The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-06

/ 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
the American lines of communication be-
tween the Brazilian ports and our own,
/ Through the efforts of our minister resi-
dent at Buenos Ayers and the United
States minister, at Santiago, a treaty has
been concluded between the Argentine re-
public and Chill, disposing of the long
| pending Patagonian boundary. 1t is a
matter of congratulation that our govern
ment has been afforded the opportunity of
successfully exerting its good influence for
prevention of disagreement between the
republics of the American continent.
| am glad to inform you that the treaties
lately negotiated with China have been du-
ly ratified on both sides, and the exchange
made, pending legislation, is necessary to
carry its provision into effect. The prompt
and friendly spirit with which the Chinese
government, at the request Of the United
States, consented to the modification of
existing treaties, should secure careful re-
gard for the interests and susceptibilitieS
of that government in the enactment of
any laws relating to Chinese immigration.
Those clauses 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 interest which our
people and government feel in the com
mendable efforts of the Chinese govern
ment to put stop to this demoralizing and
destructive tariff, in relation both to China
and Japan some changes are desirable. In
our present system of counsulor jurisdc-
ton hope at some future time to lay
before you a scheme for it's improv-
ement in the entire east
The intimaty between our Country and
japan the most advanced of the Eastern
nations continues to be cordial. / am ad
vised that the Emperor contemplates the
establishment of a Constitutional govern
ment and that he has already summoned a
parliamentary congress for the purpose of
effecting the change, such remarkable
step toward complete assimilation with
the western system cannot fail to bring
Japan into closer and more benefcent re-
lationship with ourselves as the chief
peaceful powers.
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 con-
viction in the Consular Court at Yokoho-
mo, of John Ross, a merchant seaman
on board an American vessel have
made it necessary for the Government TO
institute careful examination into the
nature and methods of the jurisdiction
1t appears that Ross was regularly ship
ped under the flag of the United. States,
but was by birth British subject; my
predecessor felt it his duty to MAINTAIN the
position that during his service as regu-
lar shipped seaman on board an American
merchant vessel Ross was subject to the
laws of the service and to the jurisdiction
of the United States Consols as autharities.
/ renew the recommendation which has
been heretofore urged by the exccutiveup
on the attention of congress, that after the
deduction of such amount as may be
found due to American citizens, the bal
ance OF the indemnity fund heretofore OBJ
tanned from China and Japan, and which
are now in the hands of the state depart
ment, be returned to the government of
those countries.
The King of Honalu on the course of
his homeward return after journey arouny
the world, has lately visited this country.
While our relations with that kingdom are
friendly, this government has views which
concern the efforts to seek replenlshment
OF the diminishing population OF the ISL
ands from outward sources to degree
which may impair the native sovereignty
and independence in which the United
States was among the first to testify a
lively interest. Relations of unimpaired
anity have been maintained throughout
the Year with the respective governments
of Austrian, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark,
Paraguay and uruguay, Portugal, Sweden,
and Norway, and this may also be said OF
| lations with these states have
| for some years been served
| by the withdrawal of appropriations
| for diplomatic representatives at Athens
and Quito, it seems expedient to restore
| those missions, even on q reduced scale,
and decided to recommend such course
with respect to Ecuador, which is likely
within the near future to play an impor
| tant part among the nations OF the South
ern Pacific repeated at its last extra ses-
sion. The senate called for the text of
the Geneva convention for the relief of
| the wounded in war. / trust this action
foreshadows such interests in the subject
| as will result in the adhesion of the United
4 States to that human and commendable
engagement. l invite your attention to
| the propriety of adopting the new code OF
| international rules for the collisions on
the hign seas and of confirming the domes-
| tic legislation of the United States thereto
so that no confusion may arise from
the duplicating or conflicting rules
/ in the case of vessels of diff
ferent nationalities meeting in tidal
| waters. These international rules differ
but slightly from our own they have been
4 adopted by the Navy Department for the
i government of the War Ships OF the United
States on the high seas and in foreign
waters and through the action of the State
department in disseminating the rules in
acquainting the shipmasters with the option
of confirming to them without the jurisdic
tional waters of the United States, they
are now very generally known and obeyed
The State Department still continues te
publish to the country the trade and man
ufacturing reports recrived from its Off
ces abroad the success of this cours,
warrants its continuance and sucl
appropriation as may be required to NEE
\ the rapidly increasing demand for thes'
publications with special reference to th'
Iattention exposition. The October numbe
of the reports was devoted to all available
collection of papers ont he cotton good
trade of the world.
The International sanitary commission
for which, in 1879, congress made provis
] ions, assembled in this city early in Janu
ary last, and its sessions were prolonged
( until March, although it received no speci
/ fic conclusions affording the further &C
ton of the party power the interchange o