Evening star., 1922-12-05
CENTRAL AMERICAN
PARLEY AGENDA Up
Conference Meets Behind
Closed Doors-Arms Cut
to Be Pushed.

Following the opening session Of
the Central American conference here
yesterday. the delegates. meeting as
a committee OF the whole. went into
executive session today at tho Pan
American building in the first meet
ing behind closed doors to discuss the
agenda to be taken up during. the
conference. which is expected to con-
tinue through the next two weeks.
That part Of the program dealing
with the consideration Of limitation
of armament. negotiation of treaties
TO strengthen aud bring up to date
the old 1907 agreements and the lay
ing of plans for tribunals of inquiry
to adjust peacefully Central Ameri-
can disputes. the three specific points
which were included in the invitation
sent out by the United States State
Department to the member countries.
Guatemala, Honduras. Salvador, Mica
ragua and Costa Rica, are expected
to be approved with little argument.
Among state Department officials it
was believed today that the present
sessions. being held this morning an"
this afternoon, would deal chief
the discussion OF a means of initial
ing steps toward a union OF Central
American states.
Not Expected to Come rp.
This idea is not new one. For
many years patriots and politicians
Of the different Central American
countries have made such proposals
and devoted their energies to bring
ing about such Il federation. How
IN, j.1l 81
Washington that the advancement OF
these plans will not be possible dlr-
ing the present conference. IT would
be possible to Incorporate TINS item
in the program. but. according to the
invitation from Secretary of state
Hughes. it would be necessary TO nave
the unanimous vote of all the deie-
gates. and because of opposition TO
the union at this time understood 70
he held by both Guatemala and Costa
Rica ii is felt certain By officials that
this proposal is sure to be DISCARDED
at todays sessions.
In a reply to DIR. Ucles' open pro-
posal yesterday, Senor Jose Andras Co
ronado of Honduras took a decided stand
in the matter. showing his governments
feeling on the question. when he said
that the Central American govern
rnentS. in accepting the invitation 70
: come to Washington, had been fuliy
cosnizant of the fact that the historic
hour of their political union had not
vet struck" The delegates from Nc
aracua and Salvador. in their initial
speeches. gave the impression that
they would follow the lead taken by
Honduras.
Arms Cut Holds Interest.
| The topic on the program that is
believed to be the most vital to the
future welfare of the Central Ameri-
can powers is that of Limitation OF
armament. and il is hoped by all IN
terested parties that definite progress
will be made along this line.
For decades past it has been q wen
recognized fact that the small armies
Of the Central American nations have
been a hndrance to progress ana
unity Of government and their eNist-
ence has not been warranted by the
use that has been made of them.
Rarely have the military forces ever
been used as weapon OF de1ense
and too many times have the armies
been used as political factors to aid
one or another ambitious candidate
to office. Since the highest type OF
members Of the present conference,
1t is confidently believed that for the
good of all concerned and the hopes
Of stabilized governments an agree
ment on a decided cut in armed forces
will be reached.
The conference is following gen
orally in procedure the line OF the
Washington conference on limitation
of naval armament. Under that pre-
cedent II is to be expected that there
will be different committees for the
simultaneous consideration OF the
three accepted points Of discussion.