The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-13
Schemes Of American Filibuslers to
Acquire Lower California VIII
Not Succeed.
Mexico Will Not Sell, and If the
Movement Continues She
Will Retaliate.
The California Boomers. Including GOV.
Waterman. Must Keep Hands on, 81
American capital WIN Sufrr.


tion of, and TO lay on The table, the memo -
rial OF the ffteru,h legislative assembly of
Arisoaa, praying ihc president Wnd con
gress ~ enter into negotiations with the rc-
puhhc of Mexico for the cession oC sniff
cient territory adjoining Arizona on the
sou bern boundary 60 secure "A dcrp-wRier
port on the Gulf of California. which would
afford an outlet for the products of the ter
ritory laid before he senate an interesting
document. Senator Sherman, Ms chairman
uf this coipmiltee, referred The memorial 10
Secretary Blaine. aud the secretary IN u'-
ply said IN pari Il beg leave iu SAY eau
discern no hopeful prospect of amy negotia-
tions being successfully conducted with
Mexico Mt the present time, even towards
the limited object in view. The temper OF
the statesmen and people of Mexico has
been only recently manifested with regard
60 tine alienation ol amy pnrt of the national
territory by the prominence given IN certain
circles on the Pacific coast 10 movement
for the acquisition of all or part
of Lower California by purchase. For the
information of your committee | transmit
herewith copyul memorandum prepared
by the Mexican minister of conversation
which he had with me on this subject, June
q last. together with Senior Maricnl's mem
orandum. of NAV ~. $50. of which Romero
gave me a copy. hold unhesltatingly that
the government OF tho United States is pre-
cluded by the obligations of traditional
good faith from approaching the govern
ment of Mexico with view of acquiring
any part Of Mexican territory. and /
equally believe that III administra-
tion of Mexico could face the
manifestations of national sentiment
that would certainly attend any indications
s.I a nt.ns.1ttfnk a aATrlnYs, a .f
the Mexican constitution which wiihholds
from the government the power 10 divide
Mexican soil. Moreover, even did the sub
iect promise favorable negotiation the pc
tition fails 10 set forth the proposition in
sufficient detail The mort hern and eastern
shore of the gulf OF California does not APP
pear TO offer deep water port until
I.ibered-labos is reached, some 40
miles from the delta of the Colorado, aud
the country between the coast and the pres
ent soui bern limit of Arizona IL broken and
appl.ns i'll adapted to Le tho highway of in
tefcourse. The Guayruas g Sonora rail
rUnd, running thence to NOgales. consii-
tutes the present channel of outlet from
Arizona TO the Gulf of California.
The following is "A translation of the mem
orandum FROM Senior Mariscal Mexican
minister OF foreign aifHirs, 90 Sonor Rome
70, Mexican minister TO the nitcd States!
This department approved the article which
in compliance with It's Instructions YOU
wrote and afterwards published in the
North American Review, entitled "1he
Annexation of Mexico" because IL IL con
WINGED the total or partial acquisition of
Mexican terriioiT. whether by force or by
means Of intrii,ues. does not enter into the
combination OF American statesman. 10
whatever political party they may belong.
AS 20 the gentlemen who NJ present form
the United States government, and direct
its foreign policy, We are satisfied by ne
qualntance with their high character and
political antecedents, and do not entertain
the least doubt about their sense
of justice and fairness, not only ON
tins point, but ON any other
subject. We have, therefore, complete coli
iidenco that any absurd plans of ilibusier-
ism. which are Fortunately looked upon by
an enlightened majority Of tho American
people as disrcpuiable, will not be approved
by them, nor that they will lend any sup
port whatever 10 ne mnchinutions of badly
informed persons. with view Of changing
the decided opposition Of our people 20 any
alienation Of Mexican territory. We do not
attach much importance 70 the revelations,
more or less vague. and afterwards
contradicted, which have lately ap-
peared in American newspapers con
ccning an organization whose aim is
10 procurca at nll hazards the annexation of
some part of McNicn. and espe tally Lower
California, but though We troai with con
tempt the boasts of idle and evil disposed
people who dream of wars of conquest or
of revolutionary movement plotted on
onr border. With "a view oi the annexation
VI u part Of our country, u Is not SO with
other luauiIeStat Ons Of respectable source.
though ihoy hnve their own origin IN 0pin-
/ ions equally destitute Of f0uudntion.
! refer go the proposition originated
IN the chamber OF commerce, Los Angeles,
Chlltorpin. ana presented tp the house of
representatives. aJ Washington, nuthuriziH,
the executive Ia negotiate with Lower Cnli-
iurnia. ] 1eirr also Ia the opinion which,
without amy reservation, the governor Of the
state ol California expressed about the
great convenience OF such acquisition. and
abuye all the purchase of Sonora and Sina
lua, about which no mention before hNs
been mndc. No mHtter how much
tho Mexican government might
be inclined to overlook this double
pNpri ,-ipn of rrtOuCuns judgment ~ 10 Onr
patriOtic sentiments and our entire con
i0ruity with the opinion ol oar county in
this regard. II cnnnoi do ~ considering the
expression of views by The present officials
Of tue SKATE ol California, which is cOter
uinuus with our territory, and Interested
in some Of those dnueNatiUns. WH cannot
look with indifference upon anything com
ing from respectable authorities. and II hny
one should tell MS no serious and well con
crrted plnn Is entertained by them. but thni
II is rather the influence of the cOnbinn-
tiuns and eXigclcips Of interior politics
hich constrained them 10 express such
ideas. We should hr forced. even
though sharing Ia this belief
10 deeply lament there were persons in Cal
if0rni0 with such misguided judgment re-
spocting us. who had influence enough 10
induce Gov. Waterman 10 m1lte public
utierHnces without thinking of the effect
which they might afterwards produce in
relations with n neiphb0rIng nation.
The memorandum then sptnks Of the
UNANIMOUS opposition Of Tie Mexican
people 10 any plan looking 10 the
/ alienation OF national territory, and
I the impossiblitv ot such alienation
under the constitution. and continues;
ut is well known the administration OF
General Diaz has done all in its power t0
strengthen friendly relations by attracting
the capital industry and commerce Of our
noighbors. and 10y crasng the last ye6tige
OF preiudices which might divide them. II
will continue 10 do so. convinced TINT such
| is the only rational policy, But il, in the
midst of these efforts to secure a good and
cordial understanding for the common
/ benefit Obstacles should arise aud be- inter
posed not by the government Of the United
States, but by state officials of the same ma
/ tion, in such cpse, however disagree
able il might be 10 US, and
contrary 10 our international policy, we
should be constrained to afford satisfaction
to the Mexican people, 80 sensitive IN this