The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-11

OuI Will tuV
empire continue without interruption.
At the recent international exhibition of
fish and fisheries at Berlin the participa-
ton of the United States, notwithstand-
ing the haste with which the commission
was forced to make its preparations, was
extremely successful and merltOrlouS,
winning for private exhibitors numeI Gus
awards of a high class, and for the cCun-
try at large the principal prize OF honor
offered by his majesty. the emperor. The
results OF this great success cannot but
be advantageous TO- this important ana
growing industry. There have been
some questions raised between the two
governments as to the proper effect and
Interpretation of our treaties of naturali-
cation. but recent dispatches from our
minister at Berlin show that favorable
progress is making toward an under
standing in accordance with the views of
this government. which makes and ad-
mits no distinction whatever between the
rights of a native and naturallzed citizen
of the United States. In practice the
complaints of mOlestati0n suffered by
naturalized citizens abroad have never
been fewer than at present.
There is nothing of Importance to note
in our unbroken friendly relations with
the governments of Austria Hungary,
land, Turkey and Greece.
During the last summer several vessels
belonging to the merchant marine OF this
country, sailing in neutral waters or the
West Indies, were fired at, boarded, and
searched by an armed cruiser of the
Spanish government. The circumstan-
ces. as reported, involve not only pri-
vate injury to the persons concerned, but
also seemed too little Observant to the
friendly relations existing for century
between this country and Spain. The
wrong was brought to the attention OF the
Spanish government in Il serious protest
and remOnstrance, and the matter Is I'M
dergoing investigation by the royal au-
thOrtieS. with view to such an eXplana-
ton or reparatiOn as may be called for by
the facts.
The commission sitting in this city for
the adjudication of claims of our citizens
against the government of Spain IS, L
hope. approaching the termination OF its
labOrS.
The claims against the United States
under the Florida treaty with Spain were
submitted to Congress for its action at
the late session, and l again invite your
attention to this long standing question,
with view to the final disposition OF the
matter.
At the invitation of the Spanish gov
erument a conference has recently been
held at the city Of Madrid tOconSldeI the
subject of protection by foreign powers
of native MoorS in the empire OF Moroc-
co. The minister Of the United States
in Spain was directed to take part in the
deliberations of this conference, the re-
suit of which is a convention signed on
behalf of all the powers represented. The
instrument will be laid before the Senate
for its consideration. The government
of the United States has lost no opportu-
nifty to urge upon that OF the emperor or
Morocco the necessity, in accordance with
the humane and enlightened spirit of the
age, of putting an end to the prosecutions
which have been so prevalent in that
country, of persons of faith other than
the MOslem, and especially OF the He |
brew residents of Morocco.
The consular treaty concluded with !
Belgium has not yet been officially pro- !
mulgated. owing to the alteration OF |
word in the text by the Senate of the |
United States. which occasloned delay,
during which the time allowed tor ratiti-
cation expired. The Senate Will be asked |
to extend the period for ratification.
The attempt to negotiate a treaty OF
extradition with Denmark failed on ac-
count of the objection of the Danish |
government to the usual clause provid-
ing that each nation should pay the eX-
penSes of the arrest of the persons whose |
eXtradition it asks.
The provision made by Congress, at its
last session. for the expense or the COM
mission which had been appointed to en-
ter upon negotiations with the imperial
government of China, on subjects or
great interest to the relations OF the two
countries. enabled the commissioners TO
proceed at once upon their mission. Inc
imperial government was prepared to
give prompt and respectful attention to
the matters brought under negotiation,
and the conference proceeded with such
rapidly and success that, on the 18th of
November last, two treaties were signed
at Pekin, one relating to the Introduction
of Chinese into this country, and one re-
lating to commerce. Mr.. Trescot, one OF
the commissioners, is now on his way
home bringing the treaties. and 1t IS eX-
pected that they will be received in sea-
son to be laid before the Senate early In
January.
Our Minister in Japan has negotiated
a convention for the reciprocal relief OF
Seamen. | take occasion to
again urge upon Congress the propriety
of making provision for the erection of
suitable tire-proof buildings at the Japan
csc capitol for the use of the American
and the court house and Jail
connected with it. The japanese gov.
eminent, with great generosity and
courtesy. has offered for this purpose an
eligible piece OF land
In my last annual message l invited
the attention of Congress to the subject
of the indemnity funds received some
years ago from China and Japan. / re-
new the recommendation then made,
that whatever portions of these funds
are due to American citizens should be
paid, and the residue returned
to the MAJ ions, respectively, to which
they Justly and equitably belong.
The extradition treaty with the king
dom of the Netherlands, which has been
for some time IN course OF negotiation,
has, during the past year, been concluded
and duly ratified.
Relations of friendship and amity have
been established between the govern