The Washington herald., 1913-07-21

fifteen years certainly have tended to.
ward the fulfillment Of this prophecy.
1t Is certain. however. that the accent
! ance of the direct protection of the United
| states by the single republic of Mica.
rasua Will have remarkably calmins
| enect upon the revolutionary movemen,
and upon political disturbers in all the
other countries Of Central America. Con.
| ditions in the Central American republics
are SO similar. and their relations with
one another SO intimate. that II always
has happened that disturbance in one OF
them has been keeniy felt in its neigh
bors. The senstiveness of the entire
structure to shock in any part of 1t was
recognized In the so-calIed Washington
conventions, by which peace between the
respective republics was secured by the
United States.
1t was at that time also recognized
that If the two republics Of Nicaragua
and Honduras could be strengthened and
rendered secure from internal assaults
the stability of all Central America
would be greatly increased.
The argument advanced then holds
good now, and the arrangement with
Nicaragua will make broad belt of ter
ritory. stretching from ocean to ocean,
IN which stability of government and
Industry will be secured. The certainty
of internal peace in this section will 90
far, it is believed. toward maintaining
the stability Of Honduras and Salvador.
Nicaragua's neighbors on the north; of
Costa Rica, on the south, there is little
cause for anxiety. while Guatemala, II
kept out of ENVIRONMENTS with its neigh
bors. is fairly certain quantity.
Honduras Case Later.
The question has been raised whether
similar proposal may be made in re-
gard to Honduras. The Taft administra-
ton sought to have a treaty put through
the Senate providing the means for the
Strengthening out of the finances of that
little republic. but it, like the similar
treaty negotiated by the Taft adminis-
tration with Nicaragua, failed of ratifi-
cation. There is no likelihood, of course,
of any such movement in regard to Hon.
duras. unless the initiative should come
from that country. and 1t should be made
clear that as yet there is not even
suggestion that the Wilson administra-
tion contemplates the extension of the
so-called protectorate policy beyond Mica
ragua.
An important fact in the proposed ar
rangement Is that not only will the
peace and progress of Nicaragua be as
sured. but by the terms Of the treaty
the United States will be able to exere
rise the upper hand on the Gulf Of Fon- |
SEGA The waters Of this gulf, on which |
the United States Is ceded a naval base, |
wash not only the shores of Nicaragua /
but those of Salvador and Honduras as |
we'll. In every disturbance in and be- |
tween those three republics the waters |
IF the Gulf Of Fonseca have carried |
many a revolutionary and filibustering |
expedition. The domination of the gulf, /
:hich is, by the way. the only good har-
'or between Santiago and South America,
will enable the United States effectively /
o put an end to such expeditions in that |
quarter.
That the movement will end with Mic |
ragua is not likely. 1t Is believed newt
BILE that the influence of the United
'tates in the region between the Rio
;rande River and the Panama Canal will
early increase and never diminish. There
no thought, however, Of making the
lightest effort to extend American In
uence in a concrete way, and, in fact.
ne present administration would regret
he creation of an impression that further
xtensions are contemplated. Europe,
owever. and especially Great Britain,
hopefully awaiting the day when the
nited States will take decisive steps to
Isure stability in Central America. Far
-om meeting objection in Europe, 1t Is
spected that The powers will applaud the
plan with reference to
lea ragua