Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-05
BY BEN MekELwAY.

A UNION Of the five Central Amer
~ lean republics, with a govern
~ ment modelled on that Of the
United States, Is a probable
outcome Of the conference now in ses-
sion between representatives Of each
Of the states at San Jose. Costa Rica.
according to Senior Miguel Prado, sec
rotary Of the Guatemala legation, who
recently arrived in Washington.
Whether the union will be effected
within the mediate future is a Ques-
ton, Mr.. Prado believes, but OF the
ultimate combination there is little
doubt
Mr.. Prado bases his ability to fore
cast the union Of Central American
republics on his knowledge of the
feeling within the individual states
themselves. For fifteen years he was
his political affiliations. and during
this time he travelled in Central Amer
lea and spent much Of his time in each
of the republics.
With the single exception Of Mica
ragua, where politics. he states, have
divided the population on the cues
ton. a union Is greatly desired by the
people in all of the republics. The
advantages Of such a step are many.
while the disadvantages are few.
Central America now supports and
maintains Ave separate and distinct
governments. with their congresses,
their presidents, and cabinets. and
their political parties. The situation
has handicapped each of the repub-
lies, for each one is too small to little
more than support itself. There. has
been comparatively little trade ex-
pansion, little development of natural
resources and the people of each state
have suffered from the lack of the
facilities of communication.
One of the first steps of united
Central America, Mr.. Prado believes
would be the construction of an ade-
quate railway system which would
provide cheap and accessible trans
the states. This will be followed by
| an era of development Of trade and
| OF natural resources. always the
predecessors of improvement in the
| condition. of the people themselves.
There have been petty jealousies
and disputes, it is said. which I'D to
this time have hampered the forma.
ton of union. But Central Ameri.
can republics rapidly are outgrowine
them. according to Mr.. Prado. Such
questions as the location Of the seat
! OF government and other minor dis
to the United States of Central Amer.
lea to decide. should the conference al
| San Jose indorse the formation OF
such a union.
A boundary agreement has been
| reached between the governments OF
Mexico and Guatemala, for the pur.
pose Of prosecuting vigorously the
many bands of bandits and smugglers
| who are operating along the Mexico
Guatemala boundary line.
X + ~
President Brum Of Uruguay has
! sent DR.. Pedro Erasmo Callorda ia
Mexico City as envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary on a spe.
cial mission. The purpose Of the en-
| voy's visit is said to be to strengthen
the bonds Of pan-American solidar-
ity" and to express to President Obre
gon wishes for the prosperity and
welfare of his government"
| g.
| The Uruguayan legation here has
been informed of the election of thre,
new members to the Uruguayan ma
Gonal council of administration. They
are Jose Battle Ordonez and Juar
ment party. and Alfonso Lamas, mem
Der Of the opposition. The nationa
council of administration in Uruguay
is in charge Of all domestic matters
Of government, except control of the
military, which comes directly under
the president.
Last weeks election gives the gov
eminent six members in the council te
three held by the opposition. The
election was held in perfect order, il
| is stated, and an attempt of the radi-
cal element to interfere by calling a
general strike was Intellectual
Six senator's also were elected. OF
whom four are of the government
party and two of the opposition.
\ X x *
Reports recently circulated in the
United States to the effect that the
people of Guatemala wish the release
from prison of Estrada Cabrera, de-
posed president, and the return of his
regime. which was overthrow by the
present Herrera government. are
vigorously denied here. Cabrera has
lost all popularity he ever might have
had, it is said. and his release from
prison actually is feared by Guate-
malans, who have not forgotten the
twenty years Of his dictatorship.
Friends of the deposed president are
working for his release, and President
Wilson now has under advisement a
letter from Cabrera, declaring that