South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-10
C difference At
u. S. Capital Has
Peace Purpose

WASHINGTON, Dec 9.-The con-
ference of Central American states
converting in Washington today has
as its first aim the negotiation of
treaty. or treaties, 10 make effective
| those provisions OF the treaties
signed at Washington in December,
/ 1907, which experience has shown TO
be effective in maintaining friendly
relations and cooperation among the
Central American states.
The origin Of the treaties Of 1907
ana their purpose now therefore be-
come Of primary Importance.
In 1907 a war ended between Hon
duras and Nicaragua. Shortly after
ward conflict threatened between
! Nicaragua and Salvador. To avert
this conflict a peace conference was
proposed by Pres't Roosevelt and
Pres't PorfiriO Diaz, Of Mexico.
I After a preliminary conference IN
September. a formal conference was
convened in November and Deem
| Der at Washington. The participants
/ were delegates Of the five Centrai
/ American Republics and diplomats
Of the United States and Mexico.
The Importance OF achievements
/ Of the conference OF 1907 were: A
l treaty Of peace and amity STATING
\ that the contracting parties sought
/ to preserve peace, and pledging aG-
tustment OF differences; second. a
supplementary convention aiming to
\ discourage the reelection of presl>
/ dents and otherwise TO curb revolu-
] t!Ons; third. tho establishment Of L
permanent tribunal az Carriage. I'm
/ Costa Rica, comprising one delegate
/ from each state 10 take action re-
gardins certain specified controvers-
/ les.
Although these gementS had
/ some eftec' in promoting political
/ stability in Central America, their
/ aims were never entirely fulfilled
During the last Is years. various
/ political movements have occurred
/ among the five republics, most iEl-
I portant of which were steps teward
/ a Central American union This
Y union could net be completed partly
because of the n-partiCipatiOn o.
/ Nicaragua, and during the last two
/ years there has been a general con-
| dition OF political unrest among the
| Central Republics.
Upon the initiative OF Nicaragua.
a meeting was held last August 20.
aboard the L. $ 5. Tacoma, in Fon-
7 SEGA Bay. between the presidents Of
/ Nicaragua, Honduras and salvador.
/ looking toward the establishment o.:
/ peaceful relations between these
three countries. The call for the
/ present conference at Washington is
tho result of that conference.
At the meeting aboard the Taco.
ma. the governments Of Guatemala
I and Costa Rica were invited 10 &C
\ cept the agreement reached there.
/ They replied that such adherence
was not necessary as they regarded
( the treaty OF 1907 as still in force
and intended TO abide by its pro.
/ visions.
This revelation OF a unanimous
wish for peaceful solution of Cen
trail American difficulties paved the
wav for the United States State de-
partment 10 issue an invitation for
a new conference at Washington.
in which the former treaties would
be revised and enlarged and other
i important matters discussed.
Tho result was the issuance OF AZ
invitation through the American Lee
| cations IN capitals OF the FIVE Cen
trail American Republics for the con-
| ference now convened.