Favors Stronger Monroe Doctrine.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 1, 1912:
Senate Committee Accepts Resolution to Safeguard Strategic Points in Latin-America.
BARS FOREIGN INTERESTS
And Is Aimed to Prevent Incidents Like That Connected with Magdalena Bay Recurring.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, July 31— The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations accepted to-day word for word the report of its sub-committee recommending the extension of the Monroe Doctrine to prevent the possibility of any incident like that of Magdalena Bay recurring. The report, embodying a resolution which was later presented to the Senate by Mr. Lodge, declares that "this Government could not see without grave concern" the acquisition even by a private corporation of the strategic points in the Western Hemisphere, which might ultimately be turned over to a foreign power as a base for military operations. The report expressly declares that no proof has been forthcoming that Japan had ulterior designs on Magdalena Bay. It does assert, however, that it is apparent that American interests holding title to the land around the body did negotiate first with the United States, and then with the Japanese syndicate with a view to the military occupation of the bay. Though the report did not name these interests, in spite of the request of Senator Nelson of Minnesota that "these unpatriotic Americans be pilloried before the public," it is known that the reference is to a New England lumbering concern which had large interests in the Development Company of Lower California. That company was originally a California corporation, but through loans to New England concerns became its directing force. It owned 4,000,000 acres on the coast north and south from the bay and running inland fifteen miles, and it was reported that the Oriental Steamship Company had been approached to take over this holding for ultimate fortification by Japan.
    At the request of the Senate the State Department investigated the matter several months ago, made public the correspondence thereon, and disclosed what information it had. None of this information showed any willingness on the part of Japan or the Japanese syndicate to accept the American company's offer, but the existence of certain Japanese fishing rights along the coast of Lower California tended to confirm the suspicion of Mr. Lodge and others that the inland stretch reaching back to Magdalena Bay might ultimately become a great military naval base. The text of the resolution setting forth the Senate's revised idea of the Monroe Doctrine is as follows:

    Resolved, That when any harbor or other place in the American Continents is so situated that the occupation thereof for naval or military purposes might threaten the communications or the safety of the United States, the Government of the United States could not see without grave concern the possession of such harbor or other place by any corporation or association which has such a relation to another Government, not American, as to give that Government practical power of control for national purposes.

    Mr. Lodge in offering the resolution also submitted a report setting forth the facts his sub-committee had found and their reasons for suggesting an extension of the Monroe Doctrine to private foreign corporations. The sub-committee consisted of Senator Lodge and Senator Root for the Republicans and Senator Hitchcock and Senator Rayner for the Democrats.
    Consideration of the resolution went over until to-morrow as a parliamentary formality, but when the subject is taken up it is expected that the Senate will indorse the committee's report.