Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-05
COSTA R|CA'S REASONS
FOR OPPOSING UNION
Senior R. Fernandez Guardia
Explains the Attitude of
His Country.

Stating that the reason Costa Rica has
so far refused to join In a union OF Cen
trail American republics Is based on the
difference in the way in which the gov
ernments of these republics are conduct
ed. Senior r. Fernandez Guardia, former
minister for foreign affairs Of Costa Rica,
in a statement made today. commented
on news published yesterday Of q new
movement for the union.
Senior Guardia, who is now in Washing
ton, comments on a statement tl-at Costa
RIGA is unwilling to join in the suggested
union because it is not willing to allow
Guatemala City to be the capital Of the
union.
1T is not true he continues. that
the objection made in Costa Rica to the
project Of union of the five Central
American republics based on the belief
Of the residents Of San Jose. the capital
of Costa RIGA, that that city should be
selected as the capital OF the proposed
United States Of Central America, rather
than Guatemala city, the largest city in
Central America.
Objections Seriously Based.
THE reasons for the objection that per-
vades all classes in Costa Rica are much
more serious. 1t is true that that repub-
lie is possessed Of no city as beautiful
as the city of Guatemala; but, on the
other hand. Costa RIGA rests content in
the enjoyment Of other blessings Of even
greater northumberland political lib
erty and all the guarantees that the most
civilized countries offer to their nationals
and to foreigners. In fact, Costa RIGA,
although one of the smallest of the Span
ish-American republics, has no cause to
envy any of her sister republics in the
49, .f 81
Costa Rica has enjoyed a perfect peace
since 1860 and has given cause for not
single international claim.
The history of the political regime
Of the Central American republics is
written in the reports Of the diplomatic
agents Of the United States accredited
to Central America. In those reports
the Department Of State can find the
reasons for Costa Rica'S objection. The
public at large, which is not familiar
with such documents can. however, in
form itself on the subject through the
medium of the works Of impartial for
eign authors who have written on Cen
trail America. OF these none Is fairer
long ago by the well known American
writer. Frederick Palmer. The reader
Of that work will see how Costa Rica.
is governed and how government Is ad-
ministered in Guatemala
Elections Free Expressions.
1T is also true that in Costa Rica the
presidents do not remain in power for
fifteen years, as has been the case with
Senior Estrada Cabrera. President of
Guatemala. The presidents of Costa
Rica are more modest. retiring from
offise every four years In favor of
successors chosen by the popular
will freely expressed. At the pres
ent moment. indeed, an electoral cam
paign is developing in Costa Rica
characterized by freedom from all re-
straint unexampled anywhere on the
western hemisphere except in the United
States and Canada.
When this great national function can
be conducted in Guatemala under the
same conditions. then will Costa Rica
retire from the objection she now makes
to the proposed Central American union:
she will even accept. and gladly. the
choice Of Guatemala City as the capital
Of that union.
But SO long as present conditions con-
tinue to prevail in Guatemala, the Costa
Rican people will be ever ready to de-
fend their independence and their liberty
against all who seek to impose upon them
a governmental system the counterpart
of which can be found only In Asia, and
I presume that no one will have the har-
dihood to ask Mr.. Bryan's collaboration in
such an undertaking."