The sun., 1919-03-31
MEXICO GIVES
JAPANESE LAND
ON WEST COAST
Lower California Property's
Sale Is Confirmed by
Gen. Aguirre.
BOUGHT FROM L. s. MEN
Restrictions as to Coast and
Proximity of Boundary
Line Observed.
WASHINGTON NOTES MOVE
BOUGHT FROM u. s. MEN
WASHINGTON NOTES MOVE
Carranza's Official Does Not
Believe Monroe Doctrine
Is Flouted by Action.

MEXICO CITY, March 3o.-That con-
cessions have been granted to Japa-
nese corporations to exploit aEricul-
tural lands in Lower California was
the statement made yesterday by Gen
Amado Aguirre. Under Secretary OF
Development and Agriculture.
Tho affirmation was made. however,
tnat the concessions were fully author
ired by the provisions OF tho Mexican
constitution regarding the area and
position Of the territory in relation to
the ocean shore and the frontier line.
There was nothing in the conces-
nons, 1t was asserted by the Under
Secretary, that might possibly lead to
ofniculties as far as the Monroe Doc
tr'ne was concerned.
The Japanese Legation here denies il
has any Official knowledge Of the pro-
posed purchase OF Mexican lands.
General Expects No Trouble.
In the interview Gen Agu!rrs 4,
quoted as follows:
1T Is absurd to give credit 10 or take
seriously the news published to-day tha.
there is imminent nn international con-
fict because OF the fact that Japanese
subjects or companies arc arranging 10
acquire lands in Lower California, said
to belong to tho California and Mexican
Land Company Of Los Angelica
IN tho first placa the lands. which
were given by . concession in 1884 to
tho Mexican Land Company. were de-
clAred the property of the pre-Constitu-
tional Government on April z, 1917,
which action rendered void the concsy-
sion granted to the Mexteap Land Com.
pany. Since then the Government has
appointed . commission to divide these
lands and sell them to Me1icans in
small lots
Moreover. even though Japanese
companies do propose 20 acquire, as II
alleged, huge tracts OF land In Lower
California they cannot be aided by our
Government. since tho Mexican consti-
tuition in Article XXXvII., expressly
states that no foreigner can acquire
land IN zone 100 klonetsrs (appror-
imately thirty-three miles) wide from a
foreign frontier nor in a belt fifty kIlo-
meters (seventeen Yniles) wide alonx the
shores ot the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf
OF Mexico.
Restrictions on Land Buying.
Even though the Japanese subjects
oecuro Mexican citizenship they could
not acquire 100000 acres Of land, os Il
is declared they seek to buy. This
equals nearly 100000 hectares "a hec-
tars Is 3.4T1 scres). which is far above
the legal limit placed on the purchase
of kands. which restricts all persons and
companies to a maximum of 3.soo hec-
tares $1,000 acres)."
Special Despatch to TIVE scS.
WASHINGTON, March 3o.-Reports that
concessions have been offered to Japa-
nese corporations to exploit agricultural
lands in Lower California have been cur
rent here for some weeks and II Is un-
derstood that both the japanese En-
bassy and the State Department have
been apprised OF the situation. Unless
the League OF Nations proposal brings
about change in the attitude which
Japan Is maintaining toward purchase
or lease OF land by Japaneee In Mexico,
1t Is not believed by officials that Toxic
will permit any such deal TO be carried
out
According to japanese diplomats. there
have been many offers OF this kind made
to Japanese firms by Mexicans and BY
Americans owning land In Mexico. In
some cases Americans, after Offering
lands to tho Japanese. have advertised
that the offer was to be accepted,
thereby placing the Japanese Govern
ment in a false position, II is said.
The attitude OF Japan is not TO per-
init Japanese to acquire land In Mexico
unless the United States Government
sanctions the move in advance So Gar
an
tempted TO persuade .hc State Depart
ment to permit them to sell land in
Mexico to tho Japanese. but without
success.