New-York tribune., 1913-12-25
Advises We Go Slow in
Taking Responsibility for
Nicaraguan Finances.
PRAISES PRESS FOR
KINDLY TREATMENT
Sole Object in Coming Here to
Arrange for Sale of Bonds,
He SAYS.

j. Santos Zelaya. former President -
Nicaragua who was arrested soon after
his arrival here from Cherbourg on tho
White Star liner Oceanic about six weeks
ago. sailed for Havre yesterday by the
French liner La Lorraine. accompanied
by his secretary. joaquin Machias
He had little 10 say on his departure.
but left behind a statement which was
10 be made public four hours after his
leaving port. This vas intrusted 10 Gen
eral Francisco Aitschul. one Of his close
friends. who served as consul for Mica
rarua at New Orleans when Ielaya vas
in power.
The departing eN-Presidont had nothing
but praise to bes,oT upon the State De
partnent and the press for the kindly
treatment which, he said. both had eN-
tended 20 him when interests In Mica
ragua were AT work TO discredit him and
have him returned 10 his native country.
Zelaya made IT plain that he always
had and still maintained the varmest af-
fection for his native land, and declared
he left the Presidency OF the republic a
poorer man than when he took ONCE. lie
lent the bulk OF his private fortune 10 the
republic he asserted In spirit OF
patriotism to help pay of the cost OF the
war with Honduras in 1907
He warned the United states to con
slider the subject well before assuming
any moral responsibility for the present
or future financing OF Nicaragua while
an effort is being made TO ignore an obli-
CATION Of the government which would be
upheld by any court In the world.
| He said his sole object in coming here
vas TO make an arrangement for the sale
| or redemption of the government bonds
| he bought in 1880. He added that he hoped
70 return TO Nicaragua when the United
States had taken hold and had paciied
the country. He had no future political
ambitions. he declared. but wished 10 end
/ his days In tho country so close to mis-
! heart.
In the statement given TO General Alt-
schul the former President said. In part:
For seventeen years | had the honor
OF being President Of Nicaragua. during
| which lengthy period there existed be-
| tween my country and the United States
| an unbroken relation OF friendship and
goodwill. ! have had the honor OF Offer
ing Official and personal hospitality TO
many Americans OF distinction. and have
used such influence as | may have had
10 facilitate the entrance OF American
capital and enterprise into Nicaragua.
Such diplomatic difficulties as arose
with the United States came at the end
OF my long administration. and were all
centred about tho aims and ambitions Of
the American financial interests which We
had admitted 10 our country In a spirit
Of friendship. Four years ago | retired TO
Spain. and there have enjoyed a repOse
and tranquility to which, at my age OF
sixty years, | would seem TO be entitled.
II entered upon the Presidency Of Nicd-
ragua a comparatively wealthy man, with
a fortune both inherited and acquired
by my own industry as n private citizen.
laid down the Presidency after seven
| teen years, leaving In the possession Of
the Republic OF Nicaragua practically all
my fortune. / have never removed my
personal fortune from the Republic Of
Nicaragua; on the contrary. | have
loaned the bulk OF 1t to my country.
II personally have nothing To conceal.
! and would welcome most searching In
| quiry. ! came here 10 the United States
! for the sole purpose OF making All ?r-
rangement for the sale or redemption Of
my bonds. | was arrested Immediately
after my arrival here on a charge by the
| Nicaragua government so palpsbly false
! tEat the Department OF State ordered the
government of Nicaragua TO withdraw
its request for my extraditon. The re-
quest was promptly withdrawn and | was
| released"