New-York tribune., 1916-02-01
Purchase of Lower Cali
fornia Urged by Illinois
Representative.
MONEY VITAL NEED
OF MEXICO, HE SAYS
Magdalena Bay as New Naval
Base Would Compensate
u. S. for Expense.

Washington, Jan. 3l.-The purchase
by the United States Of Lower Cali
fornia. including Magdalena Bay. there
by placing at the disposal Of the Car
rama administration in Mexico SUI
cient gold 10 permit the rebuilding Of
the Mexican Railway, and 20 provide
for the proper policing Of the country
and meeting current expenses. was pro-
posed in a resolution introduced in The
House to-day by Representative B-it-
ten, Of Illinois.
AS member OF the House Naval
Committee, Mr.. Britten long has been
interested in the Msgdalena Bay siius
tion, and ne IL extremely anxious that
the United States should own that ter
ritory, 50 that sucn scares as occurred
nearly two years ago should not be re-
peated
III successfully concluded" sad Mr.
Britten, this plan will place in the
hands Of the ce facto government in
Mexico millions OF dollars in gold,
which will enable Carranzs 20 rebuild
the national railways Of his lawless
country and . establish an effective
military police force in every state OF
province. Il will bring about cond.-
tion Of law and order such as could
not possibly be accomplished by the
invasion Of our trooJs. the loss OF
thousands of American lives and the
transformation of Mexico into blood
stained battlefield
The requirement OF Lower Cslitor-
ME would give US q strip OF land ex-
tending 500 miles south Of the State
OF California, in which is included the
wonderful Magdalena Bay for the es-
tabishment Of great naval base half
way between San Francisco and the
Panama Canal.
Our moral support OF Carrsnzas
government was not based on the as
sumption that he had already acquired
sufficient power 20 establish a perms-
nent government Immediately, but on
the assumption that he was in a posi-
tion 20 do so within a reasonable
length of time, and with the full knowl
edge that revolutions still existed and
Villa and Zapata were still political
factors, and that the lives and property
Of American citizens in and on the
border of Mexico might still be sacrl-
feed.
The President has let il be known
that he is positively against interven-
tion, and has committed this country
70 an un-American policy OF watchiul
waiting, compromising and humilia-
ton, through which must be sacrificed
more American lives and property be-
cause OF Carranza's sympathy with the
lawless brgands Of Mexico or his IN
capabllity. under the circumstances. OF
bringing about even semblance of law
and order.
fTf Io. In IN, = ia o. IN
that New York bankers will furnish no
funds 70 Carrsnza's de facto govern
ment, and our government cannot
longer fail 20 observe that moral sup
port. while beautiful in sentiment, IS
not assisting the Csrrsnza government
in paying its bills, and that The iinan-
cial aid Of the United States mus. be
the final solution 70 the problem ot
blood and destruction in Mexico"
State Department dispatches to-day
report Carranza forces in the Cusl min
ing district doing all they can to pro-
tect Americans. They have been dis
tributed TO guard most mining camps
and patrol the railroad between Chs
huahua and Minaca. They have found
large quantity OF munitions lost By
Villa forces after the capture OF Guer-
zero.
Benjamin Smell. John Wood and Hen
ry Acklin, reported killed near Cusi,
are now reported safe.
Conditions at Monterey we're report
ed in consular dispatches as greatly
improved. The steel and smelling
plants are being operated and their out
puts going 70 the United States. Sew
eral mines have been reopened arI
railway traffic is improved. The re
ports added that Americans at Mon
terey were generally well treated