The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-12-02

! tiona' government of Nicaragua OBJ
| ligate.s itse by convention, for the
| benefit of all the governments con-
cerned. as a guarantee for its future
/ loyal support of the Washington con-
ventions and their peaceful and pro-
gressive aims.
From the foregoing 1t will be ap-
parent to you that your office OF
charge d. affaires is at an end. I
have the honor to enclose your pass
port, for use in case you desire 10
| leave this country / would at.d at
| the same time that, although your
diplomatic quality is terminated, ]
shall be happy to receive you, as
shall be happy to receive the repre-
sentative of the revolution, eacn us
| the unofficial channel Of communica-
| ton between the government CT the
| United States and the de facto au-
| thorities to whom I look for the pro-
| lection of American interests pending
| the establishment in Nicaragua Of a
government with which the United
| States can maintain diplomatic re-
! lations.
Accept sir, the renewed assur-
ances of my high consideration.
(Signed) ID. G. KNOX.
""TO Feline Rodriguez ESQUIRE"
knox's Meaning Explained
Just what Secretary Knox meant in
| his letter to Senior Rodriguez by the
| ment of two years ago is disclosed by
/ reference to that convention.
j Through the efforts Of Mr.. Root.
| then secretary of state, representatives
! of the Central American republics.
! then on the point of a general warfare
! largely due it was alleged. to the am
bition of President Zelaya to become
| n infn vii
| brought to Washington and induced to
enter into a compact to refrain from
| exploitation of the territories of one
another and to observe rules If civil
| lied intercourse. Especially were they
pledged to submit to arbitration in
stead of putting to the test of war any
differences that Il ;ght arise between
them. The integrity of Honduras was
guaranteed.
Now Secretary Knox practically
charges that all these stipulations
We're violated by President Zelaya. He
! has dominated Honduras, whose presi-
| dent is declared to be only his mouth
piece, and Zelaya has not hesitated to
violate the laws of neutrality by send
| ing 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 revolu-
of Nicaragua is not doubted
U. S. and Mexico In Accord.
1t was well understood, though
never reduced to the form of treaty,
that, not only the United States, but
Mexico would undertake to see that
the provisions of this treaty were eff
fective, though purely moral suasion
was supposed to be the main reliance
; to accomplish this
This has utterly failed after trial
| of nearly two years. Reports to the
department of state from it's diplomat
| ic and consular agents have shown
that in that period President Zelaya
has been stirring up discomfort in
other Central American republics, Civ
| ing substantial aid 20 woulu-pe revo-
lutionists and doing everything posi-
| bic to bring about a state of affairs
that would warrant him in invading
territory OF his neighbors.
But internal conditions in Nicaragua
revealed by these reports have never
| been made public because the moral
turpItude involved is almost beyond
belief While these reports are still
withheld from publications, officials o.
the department of state have disclosed
enough to show that a condition OF alb
solute deSpOtism has existed in Mica
raSua with Accomplishments such as
rapine, murder, eXtortion and barbar-
Gus treatemnt OF political prisoners,
unknown since medieval times.
America Loath To Protest.
AS Secretary Knox said in his letter
other Central American republics have
protested in vain against conditions in
Nicaragua, but the state department
has felt lOath to violate its old tradit-
| ions OF non-interference in the inter
| national affairs of other nations and it
would have refrained even now had
| not Zelaya gone to the length of tor
| turing and killing two Americans en-
gagged in honorable warfare
| In answer to the departments de-
! mand Ter an explanation Lelayd'S
| agents simply stated that the execu-
| Of Nicaragua, but the state depart
ment finds that that law is Zelaya, and
i that the action was in violation 81 all
rules Of civilized warfare
To Treat Zeiaya as Brieand.
Realizing that no actual government
| exists in Nicaragua, the department
| necessarily arrived 1T the conclusion
! that Zelaya is only an international
| brigand and must be so treated He
must be held responsible for the kill
1 ing of these two Americans as if ne
i were private individual anu It is
| probable that he will be captured in
| Nicaragua or reclaimed from any
! country TO Wnlch ne attempts 10 eS-
| cape if an eXtradition treaty caa be
| invoked and tried as a common male
| factor.
| 1t is believed that President Diaz of
| Mexico was the deciding force in this
| matter and that it was because of m
| ergetic declarations by nirn os the guilt
| Of Zelaya and the necessity for inter-
| ventiOn, received in Washington with
! in the last "a hours, thai the state &C.
| partment reached it's decision.
In the ordinary course rhis govern
! ment would content Itself with the en-
| action of a heavy monetary indemnity
| to the families of the victims Of Eel
| aya'S edict. But as Secretary Knox
clearly indicates in his letter, Il is not
the purpose of the American govern
| ment thus to tax the great majority of
the Nicaragua people who did not
| sympathiZe with Zelaya's action.
| Status Of Situation.
| The status may be summed up as
| follows:
Diplomatic relations h-tWean the