The morning call., 1891-01-03
LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Alarm Of American Settlers
on the Peninsula.
Their Rights Entirely Disrssardsd by
the English LesSees.
YandeVer'S Scheme to Have the United
States Open Negotiations With
Mexico for Its Purchase.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-PreSS dispatches
from Ensenada, Lower California, regard
ing the alarm of American settlers on the
peninsula over the recent treatment of
Americans by the English landowners and
agents OF the London syndicate who now
control the peninsula under Mexican con-
cesslon have created considerable interest
In the matter at the State Department
FrlVate dispatches from Ensenada have
also been received at the State Department.
Ii VIII be remembered that when an al
legged scheme to capture Lower California
was made public Colonel E. C. Foster, spe-
cial agent of the State Department, was
sent to Lower California to Investigate and
report to the department the real state Of
affairs. While he confirmed the report of
the fllibustering scheme to capture the
peninsula the great volume of testimony
taken by him has never been made public.
In view OF the reported agitation en- the
peninsula it is believed that Fosters testi-
mony will be given to the public soon.
A good deal of interest is manifested here
over this affair. If it has no other effect it
may result In the establishment of a large
military post at San Diego. General Van
deyer, Governor Murray and General Cad
wallader of San Diego are using every effort
In this direction. To-morrow's Post will
contain an interview with Congressman
Vandever regarding the proposition TO pur-
chase Lower California, in which he will
say: "At the commencement of the second
session of the Fiftieth Congress, and in
complia nee with memorials addressed to me
from my district, introduced resolution
requesting the President to open negotia-
tions with our sister republic of Mexico for
the acquisition of the peninsula of Lower
California.
THE chief inducement Of the movement
at that time was the fact that a conditional
grant had been made by the Mexican Gov
ernment to what was called the 1nterna-
tional Company of Mexico. The grant was
first held by Connecticut parties. They
afterward transferred 1t to an English syn
dicate, who controlled it in the interest of
the English against the interests of large
number Of colonists who had gone into that
country from the United States. While the
Connecticut company owned and controlled
this grant they induced the investment of
large amounts of money by American citi-
zens living mostly in Southern California.
The contracts which they entered into
have, since the English syndicate came into
control, been disregarded, causing an i'm
mense loss TO tile people living in Southern
California. L have now in my hands to be
presented to Congress, a petition setting
forth substantially these facts, signed by
hundreds of the best people in the southern
part of my district, and calling upon Con-
gress to authorize negotiations with Mex
leo for the purpose of protecting their in
tereSts, and reimbursing them for money
out of which they have been defrauded by
this English syndicate.
The latter has controlled the peninsula
through military officers, notably Colonel
Scott of the British army, but this fact.
while unpleasant to Americans, is small
matter beside the more important fact that
the English are now establishing a coaling
station at San Quintin on the penin-
suia. Another matter too important for
the Government to overlook is this: If the
English are allowed to continue in possess
sion of Lower California they will control
the mouth of the Colorado, one of the prn-
cipal rivers of the country, and one that
drains large amount of valuable country
in the States of Colorado, Nevada and Cali
fornia. Tie outlet Of this river ought not
to be in control Of any European power
General Murray's presence in this city
has occasioned considerable speculation
among Western men. 1t is now believed
that he, as we'll as General Cadwallsder, are
at work urging the adoption by Congress of
Vandever's scheme for negotiations with
Mexico. 1t will be remembered that
General Murray, with other Salt Lake City
business men, left Utah to engage in land
speculation at or near Ensenada.
"Sooner or later, and it may come very
soon, there is going to be trouble between
the United States and Mexico over Lower
Calfornia," said General Cadwallader to-day
to Post man. Geographically it is a piece
of country that fits into our area much more
naturally than as possession of Mexico.
The miners from our side are continually
going down there prospecting and if there
should be any big gold discoveries, which is
quite probable, as it is very rich in minerals,
there would be a rush of people into Lower
California who would no more respect Mex
lean authority or Mexican laws than they
would those of the Chinese Empire. This
may not be the origin of the difficulty, but
it is only question of time when trouble
will arise, and the best thing to do is TO dis
count such contingency by buying the
country from our Mexican friends. Con-
gresham Vandever intends TO see if he can
not persuade Congress of the utility of such
action before the present session expires. l
don't know what the Mexicaus would want
for 1t, or even if they would be willing to
sell at all, but they are shrewd people, and
doubtless have long ago found out that the
strip is of far mere value to the United
States than to them"