Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-09
REASON FOUND FOR LODGE RES.
oLurIoN CALLING FOR MAG.
pALENA eAY FACTS.
HOLDING COMPANY PLANNED.
TO CELL TO NIPPoNEsE
Reason Apparent for Worry Whom
Facts Became Publie-MasdaIsna
Boy Strategic Point on Lower pa
efie-Would Give Japan Control OF
Panama Canal II Once Sseursd.
Especial Correspondence

Lodge resolution, calling for lntolMa
ton as to the alleged efforts OF Jap
anese to get a foothold on Maeoaieha
BAY, has been more or less eHect'SeAS
silenced. The conclusion was jumped
at that the Lodge resolution was notn-
ing more or less than a design to ere
ate a war scare for the purpose Oh
getting a big battlesnip appropriation.
The democrats, for political reasons
had taken action in caucus asaihs'
any battleship appropriations tiAs
YEAR and were ready TO strike at the
Lodge resolution as likely TO oe1eae
their purpose. LII
What effect the Lodge resolution VIII
have on the naval program can not
now be accurately said but II Is qul.e
clear that there were substantial rea-
cons for the action Of the Massacnu-
sets senator.
An Effective Weapon.
The truth is that nothing more e1-
e.c+ive 70 prevent war with Japan. as
TO- as the Monroe doctrine is con-
cerned. could have been designed 'tnan
tho Lodge resolution, calling upon the
president to transmit to the senate,
NOT incompatible with the pubilc Ia
+ares+ any information In possession VI
the government relating to the PuE-
chase of land at Magdalena bay oy tie
1snanese government or by jap
anese company. -.
To comprehend the significance o.
,he Naedalena bay episode. II enou!o
ha unders,oed that Magdalena pay Is
fine natural harbor on the SOUTH
eastern shore Of Lower California. Ane
territory involved in connection WIN
.hn nresent use of the phrase Nag
dalena bag" IS a strip Of land aoou,
a5o miles long running nortn ana
south and including the Magdalena pay
shore near its southern portion. Inc
land Ia almost worthless for any puf-
nose whatever while Magdalena pay
it.elf aItho affording fine haroorase'
is surrounded by land so valueiess
that the Mexican government always
has readily consented to permit .ne
United states navy to use the fesion
for target practice. No town WORTHY
of the name exists in all this virtually
desert region and 1t possesses no min
erals or agriculture Of importance.
Useless as the Magdalena bay strip
=. for any business or agricultural pui
nose. :, is incalulably valuable Tor inc
,,rno.aa os !, coalfng station or naval
hase Could Japan obtain a 1oolho!o
hero she might be willing TO pay al
as, .,y nrice for the privilege. AS
~ c.l.na pos islands off the mouth OF
49, panama canal might to Germany,
en- might Magdalcna bay offer 10 Japan
command of the Pacific and partlcu
1ar,v 10 the entrance to the canal which
=, o,,,d he of the utmost Importance
in case of war. ANY rpmor, therefore,
tha, japan sought a foothold in Mag
6sIana bav would be enough TO ma ne
any american statesman outside the
state deoartment sit up and take no.
More Than Mere Ru'nor.
Tho rurnor that Japan has cher1sheo
snch an intention is more than h'ele
rnn,or This 350-mile strip is o"heu
b, what is known as The Chartered
comnany- OF Lower California, Name
CORPORATION now in financial etrai.s'
A year or more ago. or about at inc
hreakinr out Of the Madero revolution
IN Mexico. one of the best ln1orneo
mon ever in the service oi sae c"''eu
states government was asked by rep
resen,ative Of the stockholders OF TINS
company II. in his opinion the Unlteu
states would interfere II TINS iaho
should be sold to japanese COMPANY
for commercial purposes. Inc sta..s
man smelled rat and promptly repheo
that. in his opinion. the United states
would object vigorously TO any suen
action. The matter then was dropped.
recently a project Of the same kinh
hoe been renewed. The Grief creditor
NJ The Chartered Company OF Lower
california is a resident Of New Hamp-
shire and a plan has been set afoot, u
81 learned, whereby this land should be
sold to a new private company whose
a+ock however. would be held by the
Oriental Steamship Company, which is
subsidized by the Japanese govern
ment. 1t Is obvious that Japanese In
terests could have no other possible
nse for this land and bay than for
military purposes
Senate Grows Apprs'snsivs.
The newspapers a few days ago car
r,ed a statement that this deal actually
had gone thru Every man in the sem
ate familiar with the facts here mar
rated instantly became apprehensive,
and Senator Lodge at once introduced
his xc6OlullOn, dttIaO Acdt LII SASSs - sssS
story were true, his action came too
late. It has been part Of the settled
policy Of the United States never to let
negotiations Of this character get Sc
rious start. The reason is the simple
vet diplomatic one that where foreign
power might contemplate the acquire
ment Of territory on this hemisphere.
1t could gracefully withdraw with pro-
testations that 1t had no such inten-
ton should the United States promptly
intimate that the Monroe doctrine Is
still alive. On the other hand. should
somnolent state department permit
deal Of this kind to be closed. a
European or oriental company might
have gone 80 far that 1t could not
withdraw without humiliation, and the
consequences might be sensational It
not actually warlike.
Twice before in recent years. have
situations ;::sss .h:: cs Ma1dalena Bay
arisen and twice, al It happens. has
Senator Lodge figured in exactly the
same important role he IL now playing.
This brief outline Of international
history involving the Monroe doctrine