Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-13
hlExICAN REPUBLIC.
1t Has Not Foot of Soil to Sell or Cede
to Uncle sam.


WASHINGTON, March 12th.-senator Sherman
to-day. in asking the Senate to discharge the
Committee of Foreign Relations from furthercop-
kideration OF, and 10 lay on the table the me-
mortal OF the fifteenth Legislative Assembly of
Arizona, praying the President and Congress to
enter into negotiations with the Republic of
Mexico for cession OF sufficient territory join
ing Arizona on the southern boundary TO secure
deep water port upon the Gulf of California
which would afford an outlet for the products
of the territory, laid before the Senate some in
teresting documents.
senator Sherman. as Chairman OF the COM
mittee, referred the memorial to Secretary
Blaine, aud the Secretary in reply said in part
II beg leave TO say can discover no hopeful
prospect OF any negotiations being successfully
conducted with Mexico at the present time
even toward the limited object in view. The
temper OF the statesmen and people of Mexico
mas been only recently manifested with regard
to the alienation of any part cf their national
territory by the prominencegiven in certain cir
cles on the Pacific coast to movement + II the
acquisition OF all or palt of Lower California
by purchase.
"For the information of your committee l
transmit a copy of memorandum prepared BY
the Mexican Minister, of conversation which
he had with me on the subject on the 9th of
June last together with Senor MariscaI and
a memorandum of May 20, 1889, of which Mr.
Romero gave me copy. hold, unhesitatiDgly,
tnat onr government is precluded, by obliga-
tons OF tradu onal faith, from approaching the
Government of Mexico with a view to the ac-
quiring OF any part of the Mexican territory
and equally believe no administration of
Mexico could face the manifestations of the
national sentiment that would certainly attend
any indication of disposition to infringe the
provision of the Mexican Constitution, which
withholds from the Government the power to
Cede Mexican soil.
Moreover, even did the subject promise
favorable negotiation the petition fails to set
forth the proposition in sufficient detail The
northern and eastern shore of the Gulf of Cali
fornia does not appear to offer deep-Water port
until point is reached some zoo miles from
the delta OF the Colorado, and the country be-
tween that coast and the present southern limit
OF Arizona is broken and appears i'll adapted TO
be the highway OF intercourse The Guaymas
and Sonora Railway running thence to Nogales,
I constitutes the present channel of outlet from
Arizona to the Gulf of California"
The tollowingis is the translation of the memo
randum from Senor Mariscal the Mexican Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, to Senior Romero the
Mexican Minister TO the United States:
his Department approved the article which
in compliance with its instruction you wrote
and afterwards published in the North american
ReUieic entitled The Annexation of Mexlcpf
because it is conceded that total or partial ac
QUESTION OF Mexican territory. whether by force
or by means of intrigues, does not enter into
the combinations of American statesman, to
whatever political party they may belong
'As 10 the gentlemen who at present form the
United States Government and direct its foreign
pohcy, we are sufficiently acquainted with
their high character and political antecedents
not to entertain the least doubt about their
sense OF justice and fairness, not only on this
point but any other subject. We have, there
lore complete confidence that any absurd plans
OF hl1bHsterism, which are, fortunately, looked
upon by the enlightened majority of the Amer
lean people as disreputable, will not be ap-
proved by them, nor that they will lend ary
support whatever to the Vaccinations of badly
informed persons with view of changirg q the
decided opposition of the people to any aliena-
tion of Mexican territory.
"We do not attach much importance to the
revelations, more or less vague, and afterwards
contradicied, which have lately appeared in
American newspapers concerning organizations
whose aim is to procure at all hazards, the an
nexation of some part of Mexico, and especially
of Lower California. But though we treat with
contempt the boasts of idle and evil disposed
people, who dream OF wars of conquest, or of
revolutionary movements plotted on our border,
with view of annexation of a part OF our
country, it is not so with the other manifesta-
tions of a respectable source. though.they have
their origin in opinions equally destitute of
foundation.
81 refer TO the proposition originated in the
Chamber of Commerce at Los Angeles, Califor-
MA and presented to the House OF Representa-
tiyes at Washington, authorizing the Executive
to negotiate with Mexico for the purchase of
Lower California. l refer, also, to the opinion,
which, without any reservation, the Governor
of the State of California expressed about he
great convenience OF such an acquisition and
above all the purchase of Sonora and Sinaloa,
about which no mention before has been made
mo matter how much the Mexican Govern
ment might be inclined to overlook this double
expression of erroneous judgment as to our
patriotic sentiments, and our entire conformity
with the opinion or our country in this regard,
it cannot do so, considering the expression OF
views by the present officials of the State of
California, which is coterminous with our ter
ritory and interested in some of those annexa-
tions.
1--WE cannot look with indifference upon any
thing coming from respectable authorities, and
IL anyone should tell US that no serious and
well-concerted plan on the subject is enter
tanned by them, but that it is rather the infiu-
ence OF combinations and the exigencieg of in
terror politics which constrained them to ex-
press such ideas, we should De forced even
though sharing in this belief. to deeply lament
that there are persons in California with such
misguid- ID Judgment respecting US who had in
huence enough to induce Governor Waterman
to make such public utteranees, without think
ing of the effect which they might afterwsrd
produce in the re ations with 8 DeighboriDg ma
tioa."
The memorandum then speaks of the unani-
nous opposition of the Mexican people to any
plau LOOKING TO the alienation of national terri.
tory and the impossibility of such alienation
under the Constitution, aud continues: 1T is
well known that the administration of General
Diaz has done all in its power to strengthen the
friendly relations by attracting the capital, in
oustry and commerce Of its neghbors, and by
erasing the Hast vestige OF prejudices which
might divide them. 1t will continue to do so,
convinced that such is the only national policy.
But, If in the midst of these efforts TO secure a
good and cordial understanding for common
benefit, obstacles should arise to interpose,
perhaps not by the Government of the United
states, Dut by stale OtlcIalS OF the same nation,
in such case, however disagreeable 1t might
be TO ~. and to certain extent contrary to our
international policy. we should be constrained
TO afford satisfaction to the Mexiesn people, so
sensitive in this matter. having shed its blood
and made immense sacrifices TO achieve its in
dependence and preserve its integrity of terri
tory.
1--WE should find ourselves under the stern
necessity of adopting restrictive measures in
regard 10 the acquisition by certain foreigners of
real estate concessions, etc. As far as engage
nents already entered into may allow these
steps might, however be interpreted as show
ing bad viii on our part toward the American
people, when we are, on the contrary, animated
by exactly the opposite sentiments.
"In order, therefore, to avoid such an inter-
preiation, under the instructions of the Presi-
dent have made the foregoing explanation"
The memorandum prepared by Minister Ro-
nero for Senior Mariscal. after his conversation
with Secretary Blaine, says: "The Secretary of
state then informed the Minister that his per-
sonal views and those of the United States Gov
eminent, with respect TO the annexation of
Mexican territory, were expies ed in his note
to Mr.. Morgan. United States Minister at Mex
leo. dated June II, 1884, and which was pub
lished in the diplomatic correspondence which
was appended to the Presidents message that
year. He added. that the United States Govern
ment did not think of acquiring any portion of
Mexican territory, and that it would not sup
port any project having such a subject in view
as the United states had all the territory they
required for their progress and welfare, and de-
sired no more"
hS CcSActdiy vi ctdlc tuIllltI ctdttu t0dL the
United States Government could not prevent
the newspapers or citizens Of this country from
saying what they pleased on that or any other
subject, but that. as regarded the acquisition Of
Mexican territory by the United States, he felt
certain that the statements made were of no
importance whatever, since public opinion did
not favor further acquisition, and that even if
any other Administration should favor them he
thought 1t would meet with no support in the
country at large.
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.