A BIG DEAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11685, 29 April 1916, Page 3

A BIG DEAL.

UNITED STATES MAY BUY TERRITORY. CHICAGO. March 11. The "Economist,''" a weekly financial publication, prints in this week's issue a report that the Washington Administration, wishes to purchase, rather than . sci/A\ tho northern hail of Mexico. Colonel House, it is stated, went to .Europe to feel out the European Powers on the proposition. ,; Many rumours drift through financial circles," explained Clinton B. Evans, editor of the paper, last night. *' We turn most of thorn down. But this bore the genuine stamp. Jt comes from an unimpeachable source. i cannot divulge his name or lib circumstances, hut my informant is close inside at Washington. I believed it to tho extent of leading off my weekly review of,the financial situation -with it," '' ■"■■■■ ' The editorial follows: " Tho slatightor of American soldiers

and civilians and tlio decision of our Government to scud a force to j .Mexico to kill or capture Villa :uul his j follower* has violently turned the at- j tentiou of our people to that, pan of j the wo rid, but there is one otlier mat-| tor which for the long run even more I : sensational. It conies from* a highly; i authoritative source that the Adminis-j ; t rat ion has iu hand a plan to purehas? j | the north half of -Mexico, to organise] ; the country under our methods of | Government, and establish peace in all j that part, of tiie present llopuhlio in which Americans are most interested. I "'This transaction would cut off the I possibility of such border troubles m i Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as | have occurred in the last few- years ! and it would enable Cnrrnnza, through ! a large money payment to create stai bilily in the remainder of the country, j if lie is so disposed. j "'The authority above referred to states that the recent misK.ou-pf Colonel House in Hmope ivius that of asking tho Towers whether there wonlcl bo any objection on their pa it- to such purchase and that ho found them cutuwly agreeable to the plan. '"Such a. project is perfectly natural to President AVilson.Jjecause of his abhorrence of war and ruffianism, and

•3-Z the- American people would, approve of it. They would be'|j&d see it demonstrated that the daJ&r mightier Than the sword aiuV :mQ beneficent in its operation. v, ;.q '■" It was recently reported that*, tl country v, as negotiating for"* ; l3oW California. The purchase of thit'}i;;f*iit< of barren territory. have a Naval advantage chiefly*i&yi e for- it would give the United v-Stai command of the west- coast oPJjfes" The-purchase of the north.lialf-tff- \ country would insure to busing ] tcrests" peace., the c6-operation,7ol t United States Government aua ; .-,pn peritv. Of cours-> it is yet how Congress will receive tion." •