Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-29

GUATEMALA CITY, May TO- 1912.
When Secretary Knox was here he had
a heart-to-heart talk with President Es-
trada Cabrera in which he informed that
gentleman that the United States expect
ed him to stop meddling with the anairs
of the other Central American countries
and to let them work out their own des-
TIMES President Cabrera replied that he
would do so, and declared that De was
willing to be judged by his deeds rather
than by his words-just gentle reminder
that the Guatemaian minister to Wash
ington had faithfully borne to him
statement that that would hereafter con-
stitute the basis upon which the State
Department would judge Guatemala
How seriously Cabrera took the remark
of Secretary Knox Is not known. but II
has since been reported that he had prac-
tically arranged to Join with President
Bonilla In denouncing the attitude OF the
State Department in trying to secure q
treaty giving the department control OF
the custom houses OF Honduras and
similar treaty with Nicaragua. It would
therefore seem that he is inclined to pay
about as little attention to what the
Washington authorities say to him as he
has paid to the representations Of the
English bondholders.
But II he actually is treating Washing
ton with contempt he is probably riding
to fall.
Contempt of Cabrera 1t Will
May Mean His Downfall. member
ed that a convention was held in Wash
ington some years ago. with the United
States and Mexico as its sponsors, which
negotiated a neutrality treaty between
the several Central American republics.
Each pledged itself to keep out of the at
fairs of the others. and all pledged them
selves to guarantee the neutrality of Hon.
duras, so long as Honduras maintained a
neutral position
The United States has insisted that this
treaty be lived up to. President Zelaya
of Nicaragua failed to live up to IT. and
that was one of the reasons why he was
unceremoniously exied from Nicaragua
and told that IL he valued his life he had
better not return. In his letter break
ing off diplomatic relations with Nicara-
qua Secretary Knox declared that 1t was
notorious that Zelaya had almost contin-
ually kept Central America In turmoil
and that he had repeatedly and fiagrant-
~ violated the provisions of the engage
ments so solemnly entered into at WASH
ington under the auspices OF the United
States.
1t is perhaps a safe prediction that II
Cabrera continues to play the Zelaya
role as indications seem now that he
may. he viii meet Zelayas fate. Or
course. he Is a shrewder man than Zelaya
ever was. and. after all. the statement
that he might join with Boniila in de-
nouncing the policy of the United States
may have been put out more as feeler
than as an announcement OF serious In
tention.
This much is certain: Cabrera has much
for which to thank the United States. He
has used the British bondholders who
furnished the government with Its money
In way that has won for him the con-
tempt and enmity Of the Britons, and II
II were not for the restraining hand OF
the United States and the Monroe doc
trine, England would give him one OF the
soundest spankings Central American
ruler ever received.
The British bondholders' council has de-
nounced him in the most scathing terms.
On four diff
Scathingly Denounced ferent occa-
by British Bondholders. b m,t,ed
plans for the adjustment Of the loan. on
which there has been a default of inter-
est ever since he came into the presi-
dency, but. before his proposition could be
accepted, in every instance. he has gone
back on the bargain. They charge that
he has used the securities solemnly n.y.
pothecated to secure the loan for other
purposes. and that his promises are not
worth three farthings.
With Zelaya forever out OF the game,
Cabrera is left alone In Central America
with his ambition to rule over tnat
county from Tehuantepec to Panama.
and IL is almost certain that he would set
about at an early date to accomplish that
end but for his fear Of interference from
Mexico and the United States. Mention
was made in previous letter of a paid