The Irish standard., 1912-05-04
TAFT REASSURES THE JINGOS
NO MEXICAN GRAB BY THE Jap.
ANESE.
President Tells Senate State Depart.
ment Has No Evidence of
Oriental Invasion.

Washington, May 2.-President Taft
Informed the senate that the depart
ment of state has no evidence what
ever to show any acquisition of land
or any intention or desire to acquire
land, whether directly or indirectly,
in Mexico, by or for the Japanese
government. The presidents message
was in response to senate resolution
calling for information regarding an
alleged purchase of land at Magdalena
bay by the Japanese government or
by Japanese company.
With his brief message the presi-
dent transmitted a full report from
Secretary of State Knox.
Mr. Knox said that the Japanese
ambassador bad informed the depart
ment that he had apprised his govern
ment of the rumors and made, with
his governments authorization, an un.
reserved denial of the rumored pur.
chase.
Secretary Knox said the rumors evi.
IDENTIFY arose from efforts by the Amer.
lean syndicate to dispose of certain
lands in the vicinity Of Magdalena
bay. This American syndicate entered
upon negotiations for sale to Japa.
nese syndicate. Meantime, an effort
was made to ascertain the attitude OF
evidence, Secretary Knox said, that
the American syndicate felt or knew
that japanese capitalists would not
care to consummate the purchase
without the approval Of the Japanese
government and that the latter would
not give it's approval unless assured
the transaction would be unobjection.
able to the United States.
The department of state made it
plain to the American syndicate that
such a transfer of lands would be in.
terpreted in some quarters in a man.
ner to cause great cutlery and that
such result would be SO obviously
a cause of regret to the government
Of the United States that it would
appear unnecessary further to COM
ment upon the disposition of the fed
eral government in the premises"
The message precipitated a debate
in the senate. Senators Bacon and
Lodge concurred in the opinion that if
the Monroe doctrine did not cover the
situation a new doctrine covering it
could be created.
Explaining his reasons for calling
for the correspondence, Mr.. Lodge
said it was to prevent the development
of any embarrassing situation with
reference to Mexico and Japan. He
said the time had come when the
United States should take the posi-
tion that neither directly nor Indirect
ly could any foreign government OBJ
tain the control of land in this her,i
sphere that might constitute menace
to the United States.
Senator Rayner said that If Japan
established base of supply or coaling
station in Mexico he would regard the
act as declaration Of war.
Blow at Commerce Court.
BY failing to report an appropria.
tion for the recently created com.
merce court, the house committee on
appropriations sought to abolish that
tribunal. The general supply bill for
the legislative, judicial and executive
branches of the government is a
wholesale attempt at reduction of gov
eminent expenses.
The bill proposes reduction of the
salary of the secretary to the presi
dent from $500 to $4,000, and the
abolition in the department of com
merce and labor of the bureaus OF
manufacture and statistics.
1t is further proposed to abolish the
minis at San Francisco, New Orleans
and Carson City, Nevada, and the as
say offices at Boise, Idaho, Charlotte
N. c., Deadwood, S. D., Helena, Mont.
Seattle, WASH, and Salt Lake City
Utah.
San Francisco would get an assay
office in lieu of its mint.
M?NNEc0TAN N0hfTN TET