New-York tribune., 1912-02-10
u. S. MARINES IN HONDURAS
Blueiackets Land TO Occupy Property
Leased to Americans.

puerto CortcE. Honduras. Feb. 'pH-
layAdl There has been clash between
United states and Honduran anthorites
over the enforcement Of a government d"-
cree directing representatives. OF w =
Valentine 10 surrender N government
authorities tho railroad, wharf and other
nropa-tins hold under Lease by the Nalen
tine syndicate
Saventy-nve marines from 'ne In'te1
et,tes eunboat Petrol landed and seized
tho wharf and railroad. Hondurm troops
we're then ordered 10 stop all trans Inc
Governor has fled q protest.
The population here was Sreah" IN
c.nqcd at tho landing of ~" marines
Acting upon tho authority or Congress,
which declared the Valentine contracts
cancelled. Prcsi5snt Bonilla ordered tnat
civil proceedings bc brought against W. ..
Valentine, ot New YORK, ordered delivery
tn the government OF the railroad ana
wharf and demanded an accounting for al
legged damages sustained b. tho govern
rAnt
The decree was served upon \. q Gree
low local manager Of the Valentine syn
dlcate. who asked time 70 communicate
fused. whereupon Greeley appealed 10 the
American Consul who asked tho co-opera
tiou Of the commander Of tho sunboat
Petrel, now I'm the harbor.
The commander OF the Petrol requested
that the enforcement Of the decree be de
Iaved twenty -four hours until the Ameri-
can Consul could communicate With the
state Department. The Governor also re
fused this request, and demanded that the
-ailroad and wharf be turned over TO him
by o'clock this morning. The com
mander of the Petrol then landed seventy
Ave marines and placed them on the
wharf and at the railroad office.
The British, Italian. Mexican, Danish
and Norwegian consuls were summoned.
and through them tho Governor protested
20 the American Consul and tho Potrels
commander against the landing Of the ma
rines.
President BonilIa was informed Of the
turn Of events. and he ordered that de-
tachments of armed troops be immediate
~ placed at La Guna one mile south, and
at Chameleon. twonty-eight miles south
Of Puerto Cortez. with instructions TO
stop all trains.
Washington, Feb 9-The State Depart
ment is watching developments I'm the dis
pute between the Uouduran government
and representatives Of the Valentine syn
dicnte.
Recently the department learned that
without notice 10 this government the
IIonduran officials were about 20 seize tho
Valentino properties The gunboat Petrol
was sent TO Puerto Cortez and sailors
were landed. The property was not seized
The only purpose of landing the bluejack-
cts was TO guard against violence. The
question of title TO the property in dis
pute is 20 be settled through judicial and
diplomatic methods.
Mr.. Valentine. In the years l9oi-'@, made
two contracts with the government OF iion-
duras. by the terms OF which he was grant
ed limited operators lease OF the railroad
and wharf. contracts which by constitu-
tionai requirement had to bc submitted To
Congress for approval. and. II having peeh
agreed that In TIE event of tho failure OF
Congress to approve. Valentino would re-
turn the properties TO the government ana
receive I'm return the moneys advanced oE
Kim on account of the lease.
IL Is alleged that before Congress as
cussod these contracts they were specifl-
cally rescinded by an agreement signed by
Mr.. Valentine and the government This
agreement. however, was Vloateu' u IL
said, by Mr. Valentine by his taiIure 10 re-
turn to the government the railroad and
wharf as agreed upon and tn" national
Congress acting under its constitutional
powers. rejected the contracts under con-
Sderatlon