Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-07-12
NAVAL HARB0R'
NEGOTIATIONS FOR ACQUIRE
MENT OF MA6DALENA BAY.
KEY TO PACIFIC PROTECTION
Mexico Shows a Friendly Disposition
to the Proposition and Lower
California May Have
Great Harbor,

NaIuoTuia MAy bsNo
Great Harbor.
Washington.-As a pnrt OF the den
mite naval policy for the Pacific which
the Roosevelt administration has In.
augurated by Its announced determine
tion to send the Atlantic battleship
squadron to that ocean. second step
In now under way In plan for the nc.
Quirement of Magdalena bay. Lower
California, strategic point. by pur-
chase from Mexico. II 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
treaty will be considered. and, II possi-
BILE. agreed to.
No denial Is made of the fact that
tho negotiations now in progress are
merely preliminary. but II can be said
That they have progressed to that point
where they have taken material shape.
AZ far AZ the Navy Department Ii CON
cerned the purchase of Magdalena bay
has been approved by the authoritative
powers.
This will likely set ut 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 battieships
to the Pacific Is military maneuver
pure and simple.
30 fur as tho preliminary ncsotia:.
tions have progressed. Mexico has
shown n very friendly disposition In
the matter. and the way TO the closing
of this deal has been partially paved
by tho moral support which the United
States has given to Mexico In tho re.
cent attempted adjustment OF Central
American difilcultics. Legislative &C.
tion by both countries will. of course.
be necessary TO lcgnlixe the sale OF this
territory. but the approval by the two
governments Of n treaty to this effect
will probably be followed by congress.
sional sanction OF II.
Masdalcna bay. which IN declared By
experts TO be the most magnificent
drilling ground In the world for mcn'of.
war. is regarded ns absolutely essential
to tho needs Of u battlcship 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 a
feet Of the nixc that IL soon TO sail
for tho Pacific might be viewed with
apprehension by Mexico. That coun'
try. however. has no navy.
Masdnicnn bay Ii 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 10000. Mexico In much
>,,ntcrcstcd In tho Monroe doctrine. ns
Is tho United States. Il was once used
TO drive foreign foe away from Mex
leo.
Magdaicna bay IL essential TO the de-
vciopmcnt Of fleet Of sufflcicnt
leo and other Central and South Amer
lean republics from violation OF the
Monroe doctrine on tho Pacific sea.
board.
II would appear To be to the nj.
vantage Of Mexico aud the southern re.
pubiics generally that the United
States should bc possessed OF this
key TO the protection Of the Pacific.
Such. In brief. arc the arguments pre-.
scented In support Of the original rec
ommcndation 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 kaspcr. com.
mandant Of the navy yards. New York.
tUV IuN'E WIS
chief Of tho Pacific squadron. II was
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 tho subject has been merely prciim.
mary and the success Of the ncEotia-
tions will not be known until after Sec.
rotary Root returns from Mexico.
In the light. however. of recent dc.
velopments In the far East and because
of the apparent willingness Of most Of
the Central and South American rcpub.
lie to cooperate In the American pol.
iicy efnayal concentration in the Pacific
II is believed that Mexico will consent
>to the transfer Of the whole or as much
Of Lower California as may be neccs.
Dairy TO the proper fertilization Of Mag.
dalcna bay and TO the proposed ada.
cent naval station that would be estab.
lished.