The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-05

domestic and foreign affairs of this govern
| ment
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with other countries continue
| to be upon friendly footing. With the Argen-
| tine Republic, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Denmark, Hayti, Italy, Santo Domingo, and
Sweden and Norway, no incident has oe-
Cured which calls for special comment. The
recent opening of new lines of telegraphic
communication with Central America and
Brazil permitted the interchange of messages
of friendship with the governments of those
countries. During the year there have been
perfected and proclaimed consular and COM
mercial treaties with Servia, and consular
treaty with Roumania, thus extending our in
terests with the Danubian countries,
while our relatians with eastern States
have been placed upon wider basis
by treaties with Corea and Madagascar.
The new boundary survey treaty with Mexico,a
trades-mark convention, and a supplementary
treaty of extradition with Spain, and conven-
tions extending the duration of the Franco
American Claims Commission have also been
proclaimed.
Notice of the termination of the fisheries
article of the Treaty of Washington was duly
given the British government, and the reci
procal privileges and exemptions of the treaty
will accordingly cease on July 1, 1885: The
fisheries industry, pursued by numerous
class of our citizens on the northern coasts,
both of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is
worthy of the fostering care of Congress-
Whenever brought into competition with the
like industries of other countries, our fishermen
as well as our manufactures of fishing applianc-
es and preparers OF fish products, have main
tanned foremost place. suggest that Con-
gress create commission to consider the gen.
eral question of our rights in the fisheries, and
the means of opening to our citizens under just
enduring conditions the recently stocked fish
ing waters and sealing grounds of British
North America.
Qustion has arisen touching the deportation
to the Uuited States from the British Islands
by governmental or municipal aid of persons
unable to gain living, and equally burden
on the community here. Such OF these per
sons as come under the pauper class as defined
by the law have been sent back in accordance
with the provisions of our statutes. Her Ma
jesty's government has insisted that precau-
tions have been taken before shipment. They
have, however, in many cases proven ineffect-
ual,-and so uncertain in recent instances. of
needy emigrants reaching our territory through
Canada--that revision Of our legislation up
on this subject may be deemed advisable.
Correspondence relative to the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty has been continued, and will be laid
before Congress.
The legislation OF France against the impor-
tation OF prepared swine products from the
United States has been repealed. That re-
suit has been due no less to the friendly repre-
sentatons of this Government than to grow
ing conviction in France that the restriction is
not demanded by any real danger to health.
Germany still prohibits the introduction OF all
swine products from America extended to
the imperial government friendly invitation
to send experts to the United States to enquire
whether the use of these products was danger
ous to health. This invitation was declined l
have believed it of such Importance. however,
that the exact facts should be ascertained and
promulgated that have appointed compe-
tent commission to make thorough investi-
cation of the subject. Its members have shown
their public spirit by accepting the trust with
out pledge of compensation, but l trust that
Congress will see in the national and interna-
tional bearings of the matter sufficient mo-
tive for providing at least for reimbursement
of such expenses as they may necessarily in
cur.
The coronation of the Gear at Moscow offered
to this Government an occasion for testifying
its continued friendship by sending special
envoy and representative of the Navy to at
tend the ceremony. While there have arisen
during the year no grave questions affecting
the status in the Russian Empire OF American
citizens of other faith than that held by the
national church, this Government remains firm
in its conviction that the rights of its citizens
abroad should be In no way affected by their
religious belief.
1t is understood that measures for the re-
moval of the restrictions which now burden
our trade with Cuba and Porto Rico are under
consideration by the Spanish Government.
The proximity of Cuba and the peculiar meth
DDS of administration which there prevail ne
cessitate constant discussion and appeal on our
part from the proceedings of insulsr authori-
ties. regret to say that the just protests of
this Government have not as yet produced sat-
isfactory results. The commission appointed
to decide and ascertain claims of our citizens
against the Spanish Government, after the
recognition of satisfactory rule as to the val
idity and force of naturalization in the United
States has finally adjourned. Some of its
awards made more than two years ago have
not yet been paid. This payment is expected
as claims to large amounts, which were held
by the late commission to be without its juris-
diction have baen automatically presented to
the Spanish Government. As the action OF
the colonial authorities which has has given
rise to the claims was admitted to be illegal,
full reparation for the injury sustained by our
citizens should be no longer delayed.
The case of the Masonic has not yet reached
a settlement. The Manila court has found
that the proceedings of which this government
has complained were unauthorized and it is
hoped that the government Of Spain will not
withhold the speedy reparation which its sense
of justice should impel 1t to offer for the unus-
ual severity and uDjustics of subordinate
colonial officers in the case of this vessel.
The Helvetian confederation has proposed the
Inauguration Of class of international treaties
for the referment to arbitration Of grave quest
ions between nations. This government has
assented to the proposal and negotiated such
a treaty with Switzerland.
Under the treaty of Berlin, liberty of con-
science and civil rights are assured to all stran-
gers in Bulgaria. As the United States have
nnrru uar1ti al vuit hot
country and are not party to the treaty they
should, in my opinion maintain diplomatic
representation at Sofia, for the improvement of
intercourse and the proper protection OF many
American citizens who resort to that country
as missionaries and teachers. l suggest that
be given authority to establish an agency and
consulate general at the Bulgarian capital.
The United States are now participating in
revision of the tariffs of the Ottoman empire.
They have assented to the application of a Ii
cense tax to foreigners doing business in Tur-
key, but have opposed the oppressive storage
tax upon petroleum entering the parts OF that
country.
The government of the Khedive has pro-
posed that the authority Of the mixed judicial
tribunals in Egypt be extended so as to cover
citizens of the United States accused OF crime
who are now tried before consular conrts. This
government is not indisposed to accept the
charge, but believes that its terms shoald be
submitted for criticismE to q commission ap-
pointed to revise the whole subject.
At no time in your national history has
there been more manifest need of close and
lasting relations with neighboring state than
now exists with respect to Mexico. The rapid
influx of our capital and enterprise into that
country shows by what has already been ac-
complshed, the vast reciprocal advantages
which must attend the process of its internal
development The treaty Of commerce and
navigation of 1858 has been terminated by the
Mexican government and in 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
a better understanding las been taken in the
negotiation by the commission authorized by
Congress of treaty which is still before the
Senate awaiting its approval. The provisions
for the reciprocal crossing of the frontier by
troops in pursuit of hostile Indians have been
prolonged 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 skill and valor of
the United States and Mexican soldiers fight
ing in a common cause. The convention for
the resurvey of the boundary from the Rio
GTande to the Pacific having been ratified
and exchanged, the preliminary reconnaissance
therein stipulated has been effected. 1t now
rests with Congress to make provision for COM
pleting the survey, and relocating the bound
ary monuments. -