Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-04-01
REPORT !
 8 OF LAND SALE ] TO JAP AN$E
Mexican Reports Cdces- sions Are Granted
IApS HAVE LONG
 SOUGHT FooT8L
DWners Of Lower California Fntain They Have Made No $.
 Or Leases.

Washington, March 31.- Am brican embassy at Mexico was
 instructed today to make uiries Eoncerning the report that Mexl- Ian government has granted EFricul-
 ural concessions to JapanesdW Low er California, and to report facts as quickkly as possible.
 No official information hd each- Ed the department about thu nces- bions and surprise was occad ed by he dispatch from Mexico { yes kerday quoting General mado Aguirre, under secretary of kelop- nent and agriculture, as say they had been granted. The Amer gov (rnment is interested both be lse of he apparent success of Japa |e in
 Obtaining a long sought fod Id in
 Ower California, and becal6I the ract of land involved was eloped ind is claimed by an Ame3 n com pany whose rights were eclared forfeited by the Merica1 govern nent in 1917.
 Was Diaz Grant
 The land, upwards of million hcres below the Californi border, was granted by the then #fesident Diaz to the California an Mexican Land company, of Loo Al Hes, of which General Harrison GA Otis, of Los Angeles was the leadi figures. It was desert land wit nothing growing on it but sage bru cacutus nL X3 was rich in places eighty fet deep, Horned by deposits for gen Stions by Esha Colorado rfveu. It produced nothing for kico and the expense of putting wi R on the land was so great that | one in Mexico would undertaA it. The American company spent ere than $l 100000 in irrigation k before the tract was productive. De of the requirements of the conl eion was 1 that the land should bd Irrigated. Another was that it shou be settled with farmers and rand ks. Both these requirements are s to have been met by the Americj fccmpany. Americans Driven Et.
 When Diaz was depos and the revolutionary period u 1pp, the American settlers were ken from the land by revolutionist Livestock was stolen and several dlers were killed. For two years tl lland was ,lncared for, and then tl company found that Japanese sd hrs were willing to take up farm md culti- vate them. The Japanes were pro. tected by the Mexican whatever party of revolutionists Jre in pow er in that section. Short lime leases are said to have been Sranted to Japanese farmers, but E Ameri- can owners refused to sd danv of the land to, the Japanese or prant long term leases.
 On April 7th, 1917 fhs Mexican government declared tho attact confis. cated, according to the Natements o. general Aguirre and then apparent Y, the Mexican government opened cate. ''S
 Acting Secretary of Etate Phillips sald today that the Los; Angeles com. pany proposed about two years agt to grant a Japanese corporation iong term leases on large portio, \ not all of the tract. sAt that time gne company still was unable to main ,aln settlers here, but when the stat, aepartment objected to the proposed 4;s .sases he company dropped it's nego 9iatlons with the Japanese,
 When Senator Phelan of Califor nla, recently informed the depart Sment that negotiations had been re newed. the company's attention wa, alreeted to the American govern ment's attitude.
 x Adhere to Declaration.
 Los Angeles, March 9l.-The own CTS of the California -Mexico Land { La!tle X company's property in Lowe .ahiornia still adhere to a declara iaon made to the state department i lsrs that they will not under an SSsa:.cumstances s.:., make any lease of an g.,''u to Japanese, where colonizatio ss. .,l proDaDle. .o until we are first auth orltatively informed that such an ar aangement will be entirely agreeabl
 ~, sSae government oi our own coun
 au,s was announced here today b company. N ssuen' Y
 \. M Chandler, who is also prime srss.owner N. of the Los Angeles Tine' ss@sN KEW 2 statement as follows: a ss is';s. I's 1T 9 as the alleged pendin sfis N: < lifornia- Mexico Land & Cal {ss ,,s any's property in Lowe \ III to 2 Japanese syndical % sss. Ineas the owners of the Ian sssss se1sripg te tho declaratie
 contlnusd n page six)