Warning To Powers Adopted By Senate.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 3, 1912:
Approves So Applying Monroe Doctrine to Bar Foreigners Owning Strategic Points.
STONE IMPUGNS MOTIVE
Says American Concern Is Interested — Suggestion That Lower California Be Annexed to Settle Mexican Claims.Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.— After three hours of secret debate the Senate, by vote of 51 to 4, adopted this afternoon Senator Lodge's resolution definitely applying the Monroe Doctrine to cases like that relating to Magdalena Bay. His resolution, Mr. Lodge explained, was based on a principle older than the Monroe Doctrine, and that the great doctrine itself was but an exemplification of that older principle. This, said the Massachusetts Senator, was the right of a nation to defend herself and to prevent dangerous encroachments.
    The resolution reads:

    That when any harbor, or other place in the American Continent, 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.

    Following the adoption or the resolution the suggestion was made informally by a Senator high in the councils of the Foreign Relations Committee that the time had about come for this Government to take steps to acquire Lower California. This acquisition, he pointed out, might come in settlement of our claims against Mexico. As a result of the Madero and Orozco revolutions these claims are enormous, he pointed out while Mexico is impoverished and the Mexican Congress might consent to a cession of territory which has always been a white elephant on Mexico's hands.
    This Senator explained that the peninsula is absolutely barren and practically uninhabited, but that strategically it is of the greatest importance. The Magdalena Bay incident would, of course, be forever closed, should, the United States acquire what has always been considered a natural extension of our coast line, and- his country would then have complete control of the outlet of the Colorado River. The fact that at present rebels of a socialistic character are operating in the peninsula, he added, might make Mexico more willing to part with it.