The Washington herald., 1919-04-19
Warns That Any Attempted
Acquisition Of Lower Cali
fornia VIII Set Latin
America AAame-Protee.
ton for Oil Interests Big
gest Problem This Coun-
try Is Facing. -'@
by RICHARD sPILLANE.


gestion that the United States pur-
chase from Mexica the long strip or
territory known as Lower California
and a considerable portion of the
State Of Sonora
In q broad sense Lower California
would not be a, valuable acquisition.
There Is little OF the country that Is
susceptible to agricultural develop
ment. There are no harbors worthy
of the name on the Pacific. front.
There Is plenty of sand, cactus ana
hilly land with here and there a VAL
ley with some fair pasturage but.
generally. 1t Is a poor and god-for-
saken stretch OF country.
Masdalena Bay Asset.
Far to the south is a prime asset in
Magdalena Bay. Between San Fran
cisco and Panama there are few bas-
ins in which great ships can find good
and ample anchorage. Magdalena Bay
would make an excellent naval base
for the Pacific feet of the American
navy.
The Japs at various times have
been suspected Of casting covetous
eyes on this broad basin and they
probably would like to have II II
they did not know that America
never would consent to their pos
session of territory in the Western
hemisphere. There is less being
said now OF the Japanese peril than
was before the war. Possibly the
showing made in France was as
much Of a surprise to the chauvinis-
tic among the Japanese as it was
to the Junkers among the Germans.
Uncle Sam surprised them. AL
though a peaceable old boy natur-
ally. he showed that when he got
into a fight he had in both his army
arm and naval arm what the sport
ing writers term slangily as "some
wallop."
Worthwhile Territory.
Economically the only territory
In the domain Senator Ashurst
would have America acquire that
would be valuable is that portion
of Sonora west of the Rockies
stretching out to the Gulf of Cali
fornia. There is some excellent
agricultural land in this region with
thriving. we'll ordered towns.
At various places there is a pro-
nounced admixture Of Germans,
mostly descendants of those Teutons
who fed from Germany after the
revolution of 1S4s. Some of these
refugees remained in Texas and set
tied at Sequin. Schulenburg. New
Braunfels. Fredericksburg. Luling
and such places where now their
descendants are the leading citizens.
Others wandered further west into
Mexico and made their homes in
Sonora where they cultivated the
soil. raised drops. built flouring
mills and breweries, and made a
tiny empire of their own far from
the German kings.
Obstacles to Acquisition.
There are two obstacles to Senator
Ashurst's scheme that make 1t prac-
tically impossible.
One Is that America would set all
Latin America afame by such an
acquisition of territory.
The nations to the south of us
were suspicious for many years that
the United States had designs on
Mexico. and. possibly. the Central
American republics. 1t has been diff
ficult to satisfy them that they were
mistaken.
Any move toward getting a bit OF
Mexico territory would be considered
as but a preliminary to a greater and
more aggressive policy that would
menace them. We would lose their
good will and raise up a trade and
political barrier that would operate
to our great disadvantage.
Aside from these considerations it
is questionable whether, even if Mex
leo would consent to such a sale of
territory, our Congress or any ad-
ministration would countenance the
purchase. Mexico might be induced
to let the United States have a naval
base at Magdalena Bay.
Even that Is doubtful.
Beyond that the Ashurst proposi-
tion has little chance of success.
OIL situation Factor.
The Mexican oil situation is of more
immediate moment than the Ashurst
affair.
oil Is the fuel OF the future. America
today produces more than 60 per cent
of the oil OF the world. The demand
increases constantly. 1t is doubtful
whether the American production can
be increased much beyond the pres
ent yield.
More and more automobiles will
be built. The tractor is beginning
to be a big factor in the consump-
tion of oil. On the sea oil driven
ships are dfsplacing coal driven ves-