The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-01
JAPAN NOT IN IT.
Has Nothing to Do With Mag
daIena Bay Situation.
An American Syndicate Is Re-
sponsibIe for RumOrs.

Washington. May with brief
message the president transmitted to
congress today a full report from Sec
rotary of State Knox ON the Magdalena
Bay affair. There is nothing on file
in the department of state, said the
secretary. that has justified any infer
ence that the Mexican government or
imperial japanese government has oc-
cupied with any disposition of land
near Magdalena bay which the lat
ter government would acquire lana
there for any purpose.
I'm these circumstances the depart
ment of state felt no necessity for fur
Their steps in the matter OF any OF
these rumors which are OF klnd thal
all too frequently occur to the oetri-
ment of public opinion in the respec-
tive countries and are so alien to the
cordial relations of the government
concerned
Mr.. Knox said the Japanese ambas-
sador had informed the department.
that he had appraised his government
of the rumors in question which had
come to him through the public press,
and subsequently the ambassador made
with his government authorization, an
unreserved and categorical denial of
the rumored purchase of land by the
Japanese government or by a Japanese
company eharacterizing the report as
entirely sensationaIand utterly without
any foundation whatever the japanese
government having never directly or
indirectly attempted or contemplated
the acquisition of any land at Mag
dalena bay for any purpose.
Secretary Knox said the runnors e.
garding a japanese purchase evidently
arose from efforts by an American
syndicate to dispose of certain lands
near Magdalena bay. This American
syndicate, according to the depart
ment's information given in Secretary
Knox's report entered upon negotia-
tions for y sale to a Japanese syndicate.
Meantime an effort was made to ascer-i
tain the attitude of the American gov
eminent toward such a transaction.
There was evidence, Secretary. Knox
said that the American syndicate felt
or knew that Japan capitalists would
not care to consumr1ate the purchase
without the approval of the Japanese
government and that the latter would
not give its approval unless assured the
transaction would be unobjectionable 10
the United States.
Would Raise an Cutlery.
The deparement of state made 1t
plain to the American syndicate that
such a transfer of lands would be in
terpreted in some quarters in a man
ner to cause a great cutlery and that
such result would be so obviously
the United States, that 1t would ap-
pear unnecessary further to comment |
on the disposition of the federal gov
eminent In the premises"
The American syndicate it appears
then sought to ascertain the attitude |
of the American government toward |
a company composed in part of Jap |
anese investors. Americans retaining
control of the property. To this |
proposition theAsdepartment replied |
that it could add nothing TO it's former |
statement. Since this reply the files |
of the department disclose no further |
communication with the Americans |
in the land. Under these |
Secretary Knox de-
clared:
''The department cannot assume
there is any project on foot calling for |
action on the parts of the United
States"
The message precipitated a debate in
the senate, Senators Bacon and Lodge
concurring, in the opinion that If the Mon |
roe doctrine did not. cover the situation
a new doctrine covering 1T could be Gre
ated.
Explaining his reasons for calling for
the correspondence Mr.. Lodge said it was |
to prevent the development of any en- |
barrassing situation with reference to |
come when the United States should take |
the position that neither directly or in
could any foreign government OBJ |
tain the control of land In this hemisphere |
that might constitute a menace to the |
United States
Senator Rayner said that If Japan estab- |
lished base OF supplies or coaling sta
ton in Mexico he would regard the act |
as declaration of war.