Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-03-11
uCHiDA,s POSITIVE DENIAL

UCHIDA's POSITIVE DENIAL
Japan has never made the slight
est effort to obtain from Mexico any
concessions for coaling station for
naval uses at MagdaleHa Bay or All
Saints Bay. or indeed, at any point on
the Pacific Coast OF Mexico. =
This yesterday was the emphatic
declaration OF Baron Uchida, Japanese
ambassador to Washington. when his
attention vas called to published state
ment5 that through secret treaties or
other arrangements with President
Dlaz's government Japan either had
acquired or vas about TO acquire a
coaliue station or naval base on this
side Of the Pacific.
Abiding to tue fact that new line
of Japanese steamers was to ply be-
tween some Mexican ports on the
north and Peru on the south, the
ambassador stated that if this COM
pany had made any arrangements for
taking on coal for its vessels in McSl,
can territory, which naturally would
be necessary, Of course such an ar
7auGement vas on purely business
basis and vas such as is entered into
by all commercial lines OF maritime
nations. With such arrangements, he
said, the japanese government had
nothing to do, nor had any attempt
been made TO extend Japanese sover-
eighty to auy Mexican port where the
commercial line steamers took On their
coal.
The ambassadors statement vas dl-
rected to a charge by Mexican revolui
tionary agents in this country that
President Diaz had sought to secure
japanese support BY making t!aitic
arrangements with Japanese steamship
lines. These arrangements, it was
alleged, would give the lines practical
control OF tho Tehuantepec Railroad
that valuable conneeGGss eeGs.ne nj, between
the Cult If Mexico anu ne racine
Ocean,
Baron Uchila promptly denied
knowledge of any special arrangement
between bis government and the Me1l-
can government relating to The rehuan,
tepec Railway. Ii was tact, be said,
that the Japanese spinners and weavers
were buying great quantities oI Ame,i.
can cotton, and this was being taken in
part from The Cult States via the Tehu-
aulepic Railrcal 10 the Pacific, where it
was loaded into japanese steamships.
Just what arrangement existed as 10
the matter Ct transportation rates be
tween these steamship OWNERS and the
directors Of tie railroad lrs did not
know, but he knew absolutely. he said,
that the Japauese government mas not
concerned in this matter. which was a
purely business arrangement,
The conditions under which Mag.
dslena Bay was abandoned by the
United States navy as drill ground
during the winter months we're readily
disclosed by officials Of the State De
partment when it became known that
the arrangement had been terminated
early in the winter.
Several years ago, when the Amer
lean naval guuners were not nearly
so proficient as they now are, it was re-
garded as necessary by the Navy De
partment to conduct the target practice
in some sheltered bay which would
afford plenty OF smooth water 1t was
necessary to go south on the Pacific
coast because the practice is usually
held in the late fall or winter or early
spring. Magdalena Bay was found to
be admirably adapted to the purpose.
The Mexican government readily
asseuted to its uso aud even went
further and granted permission for
the sailors and marines 10 land
on the shore north of the bay and
establish temporary rifle ranges. Also
couple OF huiks were moo-ed in the
bay to act as colliers and some coal
was piled on shore.
This arrangement worked we'll for
several years. bu. finally an element n
Mexico which has always been Jealous
OF the United States begau systematic
attack upon the government OF Presl-
dent Diaz. charging that it was yielding
Mexican territory to the Americans
and by other charges inaaming the na-
tional pride. So it happened that
when this arrangement for the use OF
the bay, which took the form Of a
yearly license, expired early last De-
csmber the Mexican government de-
cided to refrain from renewing it.
| Before finally Withdrawing the priv
lcge. however. the American State De.
partuent vas consulted and it devel,
oped that nava! officials no longer con-
sidered the bay as indispensable Tor
target practice, IN fact. the American
gunners bad progres;ed so we'll in their
work that the department. felt justified
in more severe gunnery requirements
and decided that hereafter target prac-
tice should be held in the open sen and
in rough water, thereby reproducing
actual battle conditions. The navy,
therefore, readily sssented to. the ter
minatior OF the Mexican license,
n 4