The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-08
The case of the Masonic has not yet

| INTERNATIONAL treaties TOT une ueleTIutll
TO arbitration Of grave questions be
tween nations. The government has
assented to the proposed negotiation o.
such treaty with Switzerland,
RIGHTS OF AMERICANS ABROAD.
Under the treaty of Perrin. liberty o.
J conscience and civil rights are assured
to all strangers in Bulgaria. AS the
United States have no distinct cOnven
tional relations with that country, anC
are not a party to the treaty, the!
should, in my opinion, maintain Il diplo
matte representation at Sofia for the
| Improvement of intercourse and the
proper protection OF the many Ameri'
can citizens VINO resort to that country
as missionaries and teachers. | sug-
gcst that be given authority to estab.
fish an agency and Consulate General
ut the bulgarian capital.
COMMERCE. WITH TURKEY.
The United States are now partici-
pating in "a revision OF the tariffs u the
ottoman Empire. They have assented
to the application OF license tax of
foreigners doing business in Turkey
but have opposed the oppressive stor-
age tax upon petroleum entering the
pOrtS OF ttdt country.
EGYPT.
The government of the khedlve has
proposed that the authority of the mix
ed judicial tribunals in Egypt be eX-
tended so as to cover citizens or the
United States accused of crime, who
are now tried before Consular courts.
This government is not indlspoSed to
accep. the change, but believes that its
terms should be submitted for criticism
to commission appointed to revise the
whole subject.
OUR MEXICAN BOUNDARY.
AT no time in our national history
has there been more manifest need OF
close and lasting relations WItha neigh
boring state than now exists with re-
spect to Mexico. The rapid influx of
our capital and enterprise into that
country shows by what has already
been accomplished the vast reciprocal
advantages which must attend the pro-
gress OF its internal development.
The treaty of commerce and nagivatiOn
of 1915 has been terminated by the
Mexican government and by the absence
of conventional engagements. The
rights of our citizens in Mexico now
depend upon the domestic statutes OF
the republic. There have been in
stances of harsh enforcement OF the
laws against our vessels and citizens III
Mexico. and of denial of diplomatic re-
sort for thier protection. The initial
step toward a better underS,a nding has
been taken in the negotiations by the
commission authorized by Congress of
"a treaty. which is still before the Sen
ate, awaiting its approval.
The provisions for the reciprocal
crossing Of the troops in pursuit Of hos
tile Indians have been prolonged for
another year. The operations of the
forces of both governments against the
savageS have been successful; and sew
eral of their most dangerous bands
have been captured or dispersed by the
skill and valor of United States and
Mexican soldiers fighting in Il common
cause. The convention for the resurvey
of the boundary from the Rio Grande
to the Pacific, having been ratified and
exchanged, the preliminary reconnols-
sence therein stipulated has been eff
fected. 1t now rests with Congress to
make provision for completing the sur
vey and resetting the boundary monu-
mentS.
THE OLD CASE OF BENZ. WE'LL.
A convention was signed with Next
co on july Is, 1881, providing for the
OF tn cases OF Benz. We'll
and the Abra SILVER Mining Company.
in whose FAVOR awards were made by
the late American and Mexican Claims
That convention still
awaits the consent of the Senate.
Meanwhile, because OF the charges
OF fraudulent award, which have made
Il new commission necessary, the Exc
cutive has directed the suspension Of
payments or the distributive quota
received from Mexico.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Our geographical proximity to Cen
trail America and our political and
commercial relations with the States
of that country justify, i'll my judg-
ment, such material increase o. our
Consular corps as will place at each
capital Il Consul General.
SOUTH AMERICA,
The contest between Bolivia and
Chilli ard Peru has passed from the
stage OF strateIetlC hOSt!ltleS TO that
of negotiation, III which the ConSulS
of the government has been exercised.
The demands of Chill for absolute
cession OF territory have been main
tanned and accepted by the party of
General Iglesias, to the extent OF con-
Guiding q treaty OF peace with Chilli in
general conformity with the terms of
the protocol signed in my last between
the CHILEAN command n, and Gen. lyle
sias. AS areSu t of the conclusion of this
treaty, Gen. lrleSiaS has b zen form
ally recognized by Chill as President
Of Peru, and his government Installed |
at Lima, which has been evacuated by
the Chilians. \ call has been issued |
by Gen. lglesiaS for Il representative |
To be elected on the 18th of |
January, and TO meet IN Lima on the !
Ist of March next. Meanwhile, the |
government of Gen. lgle-
iias has applied for recognition TO the |
principal powers of America and |
Europe. When the will of the Peru
Wan people shall be manifested, l |
shall not hesitate to recognize the gov
approved by them.
Diplomatic and naval representa-
lives of this government attended at
Caracas the centennial celebration |
If the birth of the illustrious Bolivar. |
At the same time the inauguration of !
he statue of Washington in the
Venezuelan capital testified to the
generation in which his memory is !