New-York tribune., 1918-12-10
Members to Point TO Failure
Of Ccntra! American Pact
u. s. Promoted i'm 1907
Nicaragua's Case Is Cited
Bryan-Channorro Treaty for
Dispute Never Reached
Senate for Ratification
By arter Field


WASHINGTON, Dec. "a lengthy
discussion sf how the human element
makes the league of nations idea i'm
practicable. as illustrated by the ex-
poricnce of the mnde-n America idea
of Central American league of ma
tions. VIII take place in the Senate in
the next few days, it was promised to-
night by opponents of the Presidents
plan
The Central American international
court, it is pointed out. was set up by
the United States in 1907 to adjust all
disputes between the nations of Central
America. Just a few months before it
expired by limitation it rendered a de-
cision against Nicaragua. ordering her
to set aside ner treaty with the United
States. Both Nicaragua and the
United States ignored the treaty, and
when the ten year period expired
Secretary Lansing sounded the death
knell of the Central American league
OF nations. 1t had trampled on Uncle
Sans cornS.
Diplomats Chuckling
South American diplomats here are
chuckling rather openly at the lofty
declarations of those seeking to follow
the President in his plan to prevent
future wars by a league OF nations.
The Central American diplomats do
not smile. They get so mad and excited
when the words international court"
are used, or when any reference is
made to a league OF nations being set
up which will adjust all possible dis
putes between countries having trou-
bles, that they use more Spanish eX-
pletives than English, with the result
that it is very difficult to follow them
The chuckles and the anger both go
back to the late Central American court
of justice, near league of nations,
established by the United States III the
hope OF bringing peace and tranquility
to a revolution ridden little portion of
the world, which was continually
threatening to involve the United
States in trouble with some European
power because Of its bad habit of re-
pudiating foreign debts and numbering
No Harm Done for Time
SO under the inspiration of the
United States, while Elihu Root was
Secretary of State and Theodore
Roosevelt was President, in the last
few months of 1907 the five nations,
Guatemala, Nicaragua, Salvador. Costs
through their diplomatic agents sent
to Washington, which was to put an
end to these unpleasant internationul
miX-ups. The plan looked so good at
the time, and there was such a feeling
of quiet satisfaction about it, that it
has been frequently commented in the
last few days that it is surprising Mr.
Root did not propose at once to the
world that the European nations join
America in larger league, which
would submit all its quarrels to an
international court.
The plan at least did no harm for q
while, fer although wars and revolu-
tions continued to a certain extent
there were no indications that the in.
ternatlOnal court, or the league of ma.
tions idea, had caused them
United States Then Intervencd
But the United States intervened in
Nicaragua to the extent of landing
marines and virtually seizing the gov
er.A4cnt at Managua, the capital
When an election was held, several
years later, the American marines su-
pervsed it, and it was quite generally
understood in Nicaragua that the
United States wanted the President
then IN office reelected. He was re-
elected. His opponent was unable tc
persuade his followers to risk goine
TO the polls to any extent
Then the United States and Near
aqua ratified treaty under which
the United States purchased from
Nicaragua for So 100000 an option or
the Nicaraguan Canal route and a site
for naval base in Fonseca Bav. This
treaty had been negotiated by William
Jennings Brvan.
At once two of the Central American
powers protested to the nternationa
court. Salvador borders on Fonsccs
bay, and protested that she feared +
great power like the United State.
having naval base so close to her
Costa Rica protested that she hat
ghts in the San Juan River-part O.
the so-called Nicaraguan Canal route
which is the boundary line of the tive
countries.
Treaty Is Called Menace
The Central American. court tool
this dispute under advisement and r
a decision handed down on March 9
1917. said:
THE Bryan -Chamorro treatv o
august 5, 1914, constitutes menac,
to the national security of San Salvado
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