El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-25

NAY 20 ~ men seer cAeLl AAAAp@@
was here he had a heart to heart
talk with president Estrada Cabrera IN
which he informed the president that
the United States expected MIN TO stop
meddling with the affairs OF the otne!
Central American countries ana 10 let
them work out their own desttnleS
President Cabrera replied That ne
would do so, and declared that he was
willing to be judged 6y ms Qeeos ran ran
er than by his Words-JuSt genue
reminder that the Guatemalan minister
TO Washington had faithfully borne 10
him a statement that that would mere
after constitute the basis upon Wnlcn
the state department thereafter WouIo
nudge Guatemala
How seriously Cabrera took the re-
mark Of secretary Knox is not known
but II has since been reported that he
had practically arranged to join Win
president Bonilla in denOunctng the al
titude of the state department In try
ing to secure a treaty giving the de-
pertinent control OF the customs houses
OF Honduras and similar treaty with
Nicaragua It would therefore seem
tentIon to what the Washington au-
thOrities say to him as he has paid TO
the representations Of the English
bcndholders.
Is Riding to a Fail.
But II ne actually is treating Wash
ingtOn with contempt ne is prOoaoly
riding to a fall 1t viii be remembered
that a convention was held IN ASH
ingtOn some years ago. with the United
States and Mexico as its sponsors,
which negotiated q neutrality treaty
between the several Central American
republics. Each pledged itself to keep
out Of the affairs OF the others. and all
pledged themselves TO guarantee tha
neutrality OF Honduras. so long as Hon
duras 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 unceremOniOuS1y eXlleu
from Nicaragua and told that II he val
ued his life he had better not return
In his letter breaking off diplomatic
relations with Nicaragua, secretary
Knox declared that IL was notorious
that Zeluaya had almost continually
kept Central America in turmoil and
that he had repeatedly and 1lagranu5
violated the provisions of the engage
ments so sOlemnly entered into al
Washington under the auspices Of the
United States.
Tt IS perhaps a safe prediction that
II Cabrera continues to play the Ze-
lava role, as Indications seem now thai
he may. be viii meet Zelaya's fate.
OF course he is q shrewder man than
Zelaya ever was. and after all the
statement that he might Join with
Bcnilla in denOuncing the policy of the
United States may have been put out
more as a feeler than as an announce
Eent of a serious intention
This much IS certain. Cabrera has
much for which to thank the United
States He has used the British bond
holders who furnished the government
with Its money in way that has Won
for him the contempt and enmity Of
the BrltOns. and II IL were not for the
restraining hand Of the United states
and the Monroe doctrine. England
would give him one Of the sOundest
spsnkings a Central American ruler
Denounced by English.
The British bOndhOlders' council has
denounced him in the most scatchlnS
terms. On four different occasions he
las submitted plans for the adjustment
OF the loan, on which there has been a
default OF interest ever since he came
into the presidency. but before his
proposition could be accepted. in ev-
cry instance he has gone back on the
bargain. They charge that he has used
the securities sOlemniy hypOthecated 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 Ameri-
ca with his ambition 10 rule over Cen.
tral America from Tehauntepec to Pam
anna, and it is almost certain that he
would set about at an early date to &C
complish that end but for his fear OF
interference from Mexico and the Unit
ed States Mention was made in a pre- /
yious letter OF a paid agent who is go
ing through Central America preaching
the doctrine OF a Central American con- I
federation. and there are those who be- I
Eeve that his inspiration, financial and
OF the Plaza de Armes. in this capital
Is Expert at Intrigue.
President Cabrera is past master Z
In the art OF political intrigue. and I
for years he mads his moves on the I
political checkerbOard in his great /
game with Zelaya so smoothly that I
people scarcely suspected that he was 4
playing al all. In 1902 the five repub- I
lies came together az COrintO, where /
the five presidents agreed that they I
would assist each other in maintaining I
themselves IN power Zelaya and "a /
brera planned that little scheme. THREE I
years passed and then a revolution /
broke out in Honduras and the agree /
ment became a dead letter. In 1905 /
Cabrera was caught red handed aid /
ing expresident AlfarO OF salvador, in |
a revolution against the established au- !
thOrities OF that country.
Later Salvador invaded Guatemala /
without taking trouble to declare war. I
and hOnOrs were about even when the Z
United States stepped in and treaty 4
was negotiated between the represeE- /
tatives OF the five republics and the |
American and Mexican ministers pledg-
ing the five republics to good behavior. /