Omaha daily bee., 1890-03-13
CESSlON OF MEXICAN LAND.
Secretary Blaine Shows It's Impos-
sibility.
SHE WILL SELL NO TERRITORY
Some Interesting Documents Clearly
Showing the Unalterable Hos
tiiity of Mexico to the
Proposition.
Arizona Asks Too Much.


the committee on foreign relations from
further consideration of and to lay on the
table the memorial Of the fifteenth legisla>
tive assembly of Arizona, praying that the
president and congress enter into negotiation
with the republic Of Mexico for the cession
of sufficient territory joining 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
interesting documents. Senator Sherman,
as chairman OF the committee, referred the
memorial to Secretary Blaine and
tho secretary in reply SAID in part:
III beg leave to say that can
discern no hopeful prospect of any negotia-
tons being successfully conducted with
Mexico at the present time even toward the
limited object In view. The temper of the
statesmen and the people of Mexico has been
only recently manifested in regard to the
alienation of national territory by the prom
inence gwen in certain circles on the Pacific
coast TO the movement for the acquisition OF
all or part of Lower California by pur-
chase For the information of your commit
tee transmit herewith copy OF memo
randum prepared by the Mexican minister
of conversation which he had with me on
the subject on June 9 last, together with
Senor Mariscars memorandum, May 20,
1882 of which Senior Romero gave me q
copy. / hold unhesitatngly that the gov
ernment Of the United States is precluded
by the obligations of traditional good faith
from approaching the government of Mexico
with view TO acquiring any part OF Mexican
territory, and equally believe that no nd
mnistration of Mexico could face the mani
festations 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"
The following Is translation Of the memo.
randum from Senor Mariscal, Mexican min
lister of foreign affairs, to Senior Romero o,
Mexican minister to the Utfited States:
'1 his department approves the article
which, In compliance with its instruction, you
wrote and afterward published in the North
American Review, entitled The Annexation
of Mexico, because 1T Is convinced that Il
total or partial acquisition of Mexican terri
tory, whether by force or by means of in
trlgue, does not enter into the com bnations
of American statesmen, to whatever political
party they may belong. AS to the gentle
men who at present form the United States
government and direct its foreign policy, we
are sufficiently acquainted with their high
character and political antecedents not TO
entertain the least doubt about their sense
of justice and firmness, not only on this
point, but on any other subject We have,
plans of flibusterism, which are fortunately
looked upon by the enlightened majority of
the American people as disreputab!e, will
not be approved by them, nor that they Will
lend any support whatever TO the machina-
tions of badly informed persons with the
view Of changing the decided opposition of
our people to any alienation OF Mexican ter
ritory.
I'VE do not attach much Importance to the
revelations, more or less vague, and after
wards contradicted, which have lately aD
peared IN American newspapers concerning
organizations whose aim is to procure at all
hazards the annexation of some part of Mex
leo and especially Lower California. But
though we treat with contempt the boasts
OF idle ana evil disposed people who
dream OF wars OF conquest or
of revolutionary movements plotted on our
border with view to the annexation of a
part OF our country it is not so with other
manifestations Of respectable source, though
they have their origin in opinions equally
destitute of foundation. l refer to the
proposition originated in the chamber OF
commerce Of Los Angeles, Cal, and pre-
sented TO tho house of representatives at
Washington authorizing the executive to ne>
gotIate with Mexico for the purchase of
Lower California. l refer also to the opin
ion which without any reservation, the gov
ernor OF the state of California expressed
acquisition and above all the pur-
chase OF our states OF Sc
nora and Sinaboa, about which no
mention before has been made. No matter
how much the Mexican government might
be inclined to overlook this double express
sion OF erroneous judgment as to our patri-
otto sentiments and our entire conformity
with the opinion of our country in this re-
gard, 1t cannot do so, considering the express
sion OF such views by the present officials or
the state of California, which is cotermlnous
with our territory and interested in those
anneXatons. We cannot look with indiffer-
ence upon anything coming from respectable
authorities, and II any one should tell us
that no serious and well concerted plan IS
entertained by them on the subject,
but that it was rather the influence
of combinations or the eXigencies OF
interior politics which constrained them to
express such politics, we should be forced,
although sharing in this belief, to deeply la
ment that there were persons in California
with such misguided judgment respecting
us, who had influence enough to induce
Governor Waterman to make public utter
ances without thinking of the effect they
might afterwards produce in the relations
with neighborng nation.n
The memorandum then speaks OF the
unanimous hostility OF the Mexican people
TO any plan looking to the alienation of ma
tonal territory and the imposslbilities of
such alienation under the constitution, and
continues: ut is well known that the ad-
minstration of General Diaz has done
all in Its power TO strengthen our
tai, industry and commerce of our
neighbors and by erasing the last vestige of
the prejudices which might divide them.
IL will continue TO do so, convinced that such
is the only rational policy; but If in the
midst of these efforts TO secure good and
cordial understanding for the common bene-
tit obstacles should arise, perhaps inconsld-
erately, not by the government of the
United States, but by state .officials OF the
same nation, in such case, however disa-
greeable II might be to US and although TO u
certain extent contrary to our international
policy, We should bo constrained TO afford
satisfaction to the Mexican people, SO sensi-
tive IN this matter, having shed ITS blood
and made immense sacrifices 10 achieve the
indep, ndence and to preserve the integrity
OF this territory, We should find ourselves
under the stern necessity Of adopting re-
stricttve measures In regard to tue acqusi-
tion by certain foreigners of real estate con-
cessions, etc., as far as engagements already
catered into may allow.
hese steps might, however, be inter
pretfd as showing bad will on our part to-
ward the American people, when we are
on the contrary animated by exactly oppo,
site sentiments. In order, therefore, TO avoid
such Interpretation, under the instructions OF
the president have made the foregoing ex-
planation.p
The memorandum prepared by Minister
Romero for Senior Marshal after his CONVEX
satlon with Secretary Blaine, says