Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-07

an engagement with Colombia, settling by ar
 bitration the boundary question between those countries, providing the post of arbi- trator should be offered successively to the King of the Belgians, the King Of Spain and the 1 President of the Argentine Confederation. 1 The King of the Belgians has declined to act, but am as yet not advised of the action of
 the King of Spain. As we have certain inter ests in the disputed territory, which are pro- 1 tected by our treaty engagements with one
 of the parties it is important that the arbi- l tration should not proceed without our consent
 and this government has accordingly thought l proper to make its views known to the par ties to the agreement, as well as to intimate l them to the Belgian and the Spanish govern | ments.
 The questions growing out of the proposed Interoceanlc waterway across the Isthmus Of Panama are of grave national importance l This government has not been unmindful of I the solemn obligations imposed upon it by it's compact of 1846 with Colombia, as the | independent and sovereign mistress of the territory crossed by the canal, and has sought to render them effective by fresh engage l ments with the Colombian government look ing to their practical execution. The nego- 1 tiations to this end, after they had reached 1 what appeared to be mutually satisfactory I solution here, were met in Colombia by dis l avowal of the powers which it never had as- stunned, and by a proposal for renewed nego- l tiation on a modified basis. Meanwhile this 1 government learned that Colombia had pro- posed to European powers to join in guar antee of neutrality of the proposed Panama Canal, which would be in direct centraven- 1 tion of our obligation, as the sole guarantee 1 of the integrity of the Colombian territory, and of the neutrality of the canal itself. My
 lamented predecessor felt it his duty to place before the European powers reasons which make the pIior guarantee of the United States indispensable, and for which the interjection' of any foreign guar antee might be regarded as 8 l superfuous and unfriendly act. The probable reliance of the British govern i ment on the provisions of the Clayton-Bul- wer treaty of 1850, as afording room for share of the guarantees which the United States covenanted with Colombia for years before. have not hesitated to supplement
 the action of my predecessor by proposing to Her Maiesty's government the modifca-
 ton of that instrument and the abrogation of
 such clauses thereof as do not comport with
 the obligations of the United States towards
 Colombia, or with the vital needs of the two
 friendly parties to the compact
 This government sees with great concern
 the continuance of the hostile station be-
 tween Chili, Bolivia and Peru. An early peace
 between these republics is much to be desir-
 ed not only that they may themselves be
 spared further misery and bloodshed, but
 because their continued antagonlsm threat
 
 dangerous to the interests of republican gov
 ernments on this continent, and calculated to
 destroy the best clements of free and
 peaceful civilization. As in the present ex-
 cited condition of popular feeling in these
 countries there has been a serious misap-
 prehension of the position of the United
 States, and as separate dipIomatio-intercours with each, through Independent ministers, is
 sometimes subject, owing to the want of
 prompt reciprocal communication, to tempo
 rary misunderstanding, have deemed it ju-
 dicious at the present time to send special
 envoy, accredited to all and each of them and
 furnished with general instructions, which
 will, I trust bring these powers into friendly relations
 The government of Venezuela maintains it's attitude of warm friendship and continues with great regularity the payment of the monthly quota of the diplomatic debt. With out suggesting the direction in which Con- gress should act I ask it's attention to the pending questions affecting the distribution of the sums thus far received. The relations between Venezuela and France, growing out of the same debt, have been for some time past in an unsatisfactory state, and this gov ernment, as the neighbor and one of the largest creditors of Venezuela, has interposed itself with the French government, with the view of producing friendly and honorable adjustment.
 ! I regret that the commercial interests be- tween the United States and Brazil, from which great advantages were hoped year ago, have suffered from the withdrawal Of American lines of communication between the Brazilian ports and our own.
 Through the efforts of minister resi- dent at Buenos Ayres and the United States Minister at Santiago, treaty has been con- cluded between the Argentine republic and Chili, disposing of the long pending Pata- gonian boundary question. It is matter of congratulation that our government has been afforded an opportunity of successfully ex-
 erting it's good influence for the prevention of disagreement between these republics of
 the American continent.
 am glad to inform you that the treaties
 lately negotiated with China have been duly
 ratified on both sides and the exchange made at Pekin Legislation is necessary to carry it's provisions into effect. The prompt and friendly spirit with which the Chinese gov ernment, at the request of the United States, conceded the modification of existing treaties, should secure careful regard for the inter ests and susceptibilities of that government in the enactment of any laws relating to Chi nese immigration. Those clauses of the treaties which forbid the participation of citizens on vessels of the United States in the opium trade will doubtless receive your ap- proval They will attest the sincere interest which our people and government feel in the commendable efforts of the Chinese govern ment to put stop to the demoralizing and destructive traffic. In relation both to China and Japan some changes are desirable in our present system of consular jurisdiction. I hope at some future time to lay before you scheme for it's improvement.
 The intimacy between our country and Japan the most advanced of the Eastern nations continues to be cordial. I am ad- vised that the Emperor contemplates the es- tablishment of full constitutional govern ment and that he has already summoned a ha nf effecting the change. Such remarkable step toward. complete assimilation with the Western system cannot fail to bring Japan into closer and more beneficial relationship with ourselves, as the chief Pacific power. A question has arisen in relation to the ex- ercise in that country of the judicial func tions conferred upon our ministers and con- suls The indictment, trial and conviction in the consular court at Yokohama of John Ross merchant seaman on an American vessel, have made it necessary for the gov ! ernment to institute 8 careful examination into the nature and method of this jurisdic- | ton. It appeared that Ross was regularly | shitsped under the flag of the United States, l but was by birth British subject. My pre- decessor felt it his duty to maintain the posi- l ton that during his service as regularly l shipped seaman on board an American mer- | chant vessel Ross was subject to the laws of | that service and to the jurisdiction of the l United States consul and authorities. re- | new the recommendation, which has been | heretofore urged by the Executive, upon the | attention of Congress, that after the return of such amount as may be found due Amer1- | can citizens, the balance of the indemnity | funds heretofore obtained from China and | Japan, and which are now in the hands of | the State department be returned to the gov ernments of those countries.
 The King of Hawaii in the course of his | homeward return, after journey around the world has lately visited this country. While our relations with that kingdom are friendly, l the government has viewed with concern the efforts to seek replenishment of the dimin- ishing population of the islands from out ward sources, to a degree which may impair the native sovereignty and independence, in which the United States was among the first to testify 8 lively interest,
 Relations of unimpaired amity have been maintained throughout the year with the re- spective governments of Austria, Hungary; Belgium, Denmark, Hayti Paraguay and Uruguay Portugal, and Sweden and Norway. This may also be said of Greece and Ecua- dor, although our relations with those States l,1 -n1 tn.r& &I1ol