The Washington herald., 1911-07-02

AIOOPo haNO Dccn SonL ONCE hhO 0oSeA-
ern Pacific Railway by the Mexican gov
ernment>t to restore its authority in Lower
California, which recently declared its
independence. with Richard Ferris, a
former Washington newsboy, for Presi-
dent. The permission to use our rail-
way was probably granted not without
hesitation. \ A refusal would have vexed
the Mexicans, at a moment when we are
bent on developing our trade with Latin
America. Yet, with the premonitory
boom OF the Fourth ringing in our ears,
we hate to take sides against a people
who have found it necessary to dissolve
the political bonds that have connected
them with another
| One Of the alleged motives Of this
movement is not without interest to u.s.
The desert at the mouth of the Colorado
River could, by irrigation. be converted
into q second Egypt. A group of capi-
talists is said to have acquired 1t with
the intention Of working It by means of
coolie labor, for which the laws Of
Mexico would afford the utmost facility
| As there Is no prospect of a change in
these laws, the white residents of Lower
California seem indeed to have no alter
native but to be drowned in a flood Of
yellow labor or to set up a separate gov
eminent. Confronted with the prospect
OF seeing Mongolian colony of perhaps
million spring up on the very edge OF
California and Arizona. we may well ask
whether the water OF our river is to be
used for that purpose.
lfaV h. ,f,,og Iat-
Of indemnity for the Torreon outrages,
with the intimation that Chinese gun
boats may call attention to the claim.
Is this the shadow Of coming events?
Some of US have been dreaming Of Mon
golian fleets making their appearance
some day on our Pacific coast to lend
emphasis to the Mongolian demand for
equality of opportunity. but we had no
idea that they would come so soon. II
the Mexican naval force is not strong
enough to control Lower California, what
Is to prevent the Chinese gunboats from
taking possession, say, of Magdalena
Bay7 II the occupation were prolonged
should we not have TO face the irksome
| task of making representations to the
Chinese government?
All these unpleasant complications
would be avoided II Lower California
and the Colorado desert were ours. The
value Of Magdelena Bay as a naval base
has long been recognized. Since the
water of the Colorado is ours, we should
naturally like to see 1t irrigate our land.
Arizona would doubtless be pleased to re-
ceive a port on the Gulf Of California as
| a birthday present.
1t is hardly to be expected that our
government would give a standing per-
mission for the transportation of MeXi-
can troops over our railway. II that
permission is essential to the permanent
control OF Lower California by Mexico.
il seems conceivable that the Mexican
government might welcome an oppor-
tunity to escape from an awkward sit
uation by exchanging that arid and un-
ruly peninsula for a weil-watered terri
tory, so situated that its control and de-
fense by the Mexican federal forces
would always be assured, without the
necessity of asking our permission. We
should, of course. be willing to give the
necessary cash to boot.
II British Honduras were ours, 1t
would form an admirable object of ex-
change. 1t would offer to the Mexican
government a decided strategic advan-
tage in keeping the Mayas of Yucatan
under control Intervening between the
sea and the northern half of Guatemala,
it would present to that republic a con-
slant temptation to acquire it-by join
ing Mexico; and IL Guatemala took that
step, her example would not be lost on
the rest of Central America In these
days, when the globe is getting so small,
1t is not wise to keep it split up into an
infinity of microscopic nations" main
tanning a humble and costly independ-
ence, when they might lead a far more
dignified existence as members Of
great and famous commonwealth.
Thus British Honduras, of little use to
Britain, would be Of great use to us. On
the other hand, the Alaska Panhandle,
of little use to us, would be of great use
to Britain. That strip of coast 536 miles
long, s to 50 miles wide, shuts OF the
northern half of British Columbia and
the entire Yukon territory from free ac-
cess to the Pacific. Imagine a Canadian
Panhandle stretching from Eastern
Maine down nearly to Philadelphia!
Imagine that Portland Boston, Provi-
dence, Newport, New York, and Jersey
City were Canadian cities, deriving their
wealth from the American country be-
hind them. yet contributing not a cent
toward American taxes; that not pound
of freight could be sent from Pittsburg
or Buffalo to New York or Boston for
export, except in bond!
1t does not seem fantastic to assume
that two nations so friendly to each
other, and so proud OF their common
sense, would not find it difficult to agree
on a treaty of exchange, somewhat on
the following terms:
First The United States cedes IN