The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-29
Statement Is Made b Fleeing AicaIaguan That He Still
 Holds Office
HIS FORTUNE HAS BEEN
 GREATLY EXAGGERATED
Zelaya Further Denies That He Is in Any Sense Prisoner in Mexico and That He Is an Absolute
 Iy Free Man.

Cordoba, Mexico, December &.-Jose Santos zelaya declared tonight that he is still president of Nicaragua. although he may never go back to that country to enjoy the privileges of the office. Mad ident, and that he (zelaya) has not re- linquished the executive office.
 In statement made to an Associated Press representative on the train in which he, Is travelling to Mexico City, Zelaya said that he was still the head of the Nicaraguan government. He was leaving his country for an indefinite period in the hope that affairs there would quiet down. In support of his. declaration he ex- hibited papers attached to which were government seals and ribbons. These pa pers, he said, contained the proof of the truth of his statement.
 In further support of his claim it was pointed out by members of his party that the Guerrero foated the Nicaraguan flag at her masthead in addition to the Mex ican flag.
 The. reports conceyning his wealth, zel- ava said were grossly exaggerated. His fortune is not over $2Oe0,O00 gold and is invested mostly in Nicaraguan govern ment bonds. He claimed to have ad- vanced the $50,0O0 paid on the Emery claim as personal loan out of his own funds, there having been no money in the gov ernment treasury at that time. This amount, he said, had never been refunded to him. He strongly denied that he had wrongly obtained any part of his fortune through concessions of which he had the disposal. He declared that vote of thanks had been rendered him official ly before he left home for services rem dered to his country.
 sJose Santos Zelaya denied today that Ae was a prisoner in the hands of the Mexican officials in any sense of the skrord.~l He vas asked whether 1t was a fact as reported ina dispatch from Ma 4nagua, that in giving him refuge In k his county, the Mexican government ac- ke oted responsibility for his person, ana ksl so doing looked upon him as prison gA. He stated empha tically that such was k853f the case and that he was free to go I3here he chose.
 MI Zelaya declared that he favored inter Mention on the part of the Mexican and United States governments to the end that a consolidation of all the Central American republics might be brought about. He said he believed Secretary
 
 of his attitude toward him (Zelaya). and declared he never understood why the Secretary should have molested him.
 He might go to Belgium to live. he said; in any event, he would not return to Nicaragua until peace is restored. It was his opinion that the war would end within two months. but he would not ven- lure an opinion as to which of the com batants would be finally successful.
 Asked about the conditions imposed by the British government in reply to his request for asylum aboard the British cruiser Shearwater. Zelaya admitted that he was told he could board her only with the understanding that he was to agree to leave Nicaragua forever. These con- ditions, he said, he declined to accept.
 Mexico, on the other hand, he declared, made no reservations in granting him permission to board the Guerrero.