The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-07

3 treaties lately negotiated will
: China have been duly ratified OF
3 both sides and the exchange mad,
at Picking. Legislation is necessary
, to carry its provisions into effect
The prompt and friendly spirit will
, which the Chinese government, s.
: the request Of the United States
: conceded the modification of exist
. ing treaties, should secure careful
regard for the interest and suscepti.
J bilities of that government in the
encroachment Of any laws relating
} to Chinese emigra ton.
These classes of the treaties
which forbid the participation Of
citizens or vessels of the United
States in the opium trade, will
doubtless receive your approval, and
they will attest the sincere interet
which our people and governments
take in the commendable efforts of
the Chinese government to put q
stop to this demoralizing and destruc-
tive traffic. In relation both to
China and Japan some changes are
desirable in our present system of
consular jurisdiction. [ hope at
some future time to lay before you a
scheme for its improvement in the
entire East.
JAPAN.
The intimacy between our coun-
try and Japan. the most advanced
Of the seastern nations, continue to
be cordial. I am advised that the
Emperor c0ntemplates the establish.
ment of q constitu tional government
and that ne has already summoned
parliamentary congress for the
purpose of effecting the change.
Such a remarkable step tower
complete assimilation with the
western system cannot fail to bring
Japan into closer and more benefi-
cial relationship with ourselves as
the chief pacific power.
A question has arisen in relation
to the exercise in that country of
the judicial functions conferred
upon our ministers and consuls.
The indictment, trial, and convic-
ton in the Consular Court at Yoko-
hama, of John Ross, a merchant
seaman OH board an American vee-
sci, have made it necessary for the
government to institute a careful ex-
animation into the nature and
methods Of this jurisdiction. It ap-
peared that Ross was regularly
shipped under the flag of the United
States, but was by birth British
subject. My predecessor felt it his
duty to main tain the position that,
during his service as a regularly
shipped seaman on board an
American merchant vessel,
Ross was subject to the
laws Of that service and to the juris-
diction of the United States consu.
late authorities.
/ I renew the recommends.
ton which has heretofore
been urged by the executive upon
the attention of Congress, that after
the reduction Of such an amount as
may be found due to American citi-
zeps, the balance of the indemnity
funds heretofore obtained from Chi
ma and Japan and which are now in
the hands of the State Department,
be returned to the governments Of
those countries.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The King OF the Hawaiis, in the
course of his homeward return, after
a journey around the world, has
lately visited this country. While
our relations with that kingdom are
friendly, this government has view
ed with concern the efforts to seek
the replenishment of the diminish
ing population Of the Islands from
outward sources, to degree which
may impair their native sovereignty
and independence, in which the
United States was among the first to
testify lively interest.
EUROPEAN POWERS.
Relations of unim peached amity
have been maintained throughout
the year with the respective govern
ments of Austria, Hungary, Bel
GUM, Denmark, Hayti, Paraguay
and Uruguay, Portugal, land Sweden
and Norway, and this may also be
said Of Greece and Ecuador, al
though our relations with these
States have for some years been sew
cred by the withdrawal of appropri-
atoms for diplomatic representatives
at Athens and Quito. It seems ex-
pedient to restore those missions
even on a reduced scale, and de-
eidedly recommend such q course
with respect to Ecuador, which is
likely, within the near future, to play
an important part among the ma
tons of the South Pacific.
At the last extra session, the ses-
sion called for the text of the Gene
va convention for the relief of the
wounded in the war. [ trust this
action foreshadows such interest in
the subject as will result in the adj
hesion of the United States to that
humane and commendable arrange
ment.
INTERNATIONAL CODE.
l call your attention to the
propriety of adopting new code OF
intern ational rules for the proven
tion.of collisions on the high seas and
of confirming the domestic legisla
ton Of the United States thereto, so
that no confusion may arise from