Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-09
Knox Boards a Dictator

Guatemala City, March 16.-Gua- !
temala has not been especially
punctilious in observing its OBJ
legations under the Central Ameri-
can peace pact of 1907, and only re-
Gently Salvador had occasion to COM
plain and invite the good Offices of the
American state department to secure
her territorial rights against Gaute-
malan aggression.
Mr.. Knox evidently had this in
mind when he delivered his formal
address at the presidents dinner to-
night. 1t must have required some
courage after the kingly style in
which he had been entertained, and
surrounded by men who appeared to
draw their breath by sufferance of the
host, for the secretary to stand up
ana declare in language that could
not be misunderstood that the strict
adherence OF Guatemala to the Wash
irEton conventions was parable
from any hope of future prosperity,
advancement and peace. The conyen-
tions provide that disputes between
the FIVE republics shall be submitted
to the peace tribunal at Carriage; that
no government shall invade the ter
ritory of another, or permit, within
their own boundaries the Quitting Of
revolutionary expeditions against a
sister republic The secretary said
in part:
/ Guatemala in it's position Of close
proximity to the United states, where
there is ever ready an eager market
/ for its products, and with its dense
population occupies indeed an en-
viable position among the Central
American nations. This position will
be rendered increasingly desirable as
time goes on and the development OF
your country's enormous possibilities
is accomplished. And Mr.. President
/. / may here remark without, ! am
sure, indulging any view not equally
shared by yourself that the continuous
development and permanent advance
ment of the republic depend on its
stable economic conditions as well as
upon its domestic cOntentment and
consequent repose. The unvaryine
friendship of the government Of the
United States for republican institu.
tions in this hemisphere and its de-
sire to see them conserved free from
interference are too well known and
understood to need words of reassur-
anCe from me. From the very incep-
ton of, and even before the indepen-
dence of the Latin-American nations
the attitude of the American govern
! ment. which later was Enthusiastically
announced by President Monroe, was
well known and it continues undimin-
ished to the present day.
In Central America the United
States has a special interest not only
because of the proximity of the five
republics to the great commercial
highway now nearing completion in
Panama, but also because of its NOR
al obligations under the Washington
conventions. The maintenance OF
| peace and stable conditions in these
republics is a matter of first impor
lance 10 my government. The faith
full observance of those conventions
will. in the opinion of my government
so lar toward the elimination of the
turmoil that has hitherto shaken the
very foundations of some of the les
fortunate and less tranquil countries
'In conclusion, Mr.. President, al
low me to indulge the hope that tn,
relations between our respective
lcountries may become increasingly
cordial and close, to the mutual bene
MT of both
This speech if published here, as
probably will not be, may reassure
good many who have admired the sec
lretary because of his part in breaking
the tyranny of President Zelsya o
Nicaragua and some of whom, unfa
milisr with the necessities of diplC
macy. must have been bewildered I,
see this champion of repuhlicanism
accepting the hospitality of the mos
notorious dictator now tolerated IN
uer a pretense of popular govern
ment.
An editor Of local paper when asked
] # the government censorship was sever,