
Following is the text of Secretary
Knoxs letter to Rodriguez:
Department of State, Washington. D.
C., December 1. 1909.
Sir-Since the Washington conven-
tons of 1907 it is notorious THAI Presi-
cent Zelaya has almost continuously
kept Central America in tension or tur
moil, that he has repeatedly and flag
rantly violated the provisions of the
conventions and by a baleful Influence
upon Honduras. whose neutrality the
conventions were to assure, has sought
to 1iscrcdit these sacred international
obligations to the great detriment OF
Costa Rica. FL Salvador and Guate-
mala, whose governments meanwhile
appear to have been able patiently to
strive for the loyal support of the en-
gagements so solerlnly undertaken at
Washington unCer the auspices of the
United States and of Mexico.
1t is equally a matter of common
knowledge that under the regime of
President Zelaya, republican institu-
tons have ceased in Nicaragua to ex-
ist lin name; that public opinion and
the press have been throttled, and that
prison has been the reward of any ten
dency to real patriotism My consider
alton for you personally impels me to
abstain from unnecessary discussion OF
the painful details of a regime which
unfortunately has been a blot upon the
history of Nicaragua and discourage
ment 20 a group of republics whose as
pirations need only the opportunity Of
free and honest government.
In view of the interests of the Uni
ted States and Of it's relation to the
Washington convention. appeal against
this situation has long since been made
tc this government by a majority of
the Central American republics There
is now added the appeal through the
revolution, of a great body of the
Nicaraguan people.
BY Zelaya's Order.
Two Americans who. this govern
ment is now convinced, were officers
connected with the revolutionary
forces and therefore entitled to be
dealt with according to the enlighten-
ed practice of civilized nations, have
been killed by direct order of Presi-
dent Zelaya. Their execution is said
to have been preceded by barbarous
crueltes.
The consulate at Managua is now
officially reported to have been mem
aced- There is thus a sinister cul-
mination of an administration also
characterized by cruelty to its own
citizens which has until the recent
outrage found vent in the case of this
country in a succession of petty an
noyances and indignities which many
months ago made it impossible to ask
an American minister longer to re-
side at Managua. From every point
of view it has evidently been difficult
for the United States to delay more
active response to the appeals so long
made to its duty to its citizens, to its
dignity, to Central America and to
civilization. The government of the
United States is convinced that the
revolution represents the ideals and
the will of majority of the Near
aguan people more faithfully than
does the government of President
Zelaya an dthat its peaceable control
is well nigh as extensive as that hith-
erto so sternly attempted by the gov
eminent at Managua.
Tendency to Anarchy.
There is now added the fact, as Of
flcially reported from more than one
quarter, that there are already indi-
cations of a rising in the western pro-
didate intimately associated with
the old regime. In this it is easy to
see new elements tending toward a
condition of anarchy which leaves, at
given time, no definite responsible
source to which the government of
the United States could look for re-
paration for the killing of Messrs
Cannon and Groce, or indeed, for the
protection which must be assured
American citizens and American in
cumstances the president no longer
feels for the government of President
Zelaya that respect and confidence
which would make it appropriate
hereafter to maintain with it regular
diplomatic relations implying the will
and the ability to respect and assure
what is due from one state to another.
The government of Nicaragua which
you have hitherto represented is here
by notified, as will be also the lead
ers of the revolution, that the govern
| n.ent of the United States will hold
strictly accountable for the protection
| Of American life and property the
| factions de facto in control of the
| republic of Nicaragua
| AS for the reparation found due,
| after careful consideration, for the
| killing of Messrs. Groce and Cannon,
would be loath to impose upon the
| innocent people of Nicaragua a too
heavy burden of expiating the acts of
= regime forced upon them or to ex-
act from d succeeding government, if
| i have quite different policies, the
| imposition of such a burden. Into the
question of ultimate reparation there
\ must enter the question of the exist
/ ence at Managua of government ca
Fable of responding to demands. There
must enter also the question how far
\ * is possible to reach those actually
! responsible and those who perpetrated
Inc ASuA Go CPOi lOu ~ nave pIeCSQ-
ed the execution; and the question
whether the government be one en-
i,rely disassociated from the present
| iEtolerable conditions and worthy to
be trusted to make impossible a re-
currency of such acts. in which case
I the president, as a friend of your coun-
| Try as he is also of the other repub-
Tics of Central America, might be dis
nosed to have indemnity confined to
| What was reasonably due the relatives
! NJ the deceased and punitive only in
sofar as the punishment might fall
| where really due.
No Immediate Demand
In pursuance of this policy the gov
eminent of the United States will tenn
L r,rfI. Ii. LA