The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-01
Lodge Resolution Deplores
Acquisition of Strategic
Point by Foreigners
NOT REAFFIRMATION
OF MONROE DOCTRINE
Magdalena Bay Incident Is Cause of
Action by Committee-State De-
partment Officials Decline to
Discuss the Matter

Washington. July s1.-The Senate will
be asked tn act tomorrow on Senator
Lodges resolution unanimously adopted
today by the foreign relations commit
tee, which would make clear to the world
this nations position regarding eneroach-
nent Of foreign powers upon the western
continents.
The Lodge resolution submitted 10 the
Senate today affirms that the United
States cannot see without grave con-
Germ any harhor or advantageous spot in
the western hemisphere taken over by d
1creisn government or by a foreign cor
poration bearing close relation to the gov
ernment If such occupancy would threaten
the commerce or safety of the United
States. 1t is the outgrowth of the activ-
~ Of an American syndicate which
sought to sell to a japanese fishing cor
poration 4,o0y coo acres of land about
A1agdalena Fay in southern California.
Announcement of Policy
Members of the foreign nations commit
tee tonight said this definition of the at
1itude of the UnHed States is not direct
reaffirmation of the Monroe doctrine
q point to be clearly emphasized in the
Senate--but is an announcement BY the
United States that it will protect its ap-
proaches" and prevent establishment of
foreign naval or military bases at
threatening points on this hemisphere.
Though the foreign relations commit
tee upon Interrogation of the Magdalena
bay project found the Japanese govern
ment had no connection with it, they de-
termDed the Senate should assert It's be-
lief 1hat foreign corporations be not al
lowed to have sites in the western hemis-
phere that might later be turned over to
their ome governments for naval or mill
tary bases
Members of the committee point out that
the Monroe doctrine as laid down by
President Monroe In his message to Con-
syress in 1923 was that this nation would
rot permit any foreign power to threaten
the safety %, or attempt invasion of an
Independent government in the western
hemisphere ss -A
In the Magdaiena hay case 1T is CLAIR ~
the United States is following the precs.
dents set by England and other powers in
declaring foreign nations must not get
military or naval foothods where they
can threaten the safety of commerce of
this country. This position will be taken
in the debate in the Senate by members
of the committee who Joined today ii rec
ommending the passage of the Lodge reso-
luton. H
Is Strategic Point
The fact that American traffic through
the Panama canal must pass in front of
Magdalena bay, and that the safety of
American shipping and the movement of
American battleships in time of war will
be threatened seriously by any foreign
power established there, makes the place
one that could not safely be allowed to
pass into control of a foreign country it
Is claimed.
The resolution was strengthened before
submission to the Senate today by an
amendment by Senator Hitchcock Not
only does it declare against the possess
sion of these advantageous points" by
corporations wholly foreign; but it covers
also American corporations. the control
of whose stock may have passed into
foreign hands
State department officials today declined
to discuss the Lodge resolution. assum-
ing the attitude that the department
should not Interfere with the legislative
branch of the government The depart
ment already has told all 1t knows of
the Magdalena bay affairs, and the opin-
ion has been general that the japanese
government at this time at least does not
propose to get control of the harbor.
Resolution Is Broad
This situation with no real issue in sight
gave rise to the belief that the Lodge
resolution Is not directed solely at jap
anese but at other powers whose steam
ship interests, advancing around the
world, are getting sites for coaling sta
tions which in event of war might easily
be converted into naval or military bases,
In none of these cases does the govern
ment appear as the titular owner of the
coaling stations. but many of the Eu-
ropean steamship lines are subsidized so
their ships are available as part of the
naval force of the government
Ostensibly called for the Magdalena bay
affair, 1t Is believed possible the reso-
luton if passed might be found to op-
crate against tracts of land on American
soil owned by foreign steamship lines.
In this event the question as to whether
its provisions are retroactive probably
would result in involved diplomatic me-
gotiations.
The Resolution
Senator Lodges resolution reads:
Resolved That when any one narbor
Or anv other place in the American con-
tinent Is so situated that the occupation
thereof for naval or military purposes
might threaten the communications or
safety OF the United States the govern
lnent OF the United States could not see
without grave concern the possession OF
such harbor or other place by any cor
poration or association which has such a
relation to another government not Ameri-
can. as to give that government prac-
tical power OF control for national pur-
poses"
Senator Lodge said the committee be-
heved 1t a proptious time to state this
governments attitude. No evidence had
been found, the report said. that japan
or any other country was behind the
Magdt.lena bay incident, but it adds fur
ther:
1T appears from the evidence that the
corporation OF persons who have, or claim
10 have, title to the lands surrounding =
Magdalena bay, have made efforts to form
a syndicate and promote the sale of these
lands upon ne basis of the existence of
some national volue to a foreign nation
in Magdalefa bay as distinct from any
commercial .aIiie which that bay and the
adjoining territory might possess.
THE fact that such an idea has formed
tie basis OF negotiation between the
possessors OF title to the lands about Mag
aalena bay and the citizens, subjects or
corporations of a foreign power, seems
10 the committee on foreign relations to