MENACE TO SAFETY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 105, 3 May 1912, Page 7

MENACE TO SAFETY.

JAPANESE AT MAGDALENA BAY. MONROE DOCTRINE SHOULD BE REVISED SENATORS ALARMED. By Tetegrftph.— ftMi Association.— Copyright. (Received May 3, 8.5 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 2nd May. Senators Lodge and Bacon, and other members of the Senate's Foreign Affairs' Committee, are of opinion that the Monroe doctrine ought to be revised in order to prevent Japanese commercial interests securing control of territory in Magdalena Bay. The members have declared that the possession of such a strategic position, even by purely commercial interests, ia certain to menace the United State's safety. Magdalena Bay is"*» splendid harbour on the Lower Californian (Mexican) coast. It is well protected from the open sea, by the island of Santa Margarita and Cresuento Island. In March of last year the Los Angeles Times published an unconfirmed report that a. thousand armed Japanese weio in. the vicinity of Magdalena" Bay, Lower California, Mexico. It was pointed out, however, that the sight of armed Japanese near the locality in question was. not an uncommon one. A rumour was' circulated, at that time by recent arrivals in San Francisco from Magdatena. that there was a general belief ther© that Japan had made important concessions to President Diaz, and it was further reported that Japanese were landing at Magdalena. The Monroe doctrine, which is a cardinal point of American policy, was formulated by President Monroe in 1823, in agreement with Great Britain, and in opposition to the designs of the Holy Alliance, .which contemplated the partition of South America among the European Powers. It has ever since been accepted as laying down the principles which guide the United States in respect to the relations of European Powers with the other countries upon the American Continent. President Monroe said : "We owe it to candour, and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those Powers (the allied Powers of Europe), to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety."