six republics planning union;

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14439, 27 October 1917, Page 6

six republics planning union.

■-^ ' ■ WASHINGTON, Sept, 24. Six Central .Americau republics may soon be federated into a nation of six million persons living on 206,345 '-square miles of land. They aro Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Salvador—now bound politically by treaties made m 1907— and Panama, a new republic, which will be invited to take her place with the others. v

A conferenoß-will.be held by representatives of the little nations, either m Washington or Panama, soon to discuss plans of the proposed federation. The Central v . American treaties nowaffecting these, countries were signed m 1907 and. expire. this year. They have served 1 — through a court of justice m Costa Rica, where all international problems are settled— to keep more or less peaceful a community of nations formerly, m constant disturbance through war and revolutions.

It is now proposed 1 by- stroug factions m, these nations to- establish a centralised) government, or at least an interpreliminary union with a- delegate from each republic. President Betrand, ; of Honduras, has launched the idea and sent 'an invitation to the other republics to participate. . The position of Costa Rica is peculiar* The United States has never recognised the present Costa Rica administration, but since the little republic hats entered the -war against Germany she finds herself an outlaw "and aji Allied' nation at the same time so fur as the United States is concerned. Steps ,ai*e now under -vray t<> eliminate this paradoxical condition. .