Evening star., 1921-12-11
By BEN MckELWAY.

A SIDE from the real danger OF
~ an outbreak of hostilities in
~ Central America and its re-
sulting bloodshed and loss Of
! property. there ia q feeling of deep
| regret on the part of many Latin
American representatives in WASH
| 1ngton over the coup which has re-
suited in the overthrow of President
Caaos Herrera and the unionist party
in Guatemala.
Regardless. of Affiliations. political
! beliefs and sympathies, it is generally
| felt here that Herrera's deposition by
revolutionary tactics is a most un-
fortunate occurrence in it's effect on
! the infant federation of Central
America and upon the economic
status of all the republics of Central
America. For until these little re-
publics establish themselves in the
eyes of the world as stable, indepen-
dent governments, capable of bring
ing about changes in their admins
tratfons through the will of the peo-
pie expressed in lawful manner. they
will never win the respect neces-
sary to receive the aid they need
from outside. All of the republics
of Central America need financial as
sistance through loans and the in
vestment osIcapital, and the unwill-
ingness of capital to enter the field
! on large scale has been attributed
| to a great extent to the inability of
! any Of the governments to guarantee
anything like political stability.
1t matters little whether the revo-
luton was staged in Guatemala, Hon
duras, Salvador, Nicaragua or Costa
Rica, or what the name of the polit-
ical party. The fact remains that
another one of the revolutions for
been staged, another government
overthrown and another regime es-
| tablished.
In this case sympathy here Is
largely with the Herrera government.
His party, which came into power by
another revolution. under different
| circumstances. it is true, had given
promise of a new order of things in
Guatemala In spite of the economic
depression there, the administration
was going forward steadily with its
plans for the establishment of schools
and public works. construction of
| roads. reorganization Of the fiscal
| system. agricultural and industrial
been changed by a few men. proven
to represent the minority, who step
ped in and under cover Of darkness
and. with the aid of few soldiers.
proclaimed Themselves In power.
In our country we wonder at the
night. In Central America it has be-
come an old and oft-repeated story.
1T must be remembered that there
the large masses of the population
are ignorant, the soldiers cheaply
bought. the emotional Latin temper
oci1
not always express the. will of the
people. 1t is a coup in every sense
of the word.
+! The effect of the revolution on the
. newly formed Federation of Central
America, conceded to be a progress
! full. even though the revolutionists in
| Guatemala give it their approval. 1t
| is in a fair way now of failing, as
other attempts at unionization in
Central America have failed for a
century. Guatemala was one of the
Gates of the federation. Julio Bianchi
its minister here and her elected
delegate to the federal council OF
Central America and the probable
choice as president of the federation
to all intents and purposes is now a
political exile. Upon the ability OF
| the fedora ton to outlive such revolu-
! tfonary attempts depended its recog-
i milton by this country and Latin
! American powers. and upon this rec
ognition depended its existence.
| British-owned railways in Argen-
tina are taking q prominent part In
the agricultural and commercial de-
! velopment of that country since the
[ Commerce. Through the commercial
! departments Of these railroads. col
onization and the promotion of new
industries along the lines have been
encouraging.
The commercial departments of the
| and travelling experts. as Well as ex-
/ pertinent stations. The experts and
| agents answer inquiries, give cata-
!! logues. visit the farms and give free
demonstrations. and in many cases
it is stated, furnish free seed. Motion
chinery and roadbuilding have been
shown in villages along the railroads
and one company publishes a free
agricultural journal. which has q
| large circulation. The Pacific and
Western railway. one of the large
! transcontinental companies, has beer
, instrumental in enlarging the dried
and canned fruit industry Of Men.
doza, which win be in a position
! soon to enter the export field on q
cases, have actually furnished road
improvement machinery, and have
aided in the formation of agricultural
co-operatives.
| X i
The economic condition of Latir
America, as indicated by the situation
today in Argentina, Brasil. Peru anc
Chile. is shown to be gradually i'm.
proving in a report prepared by
Philip S. Smith. chief of the Latir