Evening star., 1933-01-04

Withdrawal of forces of Marines from
Nicaragua, after service under the police
power of that country, is a subject for
congratulation In the United States
where there has been criticism of the
practice of sending these fighting men
to the Central American republic to
defend existing governments against
the activities of rebels. While citizens
here hope that the Marines are. out for
good, there Is some fear of trouble over
the Central American treaty which was
adopted with the purpose of discrimina-
tion against governments created by
revolution.
"The Marines began preparations to
depart as soon as the national election
returns were in,P says the Pasadena
Star-News, explaining that "they had
pledged fair ballot, and even though
the results may have disappointed some
native politicians, to the United States
the outcome should make no difference
so long as the choice was made consti-
tutionally and If this country has no
further responsibilities there under the
Monroe Doctrine" The Star News
hopes that there will be no future
necessity for the presence of United
States troops in any part Of Latin
America" That paper sees the posi-
bility, however, that delicate Latin
American issues may face the new ad-
ministration at Washington" and COM
ments on the existing treaty: 1T is
significant that during a period when
many South American countries have
been in domestic turmoil the Central
American republics have been compare
lively tranquil. One exception is FL
Salvador, where Gen. Maximiliano Mar
tinez has been able to establish himself
in power by revolution, and he has
successfully maintained himself, not
withstanding the refusal of neighboring
powers to accept his regime as regular
and therefore as official. More than
that, the existing unrecognized Saliva
dorean government has launched a
drive to abrogate the 1923 treaty. Costa
Rica is taking leadership in this un-
dertaking, and Salvador Is importuning
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
is doomed Naturally, Washington is
watching the progress of this renuncia-
ton endeavor with much concern.
In explanation of Costa Rica's attack
on the treaty the Louisville Courier
Journal remarks that that country de-
o4ASo W ACSOSA4lAC Lklc SIdUIG ana lcklI-
innate regime in Salvador" though
it came into power through a military
coup d'etat, when its constitutional
President fed" but "has since been
recognized by the National Assembly. "
The Courier-J journal adds: Where 1t
runs counter to the treaty of 1923 lies
in the fact that its President, Gen.
Martinez, was minister of war in the
preceding government, and ministers
of war, according to the terms of the
pact, are barred from the presidency,
the idea being that in this way military
relationships may be obstructed. The
oStensible purpose Of the treaty to pre-
vent revolutions would be laudable II
it were the voluntary and united wish
of the Central American republics and
If they alone were signatories to it. The
United States, however, forced it upon
the little countries. It carries out
its provisions as q purely executive
function, with the chief object In view
of exerting pressure on those govern
ments not to our liking. In the case
of Salvador it has refused recognition
to the Martinez regime, though Eng
land, France, Germany, Mexico and
South American countries generallv
have recognized 1t. Contrary to nile
however, the thumhs-down attitude
has not caused the collapse Of the eov-