Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-12

CENTRAL AMERICA TO CONFER.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 9.-Ameri-
can financiers and investors as well as
those of other great commercial and
Trading nations of the world are look
ing forward with undisguised interest
to the conference to be held in Wash
ington on December 4 among the five
Central American republics.
This conference recently was called
by the secretary of state to discuss
extension of the doctrine of national
disarmament and of peaceful inter
national cooperation to Central
mala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Salvador
and Nicaragua are those to which in
! vitations have been sen British
Honduras is a British colony and the
Republic of Panama occupies a rather
unusual position under the adjacent in
flueuce of the American canal zone,
and while they have not been included
in the present invitation, it Is expected
they will adhere to any general agree
ruents reached.
The great Importance of the confer
ence from the point of view of Ameri-
can financial and commercial interests
is that it offers a promise of remov-
ing the greatest menace to Develop
nent of trade in Central America
/ toAtbiSaA Il Cav Va
this conference will be of somewhat
wider scope than that of the confer
eree on the limitation of ornaments
held at Washington among the great
military and naval powers last year.
It is expected TO include sorne aspects
of the economic question. which neces-
sarily will be affected By any agree
ments reached in respect to disarma-
ment and the establishment of peace
full relations.
Since o. Henry wrote "Cabhages
ard Kings and since Richard Hard
Jig Davis and other writer's of the
romantic school first published their
tales concerning Central American
countries. these states have rested
under a prejudice so far as trade. the
great stabilizer, is concerned. Capita
is timid and dislikes to venture into
places where it may be subjected tc
sudden assault and destruction. Nos.
tromo." Joseph Conrad's astounding
novel of Latin America, revolves prin.
ieipallv about the investments Of
British and American citizens, Ths
story. recognized as a faithful repre-
sentation of the life in that part of thu
wcrld. shows what difficulties con
fronted development by foreign capital
Indeed, an entire boatload of silver i
actually stolen, boat and all.
! With such tales as these reposin;
in the minds of American investors
they are not likely to rush their dollar
to Central America to run these risks
The American conception of Contra
America is that of d comic oper,
world where revolution is the centra
and recurring plot. Events have JUST
fled such an opinion as much as tn
stories of the novelists. Only q yea
ago. the government of Carlos Her
re1a. president of Guatemala, who wa
elected by an Overwhelming majorit.
of voters, was overthrow by a bandl
general who had just been let out 0
Jail. In the most accepted comi
opera manner. he organized a band o
some 80 soldiers and brigands.. starte,
a revolution, threw the lawful presi
dent and his cabinet into Jail, executes
many and took possession of the rein
of government.
President Harding entertains tn
hope of putting into effect during hi
administration a policy which viii en-
such iawlessness and political disturb
. ance. The conference which has bee,
called for December 4 is the first ste
in such an accomplishment.
The president thinks that it is tim
the whole Of Latin America was sta
hilized and developed. His genera
plan for disarmament which will de
priye the warning factions of supple
of arms and ammunition with whic
to continue their dissentions. If tn
December conference accomplishes thi
it will be carrying the theory of worl
disarmament a full stride further tina.
the great conference of last fall wa
able to 20. 1t will be establishing tn
important precedent of the disarma
ment of land forces. 1t viii be re
called that the great conference @
the military powers was unable to IN
dertake this important step becaus
of the objection of France, based o
her hesitancy to lay down her swor
while the red army of Russia stoo
fully armed. With the precedent es
tabiished in Central America. it seem
possible that the European land disal