Morris tribune., 1883-12-05

strong hopes that the remainder Will
soon be adjusted. Questions have arisen
touching the rights of American and other
foreign manufacturers in China, under tho
provisions of treaties which permit aliens to
exercise their industries in that country. On
this specific point our own treaty is silent
But under the operation of the most favored
nations clause we have like privileges to those
of other powers. While it is the duty of the
government to SEQ that our citizens have the
full enjoyment of every benefit secured by
treaty, l doubt the expediency of lead
ing in a movement to constrain China
to admit an Interpretation by which
we have only an indirect right to exact the
trausference to China of American capital.
For the employment there of Chinese labor
would in effect inaugurate competition for
the control of markets now supplied by our
home industries There is good reason to be-
lieve that the law restricting the immlgra-
ton of Chinese has been violated Intentionally
or otherwise by the officials of China upon
whom is devolved the duty of certifying that
the emgrants belong to the excepted classes.
Measures have been taken to ascertain the
facts incident to this supposed infraction
and it is believed that the government of
China will cooperate with the United States in
securing the faithful Observance OF the law.
The same considerations which prompted con-
gress at its last session to return to Japan the
Simoneski indemnity seem to me to require
at its hands like action in respect to the Can
ton indemnity fund, now amounting to $780,
900. The question of the general revision of
cred in an international conference held at
Toxic but without definite result as
yet This government is disposed
to concede the requests of japan to
determine Its own tariff duties, pro-
vide such proper judicial tribunals as may
commend themselves to the Western powers
for the trial of causes to which foreigners are
parties and to assimilate the terms and decla
rations of its treaties to those of other civilized
States. Through our ministers at London and
Monrovia this government has endeay0red to
aid Liberia in its differences with Great Britain,
touching the boundaries OF that republic. There
as prospect of the ad justment of the dispute
by the adoption Of the Mannah river as the line.
This arrangement is a compromise of the con-
flicting territorial claims. The rich and
populous valley of the Congo is
society called the International African asso-
citation, of which the king of the Belgians is
president, and citizen of the United States
chief executive officer, and large tracts
of territory have been coded to the association
by native chiefs. The objects of this association
are philanthropic. 1t does not aim at perma-
nent political control, but seeks the neutrality
of the valleys which have been
opened. Steamboats, placed on the
river and the nuclei of states established
1T twenty-five stations under one nag, when
slave trade. The United States cannot be
Indifferent to this work, nor to the interests of
their citizens involved in it 1t may become
advisable for us to cooperate with other com
mercial powers in promoting the rights OF
rade and residence in the Congo valley free
rom the influence or political control OF any
one nation.
In view of the frequency of invi-
tations from foreign governments to partici-
pate in social and scientific congresses
for the discussion of important matters
Of general concern, L repeat the
suggestion of my last message, that provision
be made for the exercise of discretionary power
by the executive in appointing delegates to
such conventions. Specialists are ready to serve
the national interest in such capacity, without
personal profit or other compensation than the
defrayment of expenses actually incurred. and
this comparatively small annual approprla-
ton Woul suffice TO meet
RESTRICTIONS UPON TRADE
l have alluded in my previous message to
the injurious and vexatious restrictions SUI
fered by our trade in the Spanish West Indies.
Brazil, whose natural outlet for its great
national trade in coffee is IN and
through tho United States, imposes
heavy export duty upon that product. A
like narrow policy Is pursued in other Amerl-
can countries. Our petroleum exports are
hampered in Turkey and in other Eastern
ports by restrictions as to storage, and by
onerous taxation. The free outward movement
of our great food product is in some quarters
clogged with like impediments. For these mis-
chiefs adequate relief is not always provided
by reciprocity treaties like that with Hawaii
or that lately negotiated with Mexico, and now
awaiting the action of the senate.
1t is advisable to provide some
measure of equitable relation with
the governments which discriminate
against our own. If, for example, the execu-
tive were empowered to app y to Spanish YES
sells from Cuba and Porta Rico the same rules
of treatment and scales of prices for technical
faults which are applied to our vessels aud
cargoes in the Antilles, a resort to that course
cretiona-y authority to forbid the Importation
of articles of consumption injurious to health
might be advantageously exercised in our deal
ing with countries that discriminate against our
food products.