New-York tribune., 1918-06-24
Costa Rica May
Be Lost as AHy
By Wilson Stand
Continued from page 1

gresS into extra session, and obtain
ing declaration of war on Ger
many. q = IL
Vote in Congress Close
The strength of the Germans ant
the fact that Tinoco is not a comic
opera or Huerta type Of dictator ar,
shown by the fact that this vot,
was very close-20 to II.
The only revolution against I'll
noco is alleged by his friends t<
have been plotted in the house Of
the agent of the American State
Department, Stewart johnson.
Every South and Central Ameri
can republic, save Venezuela icon
sidered pro-German and now sus
pected of harboring German subma
rines), and Nicaragua CONTROLLED
by American marines), has recog
nized Tinoco. The British, French
and Italian ministers are still there
in friendly intercourse, although
there has been no formal recogni
tion by them owing to an agree.
ment by their governments only tc
follow the lead of the United States
in such matters.
The Administration has so far ig-
nored the representations of the Bra
lillian Ambassador in favor of Tinoco
and the advice of Senators Swanson
of Virginia, and Ransdell, of Louisiana,
both Democrats, who have investigated
the situation.
Tinoco's Difficulties Serious
Tinocos financial difficulties have
been serious. Even if Tinoco wished
to resort to the high-handed COM
Wandering tactics of comic opera rev.
olutionary presidents. the people of
the country would not stand for it.
The people of Costa Rica are white
and are intelligent. They realized, far
better apparently than our State De-
partment, the pro- German activities of
Gonzalez, and for that reason were so
solidly behind Tinoco at the time of
the bloodless revolution that Gonzalez
fed d without being able to organize a
sufficient force to make a showing.
Tinoco found the government with
rather stiff foreign obligations. for the
payment of the interest of which the
custom house receipts had been
pledged. He found that the custom
house receipts had fallen so low, due
to the drop in trade resulting from
the war, that they were not sufficient
even to pay the interest on the foreign
debts, yet alone run the country.
In addition, Tinoco found it neces-
Ia
try's history, to maintain a fair-sized
army, the reason for this being the
constant conspirng on the part of the
| Germans to organize revolution
which would put their friend Gonzalez
back into power. Several leaders of
the only revolution which has come to
head during Tinoco's presidency
were in the house Of Stewart johnson
the agent in Costa Rica of the State
Department, the day before the revo.
luton started.
Taxation Causes Discomfort
To provide for the payment of in
terest on the debt to supplement the
scanty Custom House receipts, to
maintain the army. and to run the gov
ernment. Tinoco has been obliged to
levy heavy taxation. This IS the first
time in the history of the little coun-
been necessary, and, needless to saw
1T has caused much discontent This
the Germans have capitalized to its
utmost extent. Many of these Ger
mans. who possess much Of the wealth
OF Costa Rca, have intermarried with
Costa Rican families which are finan-
clalIy prosperous, and as result they
have been able to rouse mach oppo-
s1tion to Tinoco, pointing out that his
reckless antagonizing of Germany has
brought the country into sore financial
straits.
Lately they have begun a slightly
more subtle campaign, taking their cne
from statement by the American
State Department that it would neye,
recognize Tinoco. distributed through
not only Costa Rica, but Centra'
America in general, it is said, ,,robabl,
by Stewart Johnson. at the direction
of tho State Department.
Now they merely urge "anybody bu,
Ilnoco." the only suspicious part OF
their present campaign being that Il
has the hearty Endorsement of the Ger
man born Bishop and all the othe,
German element which backed Con
zalez.
One German was arrested for circu
lating a report that President Wilson
would restore Gonzalez, if necessary
by force Of arms, He testified undey
oath that Gonzalez had written him
that President Wilson had offered tt
do this
Policy of the Germans
The present policy of the Germans
in letting the American State Denart.
ment accomplish their ends for then
Is IN sharp contrast. though of course
IN harmony with their steadfast polio,
OF making Costa Rica useful to the
Fatherland, not only during but afte,
the war, with their proposal to Tinocc
soon after the Costa Rican Congress
severed diplomatic relations with C;er.
many.
Through the German Bishop Tinocc
was Informed that he would bt
| hnanced If he would get his Congress
together and declare a state of neu.
trality with Austria. Coming on the
hecis OF the State Departments action
IN blocking the proposed loan Of the
Royal Bank Of Canada, Tinoco, had his
desire merely been to retain power
could easily by yielding have settled
down to a period of undisturbed ID
prosperity The action the Germans
so craftily asked at that time would
not even have been an unfriendlv act
toward the United States. since this
country had not then declared war on
Austria o''
That the German opposition ia
llnoco is making headway, aided bv
the attitude of the American STATE
Department., is clearly demonstrated in
the vote in the Costa Rican CONGRESS-
by which 1T declared war on Germany.