Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
NEW STRIFE IMPENDS
- in LATIN COUNTRIES
Reasons Why 1t Is Difficult to Maintain
~ Peace i'm Central America Are
Pointed Out.

eight years ago. Later on, after having
held the position of minister of war for
quite period Gen. Ubico ran for the
presidency of Guatemala against Gen.
Lazaro Chacon, who was finally elected
and today is the chief executive of the
republic. Thus these versions which at
tribute to Gen. Ubico the leadership of
the present revolution may have some
foundation. On the other hand. should
the revolution be successful, and the
rebel leaders choose to give the seat of
the government to Gen. Ubico, by so
doing the Washington treaties which
forbid coup d'etats" chieftains from
taking control of the government would
not be violated, for these same treaties
do not prohibit the election of a third
person to the presidency who has
maintained himself aloof from all en-
tanglements, as is the case with Gen.
Ubico, who is peacefully" residing in
the capital of Guatemala. Neither Mo-
raleS nor RivaS, now heading the revo-
luton, would be recognized by the
| United States as successors to Chacon
but there could be no legal juStiflca-
ton to deny recognition of Gen. Ubico
| However these are simply conjectures
for perhaps by the time this goes to
press the whole situation may have
changed somewhat.
Situation in Honduras.
In the republic of Honduras things
have not as yet reached a crisis, but
this becomes more apparent as the days
go by and it suffices to observe the
present attitude of the Honduran gov
eminent leaders to understand their
fears for the Storm" which is already
somewhat outlined in the not distant
horizon. 1t has been but several weeks
that the presidential election was held
in Honduras. The former President,
prior to his retirement from office, &C
corded ample guarantees to all citizens
alike, and so ample were they that his
own party. the government party, was
defeated, and, to the surprise of all. the
opposing candidate, Mejia Colindres,
won the electio by good margin.
Thus the internal politics of that coun-
try Is now facing new problem--a
peaceful change of men in power How
ever. 1t Is well Known that these changes
IN Latin Amer.Sa are peaceful only in
name. The situation is further compli-
Gated by the fact that the ConServa-
tives, who so unexpectedly were de-
feated in the presidential election still
nave majority in Congress, control
both houses and practically hold all the
administrative and executive positions
In the government, and they do not
seem to entertain good disposition to
give up their posts. It must be borne
In mind in this connection that the le-
gality of Mejia Colindres' election to the
presidency depends upon the approval
OF Congress. 1t seems probable, there
fore, that certain difficulties will be
encountered before the President-elect
formally takes the oath of office.
Not very long ago when Mr. Hoover,
the ambassador of good will, visited the
Republic OF Honduras both political
parties promised to lay aside their diff
ferences and cooperate in avoiding any
internal complications. Nevertheless,
the defeated candidate, Gen. Carias,
whose friends are still holding all the
government posts, enjoys great popu-
larity in Honduras, and the rumor goes,
most tnsistently during recent days
that he will endeavor to impede that
his adversary take the high Office in
trusted to him by the will of the people.
Unrest in Nicaragua.
The political situation in Nicaragua
already shows signs of unrest. The
Nicaraguan situation is very similar to
that OF Honduras: the change of
Conservative President for a Liberal
one. And, the same as in Honduras, the
Liberal President faces the task of die
tating to Conservative Congress. How
ever, In Nicaragua the situation is some
what more clearly defined, for Gen.
Moncada, who was appointed President
during the last election, has already
taken office, and it would be more FEAST
pie Tor him to counteract any rebellious
movement. Notwithstanding, the oppo-
sition is quite strong, for the Conserva-
tive party, who has been replaced, as
well as the Liberals who refuse to rec
ognlze the Moncada government, are
menaclng to once more start that bon
fire which the "bluejackets" thought to
nave extinguished forever. Even San
dino, the noveliStic revolutionary chief
tain, promises to renew once more his
activities in the North The cable
speaks daily of new and great often
sive which the native forces are plan
nlng to undertake under his leadership
For the present President Moncada has
emphatically declared that his first eff
forts VIII be concentrated lin the pacifi-
cation OF the country" which action
proves that the internal situation is not
so satisfactory in the Nicaraguan re-
public and that political peace exists
only IN the minds of those who observe
Things from distance
"FOes" Of Marines Change.
A very curious and peculiar situation
Is at the present time prevailing in
Nicaragua. The Liberals, who during a.
whole year took arms to oppose the in
tervention of the United States, and I'M
der the very command of Gen. Mon
cada were engaged in fighting the Con-
serVativeS, who were then in power. as
well as their friends, Uncle Sans Ma
rines, now shat they find themselves
IN power, are the first to insist that the
United States forces remain on Mica
raguan soil; and the Conservatives be-
gin to ask the withdrawal of the Ma
rlnes, because they know that the
Marines would interfere with their plans
II the opportunity arises. It so happens.
therefore, that the course of things has
suffered quite a change. The Marines
may no longer have to pursue Liberals
in Nicaragua. but Conservatives.
The United States is specially inter-
ested in maintaining peace in Nicara-
qua. for when her Marines landed on
Nicaraguan shores she promised to
bring the civil war to an end and to re-
store to that country its internal tran
quillitv; and thus the United States
finds herself duty bound to impede the
recurrence OF new complications and
uprisings. Since the very moment that
Uncle Sam set foot on Nicaraguan soil
his international prestige has been at
stake in this hemisphere and he must
consequently do everything possible to
| successfully carry out the undertaking.
| e---------------