The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-04
COALING STATIONS ABROAD
Americas Policy as TO Acquiring
Them in Foreign Lands.

No Actual Ownership of the soil I'm
JaDnn and Mexico-Why Absolute
Cession of the Territory Is Insist
ed Upon by Us i'm the Case of Cuba.
In view of the controversy over the
cession of coaling stations by Cuba. the
policy Of this country in the acquisition
of land for such purposes is worth not
ing. In the case OF Cuba the Administra-
ton has been making point Of having
complete cession Of territory in each IN
stance. so that there shall be no cloud
upon our national sovereignty. But we
have also coaling stations in Japan and
Mexico. and in neither have We yet any
actual ownership of the soil.
The japanese station is at Nagasaki. Its
history goes back to 1866 when, in re-
Spouse to the demands of some Of the
leading nations Of the West the Mikado
Government set apart a strip of land Tor
a foreign concession, dividing it into lots
or parcels for the several Powers inter
ested, and handing over two of these to
the United States. Japan did not vest the
actual title in us, but gave us what is
known as a permanent lease with all
the insignia of sovereignty. and subject
only to a nominal ground rent, amounting
to about $50 a year in our money The
sole condition under which the lease could
lapse would be our refusal or neglect to
pay the rent Having no immediate use
for the site. the Government has. until
lately. permitted the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company TO occupy it. the company
relieving the Government of the annual
payment. The Spanish war convinced our
naval authorities that we needed coal
ing stations all over the world: so the
steamship company was notified Of the
suspension Of its privilege. and the Gov
eminent proceeded to fit up the quarters
for the coal.
Ii cannot be said that the Japanese
Government has regarded our latest move
with much enthusiasm. Japan has coal
TO sell. but it is inferior to ours in quail
~, and costs a good deal more, measured
by effectiveness as fuel. Merchantmen
can use it sometimes under their boilers.
but it does not answer for swift men-of-
war. We find it cheaper in the end to
send our own coal over the long
sea route to Nagasaki, pay the
Japanese duties on it, maintain costly
storage facilities, and take upon ourselves
the labor and expense of loading and I'M
loading. than to buy the product of Japa-
nese mines at first hand. We have &C
cordingly sent out one shipload of 5000
tons, and have another on the way by
Magellan Straits. The accommodations
are ample for $1,000 tons
Should war ever break out in such a
form or in such waters as to menace our
coaling station at Nagasaki. it might be-
come necessary for us to obtain a COM
plete cession of title. Japan bids fair to
remain our friend and ally for long time
10 come, so that no fears are entertained
of trouble at her hands; but there might
be q war in which either Japan or the
United States had direct share, which
would make the present arrangement en-
barrassing to one nation and perilous to
the other
A like gradual process of acquisition has
been going on in the case OF the Mexican
station, which is at Pichalinque Bay,
near the south end Of the Lower Califor-
MIA peninsula. The place is so insignif-
cant, geograp hically speaking, that it does
not appear on the popular maps as a rule
There was no settlement close to the
point which the United States Govern
ment thought best adapted for naval coal
storage, but in 1859 the nearest local au-
thorities were hunted up and an easy bar
gain driven with them. A rough shed as
thrown together, the coal was brought
around the Cape as convenient and
Il
moderate compensation to keep his eye on
the property. AS the coal was anthracite,
no weather-tight housing was needed
for it.
Here again the war with Spain empha-
sized the need Of something more ambi-
tious in the way OF coaling station. Be
fore spending any money, however. our
Government decided 10 procure from the
Government of Mexico some recognition
OF the rights OF the United States in the
premises where the coal was stored. IRE
negotiations were long and tedious. The
Mexicans looked with suspicion upon any
project for our acquisition Of territory
from her for martial purposes.
Every overture OF the Department Of
State was met by some preteXt for post
poning consideration of the subject, but
our representatives kept their tempers
and patiently picked up the threads Of
correspondence whenever the MeXicans
dropped tnem. At last bargain was
closed. and the Federal authorities of
Mexico gave the same consent that the
local authorities had given nearly a dozen
years before. IN this instance, as at
Nagasaki. the terms Of the concession are
such that we are substantially sovereign
on the little patch Of SOIL covered by our
naval coal yard. and. as Mexico has no
navy. IL probably would not be much Of
an undertaking. If trouble should ever
arise between the two Republics, to run
into Pichalinque Bay and seize our coal
10y force. Still. that is q contingency
which no one forecasts now Before such
q breach occurs. We may have gradually
acquired all the rights we can make any
use of.
In the case Of Cuba, ii is said in behalf
OF the Administration that the conditions
would not permit Of our obtaining our
naval and coaling stations by degrees.
The danger Of trouble is not so remote
there as I'm the other instances. and the
Washington Government insists that IL
must clear the path OF all menacing pos
sibilities before il tets 90 its hold upon
the isIand-in other words. while il is still
81 a position 10 dictate terms.
TWO RoBBERIES REPORTED.