The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-17
NEWS RECEIVED WITH
PLEASURE IN CAPITAL

WASHINGTON, Dec. l6.-News of
the resignation of President Zelaya of
| Nicaragua was received with evident
satisfaction at the state department and
elsewhere here tonight, but no comment
could be elected from any responsible
| office of the administration.
IL can be said with confidence that
IelaYa s resignation, welcome as it is,
has by no means removed him from the
attention of this government. Secre-
tary Knox s recent letter of dismissal
10 Senor Rodriguez, Nicaraguan charge
d 'affaires, plainly indicated the nten-
tion of the United States to hold Zelaya
and his circle of advisers personally re-
sponsible for the killing of Groce and
Cannon, and nobody here tonight be-
iieves that Zelaya S retirement materi-
ally mitigates his personal peril as Il
defendant before the bar at which Mr.
Knox has arraigned him, substantially
on the charge of murder in the first de-
gree.
No zelaya Man Wanted.
1t is well understood that this gov
ernment will look with disfavor upon
the installation in Zelaya s place of any
of the Zelaya following, g, 1t is not too
much 10 say that anybody that would
be acceptable to Zelaya and his ad-
herents Will be viewed with suspicion
by Washington.
From the beginning Of the present
revolution IN Nicaragua the sympathies
of the state department officials have
been with Estrada, revolutionary lead
er: and, while no government official
would openly say such a thing, it is
understood here that all hope the out
come will find Estrada in the presidency
of Nicaragua.
No orders resulting from the resigna-
ton have been issued by the navy de-
partment TO American vessels of war in
Nlcaraguan waters.
1t will remain for a conference be.
tween the president and Secretary
whether the new aspect of the situation
calls for any alteration OF the naval
plans,
Mexico in the Game
II developed tonight that the keys
of the Nicaraguan legation, which has
been closed since Secretary Knox's ul-
timatum was delivered, have been
turned over, with archives and furni.
ture of the legation, to Balbino Dava-.
los: charge d'atfaires Of the Mexican
embassy.
This action is accepted among diplo.
mats as proving the friendship of
Mexico for Zelaya, for. they argue, such
custody wonld not have been conferred
had not the Nicaraguan government
been assured of the entire good will
of Mexico.
Late tonight the minister from Sal.
vador, Senor Meia, gave out a cable,
gram from President Fipueroa denyinp
statement originating in Managua and
published IN several newspapers this
morning that he had given his approval
to the circular recently issued by Presi-
dent Zelaya to Central American gov
ernments, criticislng Secretary Knox
and the policy Of the United States in
respect to Nicaragua.
Career Of Estrada.
General Juan j. Estrada. central fig-
ure in the Washington forecast of the
new era in Nicaragua, has had stormy
and busy career. He is 3s years old,
and has taken part in nearly every war
in which his country has engaged since
he was old enough to bear arms. He
was n colonel in the war of 1896. and
two years later was appointed governor
Of the province of Cape Gracio el Dio.
In the war Of 1890 he was seriously
wounded and was forced to visit New
York for surgical treatment. Follow
ing the operation his recovery was
rapid.
When he returned to his native coun.
try he was made chief of the customs
Of Nicaragua. Two years later he was
appointed governor of Bluefeds, a
place he held until the war with Hon.
duras in 1906. At the close Of hostili.
ties he was admitted to the cabinet as
minister Of war.
AS described tonight by one Of his
friends here, General Estrada not only
is popular with the people Of Nicarag qua,
but he is modest, generous n clever
statesman and dangerous foe. His
experience in both civil administration
and In the handling Of men in war
would fit him admirably for the position
Of head of the Nicaraguan republic