Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-28
NICARAGUA.
V-RelationS With Other
Republics.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

The American diplomat who observed
that the Nicaraguan politicians are car
rying ''the double cross" to the nth pow
er in the game they are playing, might
have applied the same assertion to the re-
lations which exist between the various
countries of Central America. During
the years Of the Zelaya regime there were
two bitterly contending factions in Cen
trail American politics. One was headed
by Estrada Cabrera, President Of Guate-
mala. and the other by Zelaya, who was
then President of Nicaragua. These two
men are of largely the same type. each
of them tyrannical, and each of them i'm
patient of any circumstances which might
thwart his personal and political pur-
poses. Some we'll informed people declare
that Cabrera is no better than Zelaya.
except that he is less frank in his brutal
ity and less open in his grating. How
ever that may be, he and Zelaya each as
pired to dominate Central American poll.
tics, and each. if he prayed at ALL prayed
for the undoing of his rival. And they
worked as well as prayed.
The story goes that when Estrada was
getting ready to pull off his revolution In
Nicaragua he sent young American TO
New Orleans to solicit funds. The New
Orleans propagandists gave him letter
Of introduction to Gen. Drummond, an
American soldier of fortune living in
Guatemala, who. at that time. had the
ear Of President Cabrera. Drummond act
ed as intermediary and brought the pro-
posed revolution to the attention or Ca
brera. That dignitary assured his Wis
itor that nothing would be more to ms
liking than to support movement Tor
the elimination of his rival from the pol
itics OF Central America, and that ne
would exact only one condition, to VII:
The revolutionists must be able to snow
him that they had fair prospect OF sue
cess. From Guatemala City the Amer
lean emissary of Estrada journeyed to
Honduras, where he had conference
with Bonilla, who was at that time pan
ming a revolution against President ia
villa. A proposition was made to Bonllla
that If he would furnish certain troops TO
assist Estrada in Nicaragua, In return for
that favor, after the Estrada cause mao
triumphed, Estrada would reciprocate Dy
furnishing certain troops to assist Bonllla
in Honduras.
A bargain upon this basis was executed
and a goodly portion OF the reVolutlonary
army in Nicaragua was made up OF HON
duranean soldiers. led by Gen Duron'
said to be one of the most fearless men
in all tin-America After the ESTRADA
cause triumphed, and Estrada was in
stalled as Provisional President OF the
Nicaraguan republic, the Honduranean
revolution was started.
It now became the duty of Estrada to
carry out his end of the bargain of mu-
tual assistance.
Americans Ready A recruiting sta
:. - ton was estab- |
to Join Movement. lisbed in Man
aqua. at the leading hotel. and under the
direct supervision of Gen. Duron. A num-
Der of American soldiers of fortune were
on hand. ready to join the movement into
Honduras at the first opportune moment.
AT this juncture the State Department
at Washington got information to the
effect that organized forces Of Nicara- |
guans were being equipped to cross over
into Honduras. Secretary I>nox sent
message to President Estrada announcing |
the fact that such reports had reached |
his ears, and declaring that the United |
States would insist that the neutrality |
laws be not violated by such expeditions. |
and requesting him to take such action |
as would prevent assistance reaching |
Bonilla from Nicaragua
President Estrada finally issued an or |
der requiring every official OF the republic |
to use his best efforts to prevent eXpedi- |
lions crossing the line into Honduras. The |
order was wlnked at, even in the capital |
city. If the United states should protest |
further, 1t would be easy to show that |
the Nicaraguan government had done its
duty. When the United States consul |
cruiting station of the Honduranean revo- |
lutionary cause was being conducted at |
the hotel in which he was living, he de-
clared there was nothing to 1t. The up |
shot Of the whole situation was that, in |
spite of the orders Of Secretary Knox, re-
cruiting went on more or less openly, and |
at the opportune moment a considerable |
force OF NlcaraguanS did go over to Hon. |
duras to assist Bonilla and his principal
aid. Gen. Lee Christmas. Thus Gid
Estrada repay the debt he owed Bonilla
for helping him into power in Nicaragua.
The case Is characteristic of the reIa-
tons existing between the various re-
pu b lies OF
Case Characteristic c trail
of Various Republics. How LONG !, it. it.
will be before the United States is able to
prevent this semi-open violation of all in
ternational neutrality laws is not to be
predicted. But that 1t is one of the worst
features Of Central American politics is
recognized by every diplomat who has
studied conditions at first hand. 1t makes
everything all the more favorable for the
launching of a revolution, and not one
of the republic seems to realize that
sooner or later it may be victim Of its
own game at giving aid and comfort to
the enemies Of another republic. 1t is
generally agreed that until this lack OF
respect for pledges Of neutrality is wiped
out there Is little hope for permanent
peace anywhere IN Central America.
The relations between Nicaragua and
the United States are peculiar In many
ways While the government is appar-
entity friendly to the United States, 1t Is
really ever ready to break any compact
entered into with Uncle sam. The state
Department believed that beyond all
question after 1t had. even it indirectly,
contributed so much toward the success
OF the Estrada revolution the victors
would certainly repay its friendship by
living up to the promises they had made. |
This was believed in spite of the fact
that the department should by this time
be we'll acquainted with the Central
American tendency to duplicity. Yet
within less than six months they have
forgotten the gratitude they owe the
United States, and have broken prac-
tically every pledge made to the State
Department.
With this latest instance of double daol