Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-31
DENIES FISHING DEAL
Story of Mexican Grant to
Japanese Oiscredited.
HAS ALLOTTED NO LAND
Five Million Acres in Lower Cali.
fornia Said to Be Involved,
Is MATTER OF LONG STANDING
Negotiations for Purchase of Prop
erty Have Been Considered by
President and State Department.

MEXICO CITY, January 3i-Foreign
Minister Manuel Calero says there is no
foundation for the story published today
In the San Francisco Examiner that
deal Is about to be completed for the
granting of fishing monopoly by the
Mexican government to Japanese fish
ing syndicate, while the allotment of q
large tract of land in Lower California
is also denied
SAN FRANCISCO. January s1-A deal
about to be completed by which a Japa-
nese fishing syndicate would obtain
fishing monopoly from the Mexican gov
ernment and 100000 acres of land in
Lower California, on Magdalena bay. the
American naval target grounds, has been
blocked by the State Department, accord
ing to the Examiner today
A meeting with a view to the sale of the
land was held here yesterday between
John E. Blackman of Los Angeles, presi-
dent of the chartered Company of Lower
California: ]. Morgan Roland, a New
York capitalist. and Ota Nota and X
Abiko. representing the Otasubura Noda,
as the japanese company is known
Said to Hold Option.
1t is said that the chartered company
holds an option on the fishing monopoly
from a Mexican named Sandoval, who
received it from the Mexican government.
The tract of land in question is 800 miles
fertile and capable of supporting large
colony. In this strip lies the famous
land-locked Magdalena bay and the nu-
merous smaller harbors.
According to the paper, the State De-
partment vetoed it as being obnoxious to
the spirit of the Monroe doctrine.
Will Look Into Report.
The State Department, following it's
usual practice, will look into the re-
port that colony of Japanese is to
be established on the coast of Lower
California, on Magdalena bay.
When colonists take up lands under
individual ownership the departments
rule has been to regard such action as
no infraction of the Monroe Doctrine.
1t Is pointed out that the constftu-
tion of Mexico forbids the alienation
of any of that nations territory. That
would appear to negative the idea that
Japanese sovereignty is to be estab-
lished over the proposed colony.
The negotiations for the purchase of
property owned by an American syndi-
cate in Lower California by a Japanese
syndicate is not a new matter, and has
been the subject of consideration by the
State Department and the President Of
the United States at various times dur
ing the last two years or more.
The big tract of land, including the
under a concession from the Mexican
government for many years by this
American syndicate, composed largely of
Californians. The syndicate enjoys full
rights of proprfetorship. subject to the
sovereignty Of Mexico, and has a general
right to sell or transfer whatever equity
it possesses
Lawyer Was Consulted.
This information is given on the aul
thority of a lawyer who has been con-
suited in connection with the overtures
made by the japanese syndicate for the
purchase of the property. These negotia-
tons were opened more than three years
ago, after the concession had been for
some time offered for SALE
The possibility of international compli-
cations, however, and a patriotic sense
the members of the American syndicate
to consult a prominent authority on in
ternational law in New York city.
The Japanese syndicate, among other
purposes, desired to construct docks, coal
Ing station and other facilities for mer-
chant marine, proposing to make a port
of call for Japanese ships which might
pass through the Panama canal after it's
construction. There is no evidence that
the Japanese syndicate has any other
purpose than commercial expansion.
On the advice of counsel. the Ameri-
can syndicate took the matter to the
State Department and later to the
President, at crisis in the negotia-
tions about two years ago. The syn
dicates sense Of obligation to the
United States government was ex-
planned, and an offer was made to sell
to the United States it's equity at a
price greatly reduced from that offered
by the Japanese syndicate.
View Of Administration.
The administration. it is understood.
indicated little interest in the proposal
confining comment to statement that
the Monroe doctrine would operate to
compel the United States to prevent
any change in sovereignty. This con-
tngency, 1t is supposed, was not seri-
ously feared by the administration.
The proposition for purchase by the
United States government was not en-
tertained, as 1t was considered imprac-
ticable.
The report Of secret treaty between
Japan and Mexico, shortly before the res
ignation of Diaz as President of Mexico
it is suspected, was no more than dis
torted view of the meaning of conferences
between representatives of the Japanese
syndicate desirous of acquiring the Cali
fornia concession, and the Mexican ad-
ministration. 1t is believed that the Jap
anese had applied for definition OF
their rights and privileges granted under
the concession to the American syndi-
cate.