The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-05

| MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES,
| At no time in our national history has
| there been more manifest need of close and
lasting relations with a neighboring state
than now exists with respect to Mexico. The
rapid influx of our capital and enterprise
into that country show, by what has already
! been accom- plished the vast reciprocal adj
yantages which must attend the progress of
! its internal development The treaty of
commerce and navigation of 1848 has been
| terminated by the Mexican government, and
| i'll the absence of conventional engagements
The rights of our citizens in Mexico
now depend upon the domestic statutes OF
that republic. There have been instances of
harsh enforcement of the laws against our
vessels and citizens in Mexico and of denial
of the diplomatic resort for their protection.
| The initial step toward better understands
! ing has been taken 10 the negotiation by
| the com mission authorized by Congress, OF
treaty which is still before the Senate await
ing its approval The provisions for the re-
| ciprocal crossing of the frontier by the troops
! in pursuit of hostile Indians have been pro-
! longed for another year. The operations of
The forces of both governments against the
| savages have been successful, and several of
their most dangerous bands have been cap
tured or dispersed by the skin and vaor of
| United States and Mexican soldiers fighting
| in a common cause.
The convention for the resurvey of the
boundary from the Rio Grande to the Pacific
| having been ratified and exchanged, the pre-
! liminary reconnaissance therein stipulated
| has been effected. 1t now rests with Congress
| to make provision for completing the survey
and relocating the boundary monuments,
A convention was signed with Mexico on
July Is, 1882, providing for the rehearing of
! the cases of Benjamin Weiland, OF the
Abra Silver Mining Company, in whose favor
awards were made by the late American and
| Mexican claims commission. That conven-
| ton still awaits the consent of the Senate;
meanwhile, because of the charges OF fraudu-
! lent awards, which have made new COM
! mission necessary, the executive has
directed the suspension of the payments Of
the distributive quota received from Mexico.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
Our geographical proximity to Central
America, and our political and commercial
relations with the states of that country,
| justify, in my judgment, such ma
terial increase of our consular
corps as will place at each capital a
cons -general. The contest between Bolivia,
! Ch't and Peru has passed from the stage of
strategic hostilities to that of negotiation, in
which the counsels of this government have
| been exercised. The demands of Chill for
/
tanned and accepted by the party of General
! Iglesias to the extent of concluding treaty
| of peace with the government of Chilli in
| general conformity with the terms of the
! protocol signed in May last between the
| Chilian commander and General Iglesas AS
a result of the conclusion of this treaty, Cen
| eral Iglesias has been formally recog-
nized by Chilli as President of Peru,
and his government installed at Lima, which
| has been evacuated by the Chilians. A call
| has been issued by General Iglesias for a rep
resentative assembly, to be elected on the
| 18th of January and to meet at Lima on the
| 1st of March next. Mr.. White, of the pro-
| visional government of General Iglesais, has
applied for recognition to the principal pow
ers of America and Europe. When the will
| of the Peruvian people shall be manifested, l
| shall not hesitate to recognize the govern
ment approved by them.
diplomatic and naval representatives of
this government attended, at Caracas, the
| centennial celebration of the birth
of the illustrous Bolivar AT the same time
| the Inauguration of the statue of Washing
| ton in the Venezuelan capital testified to
! the veneration in which his memory is held
| there.
| Congress- at its last session, authorized
| the executive to propose to the Venezuelan
| government reopening of the awards of
| the mixed commission of Caracas. The
| departure from this country of the Ven
negotiations for reviving the commission.
| The government holds that, until the estab-
| lishment of treaty upon this subject the
| Venezuelan government must continue to
! make the payments provided for in the
| convention of 1866. There is ground for be-
| lieving that the dispute growing out of the
unpaid Obligations due from VENEZUELA to
France will be satisfactorily adjusted. The
| French cabinet has proposed basis of settle
| ment which meets my approval, but as it in
| wolves recastiDg of the annual quotas of
the foreign debt, it has been deemed advisa-
BILE to submit the proposal to the judgment
of the cabinets of Berlin, Copenhagen, the
Hague, London, and Madrid.
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS AND THE EAST.
AT the recent coronation of his majesty,
King Kalakaua. this government was
represented, both automatically and
| by the formal visit of
vessel of war; The question of terminating
or modifying the existing reciprocity treaty
with Hawaii is now before Congress. I am
convinced that the charges of abuse and
frauds under that treaty have been exagger-
| ated and | renew the suggestion of last years
message that the treaty be modified wherever
| its provisions have proved onerous to legiti-
| mate trade between the two countries. l am
| not disposed to favor the entire cessation of
treaty relations which have fostered good
| will between the countries and contributed
toward the equality of Hawaii in the family
! of nations.
| In pursuance of the policy declared by
| this Government of extending our inter
| course with the eastern nations, legations
have, during the past year. been established
| in Persia, Siam and Corea 1t is probable
that permanent missions of those countries
will, ere long, be maintained in the United
States. special embassy from Siam is now
on its way hither. Treaty relations with
Corea were perfected by the exchange at
Seoul on the 10Th of May last of the ratifica-
tons of the lately concluded convention,
and ENJOYS from the King of Tab Chosun
have visited this country and received a
cordial welcome. Corea, as yet unacduainted
| with the methods of western civilization