Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-30
SECY. KNOX NOT
zELAYA'S KEEPER
"Titular President of Nicaragua
SAYS He Is Answerable Only
To His Government.
CHARGE AGAINST U.S.MARINES
Asserts They We're Engaged In Several
Battles, Being on the Side
or the Insurgents.

Mexico City, Dec. 2o.-"Mr. Knox is
not my judge. / am anywcrable only
TO my government"
Jose Santos Zelaya. who arrived this
morning from Salina Cruz thus re-
Piled to a question tonight as TO what
attitude he would assume should Secy.
Knox seek to cxtraditc him from this
country. zclaya refused to discuss
such a probability. but strongly inti-
mated that the secretary OF state would
not have the right to request his pres
ence in the United States. II have no
feeling against the American people at
Large, nor the government" he said.
''Secy- Knox has been Systematically
misinformed and public opinion in the
United States has been prepared
against me. but the real facts must be-
come known In time and II is to time
trust for my vindication
my relations with the. preceding
American government were exceedingly
friendly. The situation contains many
unfortunate conditions. Secy. Knox
had the complete confidence of Central
America and his policies were drawing
the people closer together, politically
and commercially. l am afraid the at
titude of Secy. Knox Is undoing all that
work throughout Latin America"
CHARGE AGAINST MARINES.
Zelaya said American marines en-
gagged In several recent battles In Mic
aragua and that 20 of them were killed
He said:
do you know that there were 400
Americans fighting with the insurgents
Mt Rama? Do YOU know at the battle of
Colorado Junction, on Nov. l, the
hodfes of American p1arinae wers
picked UP by our forces, all dead, and
all from American gunboats anchored
In the river TO protect American in
terests? The official explanation given
me was that these men were de-
serters."
Zelaya believes the confederation of
all Central American republics Will
ultimately be brought about. as he says
the great masses of the people are
unionists and the principal obstacle
up to this time has been the selfish |
attitude of persons in power animated
by private interests. He favors q CEN
trail government for the new republic, |
rather than a strong federal govern
ment. explaining that under central |
government the various states would |
preserve their indentity, having Of |
ficers TO transact such general business |
as might concern the whole of Central |
America and leaving such of the pres |
Nut ItpQOllCS less 1nQeDeHQGnt
and handling its interior affairs
President Zelaya declared that on |
Dec. 20. 1907. he had wired Washing |
ton his Willingness to retire from the |
presidency and from politics altogether |
IL confederation of fye Central |
American states could be brought |
about.
OUTLOOK IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
THE immediate outlook in Central
America said Zelaya. sis difficult to |
prophecy. The struggle between the |
present government and the forces OF |
Estrada will probably reach q climax |
In short time, but SO many factors |
enter into the result that 1t would be |
very wise man indeed who could dis
count the future. Estrada Cabrera Is
the evil genius Of our people-for we
are all Central Americans at heart
without sectional lines. Cabrera has
poisoned the minds at Washington. He
has furnished money. supplies and men
to the insurgents In the recent fighting.
He VIII co this again against the actual
government OF Honduras. but he Will
never be accepted by our people and
MS Vaccinations must be exposed In
time so he will be known for what
he is"
The former dictator reached here
shortly after o'clock this afternoon
and was met by a delegation of Central
Americans. As he stepped from a Pull
man. several persons in the crowd shout
ed 'Vive Zelaya! Viva Mexico."A Mcx-
can timidly cried, Down with the Yam
kees," and was Kissed
Zelaya was met so miles from the
capital by Francisco Castro, NIcara-
guam minister to Mexico, and a close
friend CT the dictator From the rail-
way station he was conveyed in
coach TO the Palace hotel, where five
rooms had been engaged for himself
and party. AS yet no arrangements
have been made for Zelaya to meet
President Diaz IN conference though II
Is believed he will call upon the chief
executive OF Mexico during the next
Few days to thank him for his Kindness
In permitting him to come to Mexico
on the gunboat General Guerrero.
lelaya said he would not make any
attempt to regain power In his country
but might return IL he were asked to
by his government when peace is re-
stored.
CASE OF CANNON AND GRocE.
Zelaya claims he never signed an or
der for the execution OF Cannon and