The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-12-16

aud sovereign mattress Of the terri
tory crossed by the canal. aud has
sought to render them effective by
fresh engagements with the Column
uiau Rcpu bS", looking to their prac-
tical execution. The negotiations to
this end, after they had reached what
appeared to be . mutually satisfactory
solution here, were met in Columbia
by a disavowal Of the powers which
its Envoy had assumed, and by q pro-
posal for renewed negotiation on \
modified basis. Meanwh lille this Gov
eminent learned that Columbia had
proposed to the European Powers to
join in . guarantee OF the neutrality
of the proposed Panama Canal-a
guarantee which would be In direct
contravention ofouro biieati"ns rs the
sole guarantor OF the integrity of the
Columbia territory, and Of the neu-
traliiy Of the canal itself. My lament
ed predecessor felt It his duty to piace
before the Powers the reasons which
make the prior guarantee Of the
United States indispen sable, and for
which the lMierJrction of any foreign
guarantee might be regarded as n
superflous aud unfriendiy act. Fore
seeing the probable reliance of the
British Government in the provisions
of the CIayton-Bulwer treaty of
1850. as affordfng room for . share in
the guarantees which the United
States entered into with Columbia
four years before, I have not hesitated
to supplement the action of my pre-
decessor by proposing to her Majesty's
Government the modification of that
instrument, and the abrogation of such
clauses thereof as do not comport with
the obligations of the United States
toward Columbia or with the vital
needs of the two parties to the COM
pact.
This Government sees with great
concern the continuance of the hos
tile relations between Chill, Bolivia
and Peru. An early peace between
these Repu blics is much to be desired,
not only that they may be spared fur
Their misery aud bloodshed, but be-
cause their continued antagOnism
threatens consequences which are in
my Judgment dangerous to the inter-
ests of Republican Governments on
this continent and calculated to de-
and peaceful civilization. AS in the
present excited condition of popular
FEELING in these countries, there
has been serious misa apprehension of
the position of the United States, and
as separate diplomatic intercourse
which through Independent Ministers
is sometimes subject owing to the
want Of prompt reciprocal communi-
cation to temporary misunderstand-
ing, have deemed 1t judicious at the
present time to send q special envoy,
oil ~ hAr
aud furnished with general instruc-
tons which will, I trust, enable him
to bring these powers In friendly re.
lations.
The Government of venezuels
maintains its attitude of warm friend.
ship. and continues with great regu.
larity its payment of the monthly
quota Of the Diplomatic debt
Without suggesting the direction In
which Congress should act, ask 1T
attention to the pending questions af:
thus fsr received. The relations be-
tween Venezuela and France growing
out of the came, have, for some time
past, been in an, unsatisfactory state
and this Government as the neighboI
and one of the largest creditors OF
Venezuela, has interposed its In
huence with the French Government
with the view OF producing friendly
and honorable adjustments.
regret that the commercial inter.
ests bet ween the United States and
Brazil, from which great advantages
were hoped a.year ago, have suffered,
from the withdrawal OF the Ameri.
can lines of communication between
the Brazilian porte and our own.
Through the efforts of our Minis.
ter Resident at Buenos Ayres aud the
U. 8. Minister at Santiago, a treaty
has been concluded between tho AR.
genLine Republic aud Chill, disp IS.
ing of the Patagonia boundary ques.
ton. 1t is matter of congratulatiou
that our Government has been afford
ed the opportunity of successfully ex.
erting its good influence for the pre-.
vention of Engagements between
these Republics of the American
continent.
am glad to inform you that the
treaties lately negotiated with Chins
have been duly ratified on both sides
and the exchange made at Pcking
Legislation is necessary to carry theil
provisions into effect. The promp
and friendly spirit with which the
Chinese Government, at the reques
of the United States, concluded the
modification of existing treatie.
should secure careful regard for tn,
interests and susceptibiliiies of tina
Government in the enactment of any
laws relative to Chinese immigration
Those clauses of the treaties which
forbid the participation of citizens o.
vessels of the United States in tn,
opium trade, will doubtless receive