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Show History of Two Years5 Turmoil and Contention Now Revsewcd Just what Secretary Knox meant in his letter to Senor 'Rodriguez by the roferenco to the Washington agreement of two years ago is disclosed by refer-one refer-one to f lint convention. Through tho efforts of Mr. Root. Ihen secretary of state, representatives of tho Central American republics, then on tho point of a general warfare, largely due, it was alleged, to the ambition ambi-tion of President Zclnyu to become dictator dic-tator of Contra! America, were brought to Washington and induced to enter into a compact to refrain from exploitation exploita-tion of tho territories of one another nnd to observe rules of civilized intercourse. inter-course. Especially were they pledged to submit, to arbitrntion instead, of putting put-ting to tho test of war any differences that might arise between them. The integrity of Honduras was gun ran toed. Now Secretarv Knox practically charges that all fheso stipulations wero violated by President Zelaya. He has dominated Honduras, "whose president is declared to bo only his mouthpiece, and Zelava has not hesitated to violnte tho laws of neutrality by sending troops, without warrant or permission into Salvador and Costa .Rica. That he would have done the same in the case of Guatemala had the revolution extended extend-ed to flic northern frontier of Nicaragua there is no doubt. Plain Understanding. It is well understood, i hough never reduced to the form of a treaty, that, not only. tho United States, but Mexico Mex-ico would umlertako to see that the provisions pro-visions of this treaty were effective, though purely moral persuasion was supposed sup-posed to be the maiu reliance to accomplish ac-complish (hiv. This has utterly failed, after a trial of nearly two years. Jteports to flic department of stale from its diplomatic and consular agents have shown that in that period President. Zolaya has been stirring up discontent in other Central American republics, giving substantial aid to would-be revolutionists and doing everything possible to bring about a state of n (fairs, that would warrant him in invading icrritorv of his neighbors. neigh-bors. Tint internal conditions in Nicaragua revealed by these reports have never been made public because the moral turpitude involved is almost-bevond belief. be-lief. 'While these reports are still withheld with-held from publication, officials of the department of si site have disclosed enough to show that a eondition of absolute ab-solute despotism has existed in Nicaragua Nicar-agua with accompanimenfs such as rapine, ra-pine, murder, extortion, and barbarious treatment of political prisoners, unknown un-known since mediaeval times As .Secretary Knox said in his letter other Central American republics have protested in vain against conditions in Nicaragua, but the stale department has felt loath to violato its old traditions tradi-tions of non-interference in the infernal n if airs of other nations nnd probably would have refrained even now had not Belaya gone to tho length of torturing and killing two Americans engaged in honorable warfare. Zelaya the Law. Tn answer to. the department's demands de-mands for an explanation, Zelaya 's agents simply slated that, tho executions execu-tions were in accordance with tho law of Nicaragua, but the slate department finds that that law is Zelay.i. and that the action was in violation of all rules of civilized warfare. Reasoning I hat there is no aclunl gov-crnnienl gov-crnnienl in Nicaragua, the department necessarily arrived at the conclusion that Zelay a is only an international brigand and must, be so treated. He must be held responsible for the killing kill-ing of these two Americans, as if he wero a private individual, and it is probable that, he will bo captured in Nicaragua or reclaimed from any country coun-try fo -which he attempts to escape if an extradition treaty can be invoked, and tried as a common malefactor. It is believed that. President Diaz of Mexico Mex-ico was the deciding force in this matter, mat-ter, and that it was because of energetic ener-getic declarations by him of the guilt of Zelaya and the uecesity for intervention, inter-vention, received in Washington within the last twenty-four hours, that the stato depart meni. reached its decision Jn the ordinary course this government govern-ment would content itself with the payment pay-ment of a heavy monetary indemnity to tho families of the victims of Zelaya 's edict. But, as Secretary Knox clearly indicates in his letter,' it is not the purpose of the American government thus to tux the great majority of the Nicnraguan people, who did not sympathize sympa-thize with Zelaya 's action, " Situation Summarized. The status may be slimmed up as follows: "Diplomatic relations between the United Stales and Nicaragua have been terminated. Dr. Jfazcra, minister designate des-ignate from Nicaragua, wil not be received re-ceived at the state department. Senor Rodriguez, the charge of tho Nicar-nguan Nicar-nguan legation, has been given his passports pass-ports and so has no official standing horc. On the receipt of tho letter of Mr. Knox through a state department mes senger, Senor Rodriguez notified his government by cable. He is awaiting a roplj" and will remain hero a few days. When seen Senor Rodriguez was excited, ex-cited, but his discussion of the situation situa-tion was brief. "We are stricken to the heart; wo aro paralyzed," was his expression. There was, however, lit.tlo ovidenco at the Nicaraguan legation of so profound pro-found a feeling. On tho contrary, it was (he scene of much gaiety. |