Milford chronicle., 1909-12-10
Tha Nioaranuan Trouble.

Since the Washington conventions Of
1907 were communicated to the gov
ernment of the United States as a con-
suting and advising party this gov
ernment has been almost continuously
called upon by one or another and in
turn by all of the five Central Amer
! ican republics to exert itself for the
maintenance of the conventions. Near
ly every complaint has been against
! the Zelaya government Of Nicaragua.
which has kept Central America in
constant tension or turmoil. The re-
sponses made to the representations Of
Central American republics as due
from the United States on account Of
its relation to the Washington cOnven-
tiOns have been at all times conserva-
tive and have avoided, so far as pOssi-
BILE. any semblance Of interference, al
though it is very apparent that the
considerations Of geographic proximity
to the canal zone and of the very sub
stantial American interests in Central
America give to the United States a
special position in the zone Of these
republics and the Caribbean sea.
I need not rehearse here the patient
efforts of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these re-
publics, efforts which are fully appre
ciated by the majority of them who
are loyal to their true interests. 1t
would be no less unnecessary to re-
hearse here the sad tale of unspeak-
able barbarites and oppression alleged |
to have been committed by the Zelaya |
government. Recently two Americans |
were put to death by order Of Presi- |
dent Zelaya himself. They were OH
GERS In the organized forces Of a rev.
olution which had continued many /
weeks anC was in control Of about
half of the republic, and as such, ac-
cording to the modern enlightened
practice Of civilized nations, they we're
entitled to be dealt with as prisoners
OF war
At the date when this message IS
printed this government has terml
mated diplomatic relations with the
Zelaya government for reasons made
public in a communication to the for
mer Nicaraguan charge d'affaires and
is intending to take such future steps
as may be found most consistent with
It's dignity. its duty to American
terests and its moral obligations to
Central America and to civilization. 1t
may later be necessary for me to bring
this subject to the attention Of the
in a special message
In the Far East.
In the far east this government pre-
serves unchanged its policy Of support
ng the principle Of equality Of oppol
unity and scrupulous respect for the
integrity Of the Chinese empire, to
which policy are pledged the interest
d powers Of both east and west
BY the treaty Of 1908 China has un-
lertaken the abolition Of likin with
Moderate and proportionate raising Of
he customs tariff along with currency
eform. These reforms being a mani
est advantage to foreign commerce as
veil as to the interests Of China, this
is endeavoring to facih-
ate these measures and the needful
Of the treaty powers.
When it appeared that Chinese hkin
evenues were to be hypothecated tc
oreign bankers in connection with
reat railway project It was obvious
hat the governments whose nationals
eld this loan would have a certain 2
irect interest in the question Of the
lrrying out by China Of the reforms &
! question The administration deem a
) American participation to be Of p
reat national interest. Happily, when e