The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
SECRETARY KNOX
 LEAVES CARACAS
Whirlwind Finish Marks Last Day in Venezue-
 Ian Capital

Caracas, March 24.-A whirlWind hh- ish marked Me last day of the visit of the American Secretary of State, Mr Knox. and his party to the Vene- zuelan capital. He will leave tomor- row morning for Puerto Cabelfo. The secretary drove this morning to the residence of the foreign minister, Gen. Manuel Mates, where he was enter tained He had luncheon with the Americans at the legation. There were special races at the Hippodrome and later a reception and ball, given by President Gomez, at the Miraflores pal ace.
 Foreign Minister Maios in welcoming Secretary Knox, said his visit meant closer ties of friendship and the de- velopment of commerce. The secretary in responding said:
 "The volume of incohing and outgo- ing commerce between Venezuela and the United States IS relatively larger than between Venezuela and any oth CT country. Good will and mutual con fdence will make it actually larger. Thus interest in Venezuela should in- crease"
 He pointed out that increased inn ports and exports make for domestic prosperity and that domestic peace means stable government.
 "The political sympathies of the Unit ed StaIeS ana NeneZuela, continued lne secretary, "are in singularly close ac- cord. If we have Washington you have Bolivar"
 He concluded with a eulogy of the Venezuelan patriot.
 Cabrera-tbe President Cabrera. the last of the type of Diaz, Castro and Zelaya in the republics to the south of the United States, is the abso- lute ruler of his 100000 subjects l., 5GO0G0 of whom are Indians. Little is said of the President, and if what is said is true. he is a nearly perfect man. The obsequiousness of his ministers at the various functions was marked. He di- rected every move. At the slightest move ment of his hand men rose andb sat down, stepped toward him and retreated automatically. At the Campo Minerva, the President, with his guests. from balcony reviewed drill of 3000 school chil. dren. When he left the place after the crowd had dispersed, Cabrera did not depart by the usual exit, but made his way down the back stairs and through the filtered room where refreshments had been prepared.
 His ministers lowered about him and his bodyguard did not hesitate to step directly in front of Secretary Knox when this was necessary to better shield the,r chief
 Dinner at Legation
 The President attended dinner at the American legation. At it's conclusion dignihed figure surrounded by officials left the legation and stepping into the presidential carriage was driven swiftly away. Ten minutes later Cabrera emerged unattended from the house and climbing into Il dila pidated public conveyance was taken to the palace. The President never follows the natural route in his infrequeht travels about the city, nor does he ever appear just when and where he might be expected.
 "Guatemala is always peaceful" said the President in an interview, and so we do not need court at Cartago. But some of the other republics. where there are occasional revolutions, do need sucn a tribunal and it is a good thing" Guatemala, however, has not been -vs- pecially punctilious in observing her ob- ligalions under the Central American peace pact of 1907 and recently Salva- dor had occasion to complain and invite i the good offices of the American state de- partment to secure her territorial rights against Gautemalan aggression. Alr. Knox evidently had this in mind when he delivered his formal speech at President Cabrera's dinner. He declared 1 in language that cannot be misunderstood, hat the adherence of Guatemala to the
 
 1 from any hope of future prosperity. ad- vancement and peace. These conventions ! provide that disputes between the five re- pubics shall he submitted to the peace tribunal at Cartago; that no government shall invade the territory of another or permit within their boundaries the out fitting of revolutionary expeditions agalnst d sister republic.
 President an Indian
 Cabrera feels the burden of state, out no desire to lay it down. He has. been represented as in very bad health. oul he does not look like sick man. He is an Indian. about 55 years old, of medium height, thick set. with well shaped head His hair is thin and slightly gray and his mustache is iron gray. Ills lace ia wonderfully mobile and expressive. lis black eyes are penetrating, and can give any one disconcerned stare. At the same time he can smile sweetly enough, and his manners are easy.
 In the house occupied by MT. Knox hangs a portrait of Cabrera, painted some years ago when he wore beard. Nn American might mistake the portrait Ter one of Justice Charles E. Hughes of ,he supreme court
 The grievance of the lower classes if indeed they realize that they have any, is to be found in the poverty resulting | in part at least from the immense reve- l nue necessary to maintain the President | and army
 What the better classes think IS not known for certain, but it is true that for | II years Cabrera bas maintain a .mili- tary dictatorship.
 Yet the American resident here told members of the Knox party that no other | government Is possible and that Cab reras absolution was better than cease. less revolutions: that the United States i could not nope to do more with Cabrera than awe him into being reasonably good and so protect the neghboring sov- ernments from encroachment.