The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-14
PEACE PROGRAM
FOR NICARAGUA
United States to Superintend Elec-
ton to Be Held This.
Fall.
GEN. MENA IS CANDIDATE

The Nicaraguan situation having pass
ed the critical stage. through the sub
I sidence OF the Mena revolution, steps
| looking to a peace programme will ID
| taken soon.
The principal feature OF this pro-
gramme will be the holding of new cleo
| tons for the presidency. under the super
vision Of the United States. There Is
now good reason to believe that all fac
tions, including the government. Gen.
Mena and his followers. and his tenn
pOrary allies. the adherents of the old
Zelaya regime. will gladly agree to
American supervision of elections as soon
as the negotiations begin. II is well
known that the government OF Nicara-
qua desires such supervision of the cleo
tons, which would naturally occur this
fall. and il is expected that formal re-
quest will be made Of the United States
authorities to take charge.
The negotiations for peace are expect
ed TO be FASTENED by the fact that Ad-
miral Switzerland and his marines and
bluejackets will henceforth not permit
any fighting along the line of the one
railroad in Nicaragua. This road passes
through all the vital points OF Nicara-
qua, and IL fighting is prohibited IN its
territory, there will be absolutely no
live revolution. The realization of this
offers of peace from the rebels. Tenta-
tive proposals for peace were made by
Gen. Mena ten days ago. but the gov
eminent then declined to entertain them.
1t was at the moment. in fact, infiictins
severe defeats upon the rebels, and later
followed them up with others which have
given the President the upper hand.
Fighting Is Over.
The government victories and the con-
troll OF the situation by Admiral South
erland's forces are responsible for the
decision that there shall be no further
bloodshed permitted In Nicaragua Fur
Their fighting upon the part of either the
government forces or the rebels would
be absolutely futile. This phase of the
situation will be made clear to the con-
tending parties In the defunct rebellion.
United States Minister Weitzsl will
be one of the principal personages in
the peace conferences which will in
evitably result from the present state
Of affairs, and will take an active part
toward bringing the opposing parties into
agreement on peace programme. As
representative Of the United States gov
eminent. he will protest against further
harsh measures against political Offend
ers by the government. and demand
equally reasonable treatment for any
persons captured by the revolutionists.
While 1t Is taken for granted that Gen
Mena, who started out to seize the gov
eminent by force by means of a revolu-
ton. will be candidate for election to
the Presidency, there has thus far been
no talk OF what candidates will oppose
him. Gen. Mena is a Conservative Of
long standing. but as 1t is the Conserva-
tive party which is in power at the pres
ent time he can hardly pose as the can
didate Of that party. since he has en-
deavored to overthrow it,
The State Department was informed
yesterday that Juan Irias, one of the
professional revolutionists of Central
America, and for years a partner in the
operations OF Zelaya, Is reported to have
left Costa Rica. supposedly to lead an
expedition against Nicaragua. The Costa
Rican government has had Irias under
surveillance ever since he took refuge In
that republic. II Irias Is found in Mica
ragua he will be gathered in as a I'LL
busterer.