Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-11

OF the Venezuelan minister has delaye,
the opening Of negotiations for revivinI
. the commission. This government hold
that until the establishment Of a treaty
upon this subject the Venezuelan govern
ment must continue to make the pay
ments provided in the convention o
1866.
There is ground for believing that tn,
dispute growing out of unpaid obliga
tons due from Venezuela to France vii
be satisfactorily adjusted. The French
Cabinet hes proposed basis Of settle
ment which meets my approval, but a.
it involves recasting Of the annual quo
tas of the foreign debt, it has been deem
ed advisable to submit the proposal tC
the Judgment Of the Cabinets of Berlin,
Copenhagen, the Hague, London and
Madrid
At the recent coronation Of His NJ j.
esty, King Kalaukaua, this government
was represented both automatically and
by formal vis, Of vessel of war.
The question of terminating or modi-
flying the existing reciprocity treaty with
Havana is now before Congress. am
convinced that the charges Of abuse and
frauds under that treaty have been ex-
aserated, aud | renew the suggestion of
last years message, that the treaty be
modified, wherever. its provisions have
proved onerous TO legitimate trade be
tween the two countries. | am not dis
posed TO favor entire cessation Of the
treaty relations which have fostered good
will between the countries and contrlbu-
ted toward the equality OF Hawai- IN the
family of nations.
In pursuance of the policy declared by
this government of extending our inter
course with the eastern nations, Lega-
| tons have during the past year been es-
tabli,hed in Persia, Siam and COrea. 1t
is probable that permanent missions OF
these countries will ere long be main
tanned in the United States. A special
embassy from Siam is now on Its. way
hither.
Treaty relations with Coree were per;
feoted By the exchange at Teoul on the
9th Of May last, of the ratitications Of
the lately concluded convention. and en-
voys from the King of Tan Chosun have
visited this country and received a cordl-
al welcome. Corea, as yet unacquainted
with the methods of western civilization,
now invites the attention of those inter-
ested in the advancement of our 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 no advantages from
other nations. But as the Coreans IN
reaching for a higher civilization have
co, fided in the republic we cannot regard
with indifference any encroashmeats on
their rights.
China, by the payment Of money
indemnity, has settled certain Of the long
pending claims of our citizens, and |
nave strong hopes the remainder will be
adjusted soon. Questions have arisen to
using the rights of American and other
foreign manufacturers in China under
provisions of treaties which permit aliens
to exercise their industries in that coun-
try, On this specific point our own
treaty is silent, bu: under operation OF
the most favored nation clause, we have
like privilege with those OF other powers.
While it is the duty of government to
see our citizens have full enioymentloi
every benefit secured by treaty. doubt
the expediency of lending in movement
to constrain China to admit an interpret
alton which we have only an indirect
treaty right to exact. The transferance
to China Of American capital for employ
ment there of Chinese labor would in et-
feet inaugurate competition for control
of markets now supplied BY our home
industries.
There is good reason to believe that
the law restricting immigration of the
Chinese has been violated, Intentionally
or otherwise. by the officials OF China
upon whom is devolved the duty of certl-
flying that immigrants belong to excepted
classes, and measures have been taken
TO ascertain the facts incident to this
supposed infraction, and II Is believed
that the government of China will coop
crate with the United States in securing
the faithful observance of the law.
The same considerations which prompt
ed Congress at its last session to return
TO Japan the Simonsky indemnity, seems
to me to require at its hands like action
in respect to the Canton indemnity fund,
now amounting to three hundred thou
sand dollars The question of general
re. organization Of foreign treaties of ia
pan has been considered in an interna-
tional conference held at Toxic, but
without definite result as yet. This GO
vernment is disposed to concede the re-
quests of Japan to determine its own
tariff duties and provide such proper ju-
dicial tribunals as may commend them
selves to Western powers for the trial OF
causes to which foreigners are parties,
and to assimilate the terms and duration
of its treaties to those Of other civilized
States.
Through our Ministers at London and
at Monrovia this government has endeav-
ored to aid Liberia in its differences with
Great Britain. touching the northwestern
boundaries of that republic. There is a
prospect of adjustment of the dispute by
the adoption of the Monnah River as the
line. This arrangement is a compromise
of conflicting territorial claims and takes
from Liberia no country over which it
l., n