The Washington herald., 1920-12-06
Imprisonment Of Ex-Pres-
ident of Guatemala May
Cause Senate Inquiry.
ASK ACTION THIS WEEK
Reports That Unionists
Broke Written Pledges
Current Here,
by ROBERT BARRY.

An investigation by the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations
into the continued imprisonment of
Manuel Estrada Cabrera, former
president Of Guatemala, and staunch
friend of the United States, Is to
be urged this week by member OF
the committee in the form OF a
Senate resolution. Decision to de-
yelop circumstances said to involve
a decline in the prestige of the
United states in Latin America was
reached following conferences among
Republican members of the Senate
Mystery attending a. written
agreement guaranteeing protection
to his life and property, signed by
Cabrera when he yielded the presi-
dency, is one Of the Inspirations for
the senatorial interest. Julio BIZ
anchi,. the present Guatemalan Min
lister in Washington, denies the ex-
istence of such an agreement. What
pupported to be Photographic copies
of il have been received in WASH
ington. One of them is in the State
Department, and the original Is said
to be in a safety vault in New York
City.
The presence Of American Minis
ter Mcmillan at the capitulation Of
Cabrera leads to view held by
several Senators that pledges con-
tanned in the articles of capitula-
tion constituted pledges to the
United States, and that the prestige
of this government demands their
vindication. 1t is felt here that
Minister Bianchi has been deceived
as to the full facts in the case.
Serious charges rejecting upon
the integrity OF political leaders in
Guatemala, and even upon some
American officials, have been ban
died about Washington.
1t Is said the former -Prestd dent
has a. comfortable residence in an
apartment of three rooms, that his
family is permitted to visit him and
that he is being well cared for.
Contradictory evidence, held to have
been of an official character. has
been received in Washington,
through Mexico.
1t is further charged in infor-
nation placed in the hands of in
terested Senators that, instead OF
protecting Cabrera's property, some
Of the leaders of the Unionist party
participated in the looting of his
residence, carrying away in auto
mobiles a considerable sum of money
in addition to jewels and other per-
sonal effects valued at several mill
lions of dollars.
Louis Fontaine. a French sculptor.
his wife and child were lynched
by a mob said to have been in
stigated by leaders of the Unionist
party, the leader of which now is
in the United States. Fontaine's 8
only offense, it is charged. was that
of having received some commits
sions from Cabrera for professional
services.
Francisco Cardenas, alleged to
have been the assassin of Francisco
Madero in Mexico, was said to have
been released from Jail, where he
awaited extradition to Mexico. and
to have been made a general in
the revolutionary army. When it
was announced that Gen. Obregon
would demand Cardenas. 1t was re-
ported he had committed suicide.
but he is supposed to be on his way
to Argentina.
In contradiction of statements
made here that peace reigns through
out Guatemala, reports from other
quarters have reached the Capital
to the effect that quiet, but none
the-less active, preparations were
being made by liberal forces for
the overthrow of the Herrera-Esca-
miIla government. Trouble within
ninety days is forecast by some au-
thorities, who state that the Names
pf Gems. Isidro Valdez and Jorge
lCbico figure prominently in the re-
ports.
Copyright. 1890, Public Ledger Co..