In 1906 Alfonso XIII, then King of Spain, awarded 10,000 sq. mi. to Honduras as umpire in that country’s land squabble with Nicaragua. During the past two years both countries have been engaged in a battle of postage stamps bearing maps showing the disputed territory as part of their own domain. Last week the U. S. Government found Nicaraguan and Honduran passions running so high that with Costa Rica and Venezuela it offered its “good offices” to mediate. This offer both little states promptly accepted, slimming chances of any clash. Onetime Nicaraguan President José Maria Moncada denied he had said on the radio that he was going to lead an army against Honduras. Briskly U. S. Minister to Panama Francis Patrick Corrigan hurried from his home in Cleveland, Ohio, to Washington. D. C. to accept the role of chief mediator.
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