Evening star., 1921-12-25
CONSTITUTION OF NEW REPUBLIC
GIVES EXECUTIVE POWER TO COUNCIL

terms of service in the army, navy or
police force; complete their prison
sentences; accept amnesty; rehabili-
tate themselves in conformity to the
law, or renounce any foreign nation
ality they may have acquired through
naturalization in other countries.
The constitution declares that the
maximum working day for laborers
shall be Of eight hours. and that for
every six days Of work there shall be
to them the right to suspend work or
strike, but admonishes them to use no
compulsion upon other workers to do
likewise or to commit acts Of VIC
lence. Strikes are forbidden when in
violation of contract
Another liberal feature of the con-
stitution is its declaration with re-
gard to the alcoholic traffic. It is
declared to be the duty Of the fed
Grafton to gradually restrict the use
of alcohol and of the states to sus-
pend the revenues now received from
conveniently be done.
The present experiment in Central
American federation will be watched
with great deal of interest, mixed
with some skepticism, on account of
the failure of the original union. the
constitution of which was completed
in November. 1924. and adopted April
IS, 1925. The federation which was
then formed had stormy time of it.
and finally broke np in 1899. when
Nicaragua and Honduras retired from
it and signed a treaty of alliance.
both for the maintenance of their own
separate independence and sover-
eighty and for the defense of any
other state against interference from
the federal government
< x X i:
IN 1s49. not discouraged by the for
mer failure. Honduras. Salvador
and Nicaragua once more attempted
confederation, and issued an invi-
tation to Guatemala and Costa Rica
to join it. But when the constitution
was framed Salvador and Nicaragua
both refused to abide by it. on the
ground that it created a dictatorship.
Other attempts were made from time
to time with the same object in view,
but all We're abortivc.
The State Department has had the
constitution of the new federation
y,n frS 4
special mission is now in Washington
urging the recognition of the new
republic, and several conferences have
taken place between its members and
officials of thea department.
DIR. Julio Bianchi, the Guatemalan
minister. who has done much mis-
sionary work for the federation. as
w ell as much of the actual work Incl
dental to its organization. is enthusi-
astic in his predictions for its future.
He declares that recognition from the
United States is the first essential,
and has to say on that topic:
THAT the United States of America
will accord recognition to the United
States Of Central America, freely and
without conditions of any kind, is my
firm belief"
The recent revolution in Guatemala.
which resulted in the overthrow of
the government headed by President
Herrera. is not expected to prevent.
and it may not postpone. the con-
summation of the federation which
Central Americans so long have
dreamed of and worked for. The
newly established government has
lost no time in making it known that
it is not hostile to the federation and
will not seek to prevent Guatemala
from joining it.
NO government can maintain itself
in Guatemala which does not declare
itself in favor of federation" says
DR.. Bianchi, land the only hope OF
the military group which is tempo
rarily in control of Guatemalan af-
fairs IS to announce adhesion to the
constitution legally adopted by each
of the three states of the federation.'
A referendum upon the adoption or
, non adoption of the constitution is
not unlikely, according to latest ad-
vices from Guatemala City. Such a
referendum, in the opinion of the
Guatemalan minister. would result in
it's adoption by a popular vote of
more than two to one.