Evening star., 1923-02-07

the five delegations dealt with the
unification of protective laws for
workmen and laborers. the practice
of the liberal professions. the prep
aration of projects of electoral legis-
lation. establishment of stations for
agricultural experiments and animal
industries, reciprocal exchange of
Central American students, eXtradi-
tion establishment OF permanent
Central American commissions and
limitation of armaments.
The protocols not participated in
by the United States fixed the Spanish
text OF the agreements as the only
authoritative text and declared that
trail American Tribunal set up by one
of the conventions could be effected
only directly. without recourse to the
international Office also established.
The treaty of peace and amity signed
by the five powers contains the pro-
visions of the similar treaty negoti-
atedhere in 1907 which have been
found of practical value in the main
tenance of friendly relations between
the participating governments and ad-
ditional provisions designed to promte
such aims. 1t sets forth that the first
duty of the Central American repub-
lies is the maintenance of peace, de-
clares violent or Illegal alteration of
the constitutional organizations in
any one of them is a menace to the
peace of all and obligates each sig
natory not to recognize in another a
government resulting from a coup
d'etat or revolution against a recog-
nized government or from the cleo
| flee by the constitution.
| fee by theconstitution.
The treaty also obligates each OF
| the five governments not to inter-
vene in favor of or against the gov
ernment of another republic in case
of civil war, nor in the internal af-
fairs of any other republic, and each
! agrees not to permit within its ter
iritory the organization of revolu-
! itionary movements against the recog-
niZed government of any of the other
signatorieS. Secret treaties also are
prohibited. and the treaty binds each
government to seek constitutional re-
/ forms to make impossible the re-eiec-
tion of a president or vice presl-
dent.
! The convention establishing an in
ternational tribunal is designed 10
provide means for settling all con,
/ itroversies between the Central
American republics which do not af-
feet the sovereign and independent
!, existence of the nations and have not
been found amenable to settlement
through diplomatic channels or by
other pacific means. This conventiSn n
! is designed as a substitute for the
convention of 1907, which esta blisheo
the Central American court of justice
| The convention for the Limitation OF
/ armaments fixes the strength of the
/ armies of Guatemala at $500 men, FL
| Salvador at 4.20O, Honduras and Mica
| ragua at $500 each and Costa Rica al
! 2,o00 on a basis of areas and popu-
| lations modified by special conditions
| The Limitation is TO continue in force
acquire no warships, to limit the
! number of aircraft that may be used
| in time of war to ten and to prohibit
the expectation Of arms or munitions
| or any other kind of military stores
, from one republic to another. The
powers also bind themselves to es.
F, tablish national guards organized in
| accordance with the most modern
, methods and for this purpose will
consider the employment of foreign
officers as instructors.
To Better Fiscal Affairs.
Commissions on finance and or
means of communications will be es.
tablished in each republic under the
convention providing for permanent
Central American commissions. The
national commissions are to hold &
! general meeting each year to adopt
! practicable plans for economic reform
| and for construction of public work:
| which are to be put into effect as far
ments. The revision of customs tariff!
and fiscal systems, banking reform!
and the study of methods to contro
expenditures and public accounting
will be considered by commissions OF
finance.
Railroad communication between tn,
capitals of the republics ard automo
bile roads to connect important cen
ters throughout Central America will
be considered by the commissions O
| communications, which also will
study legislation required to author
ize such projects
The extradition convention con
tains few changes from that negoti
ated In 1907, while that affectin,
electoral legislation provides TO
preparation at a joint conference b,
national commissions of an electora
law guaranteeing. as far as possible
the free exercise of popular suffrage
The recommendations of the join
conference are to be submitted b.
5 the governments concerned to thei
respective legislatures for approva
after they have been adapted to con
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