The Springfield herald., 1907-07-19
NAVAL HARBoR
NEGOTIATIONS FOR ACQUIRE
MENT OF MAGDALENA BAY.
KEY TO PACIFIC PROTECTION
Mexico Shows Friendly Disposition
to the Proposition and Lower
California May Have
Great Harbor,

Washington.-As a part of the def
mite naval policy for the Pacific which
| the Roosevelt administration has in
augurated by its announced determina-
tion to send the Atlantic battleship
squadron to that ocean, a second step
is now under way in a plan for the ac-
quirement Of Magdalena bay, Lower
California, strategic point, by pur-
chase from Mexico. 1t can be said that
II necessary the negotiations Will en-
brace the purchase from Mexico OF
the entire Lower California peninsula.
Upon the coming visit to Mexico OF
Secretary of State Root the proposed
treaty will be considered, and, If possi-
BILE, agreed to.
No denial is made Of the fact that
the negotiations now in progress are
merely preliminary, but 1t can be said
that they have progressed to that point
where they have taken material shape.
AS far as the Navy Department is con-
cerned the purchase of Magdalena bay
has been approved by the authoritative
powers.
This will likely set at rest all talk OF
Summer cruises of the battleship
squadron to the Pacific coast and will
emphasize the conclusion of war ex-
perts that the trip of the battleships
to the Pacific Is military maneuyer
pure and simple.
So far as the preliminary negotia-
tions have progressed, Mexico has
shown a very friendly disposition in
the matter, and the way to the closing
Of this deal has been partially paved
by the moral support which the United
States has given to Mexico in the re-
cent attempted adjustment Of Central
American difficulties. Legislative ac-
ton by both countries will, of course.
be necessary to legalize the sale of this
territory, but the approval by the two
governments of treaty to this effect
will probably be followed by congress
sional sanction of It,
Magdalena bay, which is declared by
experts to be the most magnificent
drilling ground in the world for men-of-
war, is regarded as absolutely essential
to the needs of battleship fleet on
the Pacific coast. Through the courtesy
Of Mexico this body of water has long
been used by the Pacific squadron for
Target practice, but to assemble there
fleet of the size that is soon to sail
for the Pacific might be viewed with
apprehension by Mexico. That coun-
try, however, has no navy.
Magdalena bay is absolutely devoid
of shipping. Large tracts Of land in
Lower California have passed into the
hands of the American mine owners
and the population of the entire tract
is only about $4,000. Mexico is much
interested in the Monroe doctrine, as
is the United States. 1t was once used
to drive foreign foe away from Mex
leo.
Magdalena bay is essential to the de-
yelopment of a fleet of sufficient
strength on the Pacific to protect Mex
leo and other Central and South Amer
ican republics from a violation of the
Monroe doctrine on the Pacific sea
board
1t would appear to be to the ad-
vantage of Mexico and the southern re-
publics generally that the United
States should be possessed of this
key to the protection of the Pacific.
Such, in brief, are the arguments pre-
sented in support of the original rec
ommendation of the requirement of
this territory in order that its adjacent
body of water may pass to the United
States.
The original recommendation was
made by Rear Admiral Kasper. COM
mandant Of the navy yards, New York.
while the latter was commander-in-
later approved by the general board
of the navy and in turn received the
sanction Of the executive board of the
government. The sounding of Mexico
on the subject has been merely prelim-
mary and the success of the negotia-
tions will not be known until after Sec
retary Root returns from Mexico.
In the light, however, of recent de-
velopments in the far East and because
Of the apparent willingness of most OF
the Central and South American repub-
lie to cooperate in the American pol
icy ofnaval concentration in the Pacific.
1t is believed that Mexico will consent
to the transfer of the whole or as much
Of Lower California as may be neces-
sary to the proper fortif1cation of Mag
dalena bay and to the proposed ada
cent naval station that would be estab.
lished.