The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-12-10

of Mexico 10 railway enterprise. 1 deem 1t inn
portant that means De ProVloeu W N an vi. .ie
frontier and TO suppress the forays Of the reserva
ton Indians on either side of the Rio Grande.
GUATEMALA AND MEXICO.
The neiphboring states OF Central America have
preserved Internal peace, ana their outward rela'
tons toward us have been those oil intimate friend
ship There are encouraging signs OF their grow
ing disposion to subordinate their local interests
TO those which are common 10 lnem Dy reason OF
their geographical relations. Inc boundary dis
pute between Guatemala ana Mexico mas aHorueu
this Government an opportunity 10 exc, else its
good offices for preventing rupture between
those States and for procuring peaceful solution
of the question. / cherish strong hope that In
view of our relations of amlty with both countries
our friendly cOunsels will prevail;
The Porta Rica Government lateiy FORMED an
engagement with Columbia for settling, by arbi-
tra,ion, the boundary question between those
countries, providing that the post OF aroltrants
should be offered successfully to the King OF the
Belgiaus, the King of Spain and the President of
the Argentine confederation. The King OF the
Belgians has declined to act but am not as yet
advised of the action of the King OF Spain: AS we
have certain interests in the disputed Territory
which are protected by our treaty engagement
with one of the parties ii Is important that the
arbitration should not without our consent effect
our rights and this Government has accordingly
thought proper 10 make Its views known To the
parties To the agreement as well as TO intimate
them To the Belgium Government
THE PANAMA CANAL.
The questions growing out of the proposed
iitcr-oceanic water way across the lsthmus OF
Panama are of grave National importance. This
Government has not been mindful OF the solemn
Obligation imposed upon IL by Its compact OF 1910
with Columbia, as the independent ana sovereign
mistress of the territory crossed by the canal, ard
has sought 10 render them effective by fresh en-
gigements with the Columbia Republic, looking
To their practical execution. The negotiations
appeared to be mutually satisfactory
solution here, we were met in Columbia by dis
sgOwal of powers which its Envoy had assumed,
aud by IA proposal Tor renewal OIL negouatlons
on a modified basis Meanwhile this Government
learned that Columbii hal proposed to the Euro
pean powers 10 join In Il guarantee VI the neu-
trality of the proposed Panama Canal-a guaran-
lee which would BERN direct contravention OF our
obligation as the sole guarantee OF the Integrity
IF Columbian territory and OF the neutrality oi
the Canal itself. My lamented predecessor felt II
his duty to place before the European Powers the
reasons which made the prior guarantee vi the
United States indispensable, and for which the
interjectiOn OF any foreign guarantee might be
regarded a. superfuous and unfrfendly.
foreseeing the probable reliance OF the British
Government on the provisions OF the Clayton
Bulwer trea OF 1850 afording room for share
in the qua altees which the United States Gov
enanted with Columbia four years before, have
not hesitat6d TO supplement the action OF m
predecessor by proposing TO her MaJestys Gov
eminent the modification OF that Instrument and
the abrogation of such clauses thereof as do moi
toward Columbia or with the vital needs Of the
two friendly parties to the compact.
CHILL AND PERU.
This Government sees with great concern the
continuance Of the hostile relations betwe 1
Chill, Bolivia and Peru. An early peace between
these Republics Is much desired, not only tina
they may De spared further misery and blOodShed
but because their continued antag0nism threat
ems consequences which are, In my judgment
dangerous 10 the interests of Republican Govern
ment on This continent, and calculated to destrG,
the best eliments OF our free civilization, as il
| the present excited condition OF popular feeling
in these countries there have been serious misa
preheusionS Of the prslt OH of the United states
| aud as separate diplomatic Intercourse with eacf
| through indie endent ministers Is sometimes sub
| ject To the want of prompt reciprocal communi
| cation To temporary Observation-Disclosures / hav,
deemed il judicious at the present time to senc
special Envoy accredited 10 ali, and each OF then
is furnished with general instructions, which vii
intrust and euable us TO bring these Powers into
| friendly relations.
VENEZUELA AND BRAZIL.
The Government of Venezuela and Brazil main
tains is attitude of warm friendship and contln
ues with great regularity its payment OF III
monthly quota of the diplomatic debt withou
suggesting the direction in which Congress should
| act. / ask attention to the pending question
affecting the distribution OF the sums thus far re
ceived The relations between Venezuela auC
| France. growing out of the same debt. have beef
for some time past in an unsatisfactory state ant
| this Government as the neighbor and one OF tn
largest creditors of Venezuela, has interpreted IL
| self since with the French Government with tn
| view of producing friendly and honorable ad
ustment.
| regret that the commercial interests between
| the United states and Brazil. from which grea
| advantages were hoped year ago, have suffered
| from the withdrawal of the American lines o
communication between the Brazilian ports anC
our own. Thrgsgh the efforts OF our Minister resi-
ent at Buesos Ayres. and the United State
Ministers al Santiago.a treaty has been conc ude'
| between the Argentine Republic and Chill, dis
| posing Of the long pending Patagonian boundar
line. Ii is matter OF congratulation that on
1 INF has haau aifn OBJ m N
successfully exerting its good influences for tn
| prevention of disagreements between the Re
| publics of the American continent.
TREATIES WITH CHINA.
| / am glad to inform you that the treaties late
| negotiated with China have been duly ratified o.
| both sides, and the exchange made at Pekin
Legislation l. neceSsary.t0 carry the provision ~
| effect The prompt and friendly spirit vi
| which the Chinese Government, at the request U
the United states, conceded the modification o
| the interests and susceptibilties of that Govern
ment In the enacting OF any laws relating {
| Chinese immigration. Those clauses of tn
treaties which forbid the participation of citizen
or vessels of the United States in the opium trad
| will receive your approval. They will attest tn
siecere interest which our people and Govern IN
| Chinese Government to put sto
to this destructive traffic In relation :
| China End Japan, some changes are desirabl
| i'm our present system of Consular jurisdiction
| hone at some future time to lay before You
| scheme for its improvement in the entire East
| JAPAN.
The intimacy between our country and JapaI
| the most advanced of the Eastern Nations col
| tinues TO be cordial. i am advised that tn
| Emperor contemplates the establishment of Con
| slitutional Government, and that he has alread
summoned Parliamentary Congress for the pun
| pose of efiecting a change. Sucn a remarkable
step toward complete assimilation with Tn
| western system can not fail to bring Japan into
closer and more beneficial relationship with our
| selves as the chief pacific power.
| A question has arisen in relation to the exer
| else, in the country, of the judicial functions
! conferred upon our Ministers and Consuls. Int
| indictment. trial and conviction In the Consular
| Court at Yokohama OF John Ross, merchan
| seaman on board American vessel hav,
made 1t necessary for the Government TO lnsu
| tute careful examination into the nature anC
methods of this jurisdiction. 1t appeared tina
| Ross regularly shipped under the flag OF TIT
United States, but was by birth British sublect
| My predecessor felt ii his duty to maiAtain tn
position that during his service as regularl.
| shipped seaman on board an American merchan
vessel, Ross was subject to the laws OF that ser
| vice and TO the jurisdiction of the United State
| Consulate authorities.
| renew the recommendation which has beer
heretofore urged by the Executive upon the atten
| ton of Congress that after the reduot OF sucl
amount as may be found due to American citi
| zens the balance of the ind mnity fund hereto
| fore obtained from China and Japan, and which
| is now in the hands of the State Department
| w:ll he returned TO the Governments OF thos
| countries
HARMONIOUS RELATIONS.
The King OF Hawaii. in the course of home
| ward return, after journey around Tho
| world, has lately visited this country: While
| our relations with that Kingdom are friendly
| this Government has viewed with concern tn,
efforts TO seek replenishment Of the diminishing
population of the island from outward sources {,
| n degree which may impair the naive sovereign
| ty aud ind pendeuce in which the United State
| was among the first 10 testify a lively interest.
| Relations OF unimpaired amlty have beer
maintained throughout the year with the respec
tive Governments of AUSTRIA, Hungary Belgium
| Denmark, Hayti. Paraguay, and Uruguay, Portu
| gal and sweden and Norway. This may be sait
| with those States have for wears been severed
| with The withdrawal of appropriations for diplo
matte representatives. At Athens and Quito i
spemc padiaut m raSfora thosa missions avf y