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 Ill i'm
Japan and Mexico-Why Absolute
Ccssiun of the Territory Is Insist
ed Upon by Us in the Case of Cuba.

Ccssiua of the Territory Is Insist
ed Upon by Us In the Case of Cuba.
In view of the controversy over the
&c. sion OF coaling stations by CuDa, 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 a
complete cession of territory in each in
stance, so that there shall he 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-
sponse to the demands of some Of the
leading nations of the West, the Mil0ado' s
Government set apart strip of land for
foreign concession, dividing il 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
1t cannot be said that the japanese
Government has regarded our latest move
with much enthusiasm. Japan has coal
20 sell. but II is inferior to ours in quail
ty, and costs a good deal more, measured
by effectiveness as fuel. Merchantmen
can use it sometimes under their boilers,
but ii 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 ac-
cordingly sent out one shipioad of 5000
tons. and have another on the way by
Magellan Straits. The accommodations
Should war ever break out in such
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
to come, so that no fears are entertained
of trouble at her hands: but there might
be a war in which either Japan or the
United States had a direct share which
would make the present arrangement en-
barrassing to one nation and perilous to
the other
like gradual process of acquisition has
been going on I'm the case of the Mexican
station, which is at Pichalinque Bay,
near the south end of the Lower Califor-
hia peninsula The place is so insignifi-
cant, geographically speaking, that it does
not appear on the popular maps as rule.
There was no settlement close to the
i,1:at which the United States Govern
ment thought best adapted for naval coal
storage, but in 1869 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
dumped there and a Waterman hired at
moderate compensation to keep his eye on
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 a coaling station. Be
fore spending any money. however. our
Government decided TO procure from the
Government of Mexico some re ;ognition
OF the rights of the United States in the
premises where the coal was stored. Jne
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 MeEicans
dropped mem. AT last a 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
Nagasah. the terms of the concession are
such that are substantially sovereign
on the little patch of soil covered by our
naval coai yard and, as Mexico has no
navy. IL probably would not be much of
an undertaking. II trouble should ever
arise between the two Republics, to run
into Pichalinque Bay and seize our coal
10y force Still, that is a contingency
which no one forecasts now. Before such
a breach occurs, We may have gradually
acquired all the rights we can make any
use of.
In the case of Cuba, il 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 In the other instances and the
Washington Government insists that IL
must clear the path of all meaacing pos
sibilities before 1t lets go its hold upon
the island-ln other words. w.-ilC IL is still
fn a position TO dictate terms.