Legation of
the United States,
St.
Petersburg, August 12, 1874.
(Received August 31.)
No. 10.]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
[Extract from the Journal de St.
Petersbourg, August 12, 1874.]
According to a number of foreign journals there is a plan on foot for the
annexation of several provinces of Mexico to the United States.
Overtures are said to have been made by the Mexican government to that
of Washington for the cession of all the territory situated north of a
line drawn directly from the mouth of the Rio Grande to the Pacific
Ocean, and the proposition is to be submitted, with great probability of
its being adopted, to Congress during its next session. A number of the
heaviest capitalists and of the boldest speculators in California are
said to have already commenced a search for mines in the territories
which are to be ceded. Several mines in Lower California have already
changed hands, and engineers have been sent to Sonora and Chihuahua.
This project has already been discussed by the San Francisco journals.
“It is evident,” says the Commercial Herald, “that this news has
produced deep sensation here, and that it is generally credited. By this
cession the United States would acquire possession of Nuevo Leon,
Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, Lower California, and of a part of the
States of Sinaloa and Durango.
[Page 843]
“It is probable that the postponement of the final decision of the
Mexican-American commission was based npon this cession, and it is not
impossible that the Mexican government has been influenced by the
attitude of the Government of the United States in relation to Mexican
incursions into our territory. Mexico wants money, the States in
question are far from the capital, and are connected therewith neither
by railway nor by any other convenient means of communication; these
States, therefore, cannot be controlled by the federal authorities, and
are almost constantly in open revolt. It is in these reasons that the
cause of the present determination of the Mexican government must be
sought.”
“It remains to be seen” says the Nord, in referring to this subject,
“with what degree of favor these offers will be received at Washington,
where several of the considerations which have induced the Mexican
government to propose this cession—the distance, the lack of
communication, &c.—may be brought up as grounds for their rejection.
It is true that the immense resources of the United States would enable
them to overcome these difficulties more easily than Mexico could.”