The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-05

against the savages have been successful;
and several Of their most dangerous bands
have been captured or dispersed by
the skill and valor of United States
and Mexican soldiers fighting in COM
mon cause. The convention for the reSure
vey of the boundary from the Rio Grande to
the Pacific, have been ratified and exchanged5
the preliminary reconnaissance therein stlpu-
lated has been effected. 1t now rests with
congress to make provision for completing
the survey and reSetting the boundary monu-
ments.
| A convention was signed with Mexico on
July IS, 1882, providing for the rehearing of
the cases of BENZ. Well and the Abra Silver
| Mining company, in whose favor awards
were made By the late American and MeXi-
can Claims commission That convention still
awaits the consent of the senate. Meanwhile
| because of the charges of fraudulent awards
! which have made new commission
necessary, the executive has directed the sus-
| pension of payments of the iistrbutive quota
received from Mexico.
Our geographical proximity to Central
| America, and our political and commercial
relations with the states of that country
justify, in my judgment, such a material in
| crease in our consular corps as will place at
| each capital a consul general.
| The contest between Bolivia and Chill and
Peru has passed from the stage of straJegetic
.hostiIities to that Of negotiation, III which
the cOnSulS of this government has been ex-
! erCised. The demands of Chill for absolute
| cesSon of territory have been maintained
and accepted by the party of Gen lglesias,
to the extent of concUdng n treaty of peace
with Chill in general conformity with the
terms of the protocol signed in MAY last be-
tween the Gillian commander and
conclusion Of this treaty, Gen.
Iglesias has been formally recognized
by Chill as president Of Peru, and his govern.
lnent installed at Lima, which has been evac-
uated by the Chiliana. \ call has been issued
by Gen. lglesds for a representative assembly
to be elected ON the 18th of January, and to
meet at Lima on the LIST of March next
Meanwhile, the provisional government of
Gen. Iglesias has applied for recognition to
the principal powers of America and Europe.
When the will of the Peruvian people shall be
manifested, / shall not hesitate to recognize
the government approved by them.
Diplomatic and naval representatives OF
this government attended at Caracas
the centennial celebration of the birth
of the illustTiOus Bolivar. At the same time
the Inauguration of the statue Of Washington
in the Venezuelan capital testified to the ven
Grafton in which his memory is held there.
| Congress, at its last session authorized the
executive to propose to the Venezuelan gov
eminent a reopening Of the awards of the
| mixed commission of Caracas The de
parture from this country of the Venezuelan
minister has delayed the opening of the ne
gotiations for revising the commission This
| government holds that until the re-estabsh-
ment of treaty on this subject the Ven
ezuelan government must continue to make
the payments provided for in the convention
of 1866.
There is ground for believing that the dis
putc growing out of the unpaid obligations
a from, 10 70 Ia or
factoriiy adjusted. The French cabinet has
proposed basis of settlement which meets
with my approval; but as it involves a re
castin of the annual quotas Of the foreign
debt it has b. en- deemed advisable to submit
the pr Oposal to the Judgment Of the cabinets
of Berlin, Copenhagen, the Hague, London,
and Madrid.
At the recent coronation of His Majesty
King Kalakava this government was repre-
sented, both automatically and by the formal
visit of vessel OF war.
The question DISCRIMINATING or modifying
the existing reciprocity treaty with Hawaii
is now before congress ! am convinced that
the charges of abuse and frauds under treaty
have been exaggerated, and | renew the sug-
gestion of last years message that
tae treaty he mOdiii,s! wherever
It's provisions have proved onerous to
legitimate trade between the two
countries. | an not disposed TO favor the
entire cessation of treaty relations which have
fostered good viii between the two countries
and contributed toward the equality of
Hawaii in the family nations.
In pursuance of the policy declared by this
government of extending our intercourse
with the eastern nations, legations have dur
| ing the past year, been established in Persia,
Siam, and Corea 1t is probable that pCrma-
nent missions of those countries viii, ere loCo.
be maintained in the United States. AS<sf5eciai
embassy from Siam is now OF ~ -y,-ay hitber
Treaty relations with~sCoIaa were per-
fSect3ed 3 tig exchange at Seoul on the 10th
of May last, of the Publications Of the lately
concluded convention, and ENJOYS from the
| king of Talchosan have visited this country
and received a cordial welcome.
Corea as yet unacquanted with the methods
of western civilization, now invites the atten-
ton of those interested in foreign trade as it
needs the implements and products which
the United States are ready to supply We
seek no monopoly of its commerce and nc
advantages over other nations but as the
Chinese, in reaching for higher civilization,
have confided i'll this republic we cannot
regard with Indifference any enCroachment
on their rights.
China by the payment of money indem-
nifty, has settled certain of the long-pending
claims of our citizens and ! have strong
hopes that the remainder will soon be ad-
jUsted
Questions have arisen touching the rights
of American and other foreign manufacture
ers in China under the 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
with those of other powers. While it is the
duty of the government to see that our citi
zens have the full enjoyment of every benefit
secured by treaty, | doubt the expediency ot
7 leading in q movement to constrain China K
admit an Interpretation which we have only
our indirect treaty right to exact The trans
} ference to China of American capital for EN-
ployment there of Chinese labor would il
/ effect inaugurate a competition for the con
troll of markets now supplied by our home in
5 dustrieS.
, There is good reason to believe that the Law
e restricting the immigration of Chinese ha
S been violated, Intentionally or otherwise, by
] the officials of China upon whom is devolvcC
the duty Of certifying that the immigrant!
: belong to the excepted classes Measure
, have been taken to ascertain the facts Incl
> dent to this supposed infraction, and 1t is be
r lieyed that the government OF China viii co
G operate with the United States in securing
u the faithful observance of the law Tn
same considerations which prompted con
= gress at its last session to return to japan
+ the Simoneski indemnity, seem to me to r5
d quire at is hands like action in respect T.
/. the Canton indemnity fund, now amounting
Il to $500, 600.
+ The question of the general revision of th
: foreign treaties Of Japan has been corsidcre,
in an international conference held at Toxic
7 but without definite result as yet. Tai
government is disposed TO concede the re
= quests of Japan to determine its own tarif
! duties and provide such proper Judicial
g tribunals as may commend themselves to til
: western powers for the trial oil causes /
which foreigners are parties, and to as
simulate the terms and duration of its treatie
to those Of other civilized states, through on
!, ministers at London and at Monrova
u This government has endeavOred to aid Ii
: IBERIA in its differences with Great Britain
d touching the northwestern boundaries Of tina
. republic. There is prospect of adiustmen
4 Of the dispute by the adoption OF the Mammal
4 river as the line. This arrangement is
compromise of the conflicting territorial
y claims, and takes from Liberia no terrttor,
y over which it has maintained effective juris
| dictiGn
- The rich populou, valley of the ConGoi is bein;
: opened to commerce 10y Il society called tn
international African association, of whci
the king of the BolriaDs is president, and