Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-08-28

perty must be protected the Nicara
guam government is understood te
have confessed its inability to meet
the situation and to have consented
\ frankly to permit the landing Of Amer
lean troops to protect United States
citizens. The state department has
proceeded upon the conviction that its
action involves no infringement of the
war-making powers of congress or the
president.
| Officials point to the fact that there
liz even now whole regiment Of Uni
ted States infantry engaged in polio
ing the Chinese railroad from Chin
Wang Pao to Pekin. And, Of course,
American troops have been freely
employed in the maintenance Of peace
in Cuba. 1t is true that in each Of
these cases there was special war
rant by treaty for the employment of
American soldiers, but state depart
ment officials feel that like obliga-
tion has been imposed upon the Uni
ted states by the Dawson agreement,
which terminated the Neiaya reyolu-
tion.
Aside from any question Of treaty
authorization, the administration is
said to be satisfied Of it's rights. un-
der the principles of international law
to employ any part of the army and
navy Of the United States for the pro
lection of American interests, life and
property in foreign country where
the de facto government is either I'M
able or unwilling to extend protection.
Officials contend that such landing of
American armed forces does not con
stitute war In any sense; there being
no purpose Of territorial aggression,
punitive purpose, or permanent occu-
patton.
1t is declared that while there are
few precedents for employing regular
troops in landing expeditions that
fact is accounted for by the far great
er mobility and availability Of marines
and bluejackets. Although the course
of the United States In landing mill
tary forces on foreign soil without
express approval OF congress is nos
under investigation by special SEN
ate committee named at the instiga-
tion of Senator Bacon, who has givor-
ously opposed sending troops outside
the United States, the state depart
ment takes the position that it is sup
ported not only by precedent in China
and Central America, but also bound
by the so-cahed Washington conven-
ton, to protect the rights and proper
ty OF foreigners and to further see
that the administration in Nicaragua
Is changed only by a fair and free ex-
preston by a ballot. The same atti-
tude was recently assumed in Pan
anna when this government supervised
the elections.
Furthermore, it is said, there are
fully 100 Americans owning planta-
tions in Nicaragua who must be pro
tected from attack and looting Of their
property Many demands that this
government protect American inter
ests there have been registered at the
state department.
A large number Of New Orleans
merchants, having Central American
interests, only few days ago went
50 far as to protest to the department
against the attitude Of Senator Bacon
They declared American prestige I'M
Central America would suffer immeas-
urably If this government failed to
protect its citizens and property. They
even predicted the spread Of the I'm
rest throughout other Central Ameri-
can states If the situation was not
promptly taken in hand Senator Ba-
con virtually charged on the floor Of
the senate, that this governments IN.