Won't Oppose Germany.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 5, 1912:
She May Have Christmas Island if She Wants Coaling Station There.
    WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.— There is nothing in the Lodge resolution, recently passed by the Senate, under which the United States Government could object to a foreign country establishing a commercial coaling station on Christmas Island, in the mid-Pacific, as, it is rumored, Germany is planning to do. The Lodge resolution declares only that the United States would look with grave concern on the possession of any "harbor or other place on the American continents so situated that its occupation for naval or military purposes might threaten the communications or the safety of the United States."
    Christmas Island, which lies just north of the equator and nearly a thousand miles south of Hawaii, is claimed by Great Britain, and has been leased for ninety-nine years to an English trading company. Charts of the island show that it would be practically impossible to establish a serviceable harbor there without going to immense expense for dredging. Naval officials here say this would make it virtually impossible to use the island. It is pointed out also that there are strong and dangerous currents around the island, especially along the northern and western sides, that have sent many vessels to destruction on the rocks.
    Furthermore, the fact that Great Britain owns the island makes it seem almost certain to officials here that no German company would get full possession or even a lease oí the island.