The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-12

manifested | shall not hesitate to
recognize the government approved
by them.
Diplomatic and naval representa-
tives of this Government attended at
Caracas the centennial celebration of
the birth of the illustrious Bolivar.
At the same time the nnveiling of
the statue of Washington in the
Venezuelan capital testified to the
veneration in which his memory is
; held there.
Congress, at its last session, au-
thorized the Executive to propose to
the Venezuelan Government a re-
opening of the awards of the Mixed
Commission OF Caracas, the depart
ure to which country of the Vene-
zuelan Minister was believed to fore
shadow the opening of negotiations
for reviviEg the Commission. This
Government holds that until the es-
tablishment 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 believing that
the dispute growing out of the un-
paid obligations due from Venezuela
to France will be satisfactorily ad-
ljusted. The French Cabinet has pro-
posed a basis of settlement, which
meets my approval, but as it invol
YES a recasting of the annual quotas
of the foreign debt it has been deem
ed advisable to submit the proposal
to the judgement of the Cabinets of
Berlin, Copenhagen, the Hague,
London and Madrid.
KALAKAUA AND HIS KINGDOM.
At the recent coronation of His
Majesty, King Kalakaua, this Gov
ernment was represented both by a
diplomatist and by the formal visit
of vessel of war The question of
the termination or the modification
of the existing reciprocity treaty
with Hawaii is now before Congress.
am convinced that the charges of
divers frauds under that treaty have
been exaggerated, and | renew the
suggestion of last years message,
that the treaty be modified wherever
It's provisions have proved onerons
to legitimate trade between the two
countries. am not disposed to
favor the entire cessation of the
treaty relations which have fostered
the good will between the two coun-
tries and contributed toward the
equality OF Hawaii iii the family of
nations
OUR INTERESTS IN THE ORIENT.
In pursuance of the policy deciar-
= ed by this Government. of extending
our interests with the Eastern ma
tions, consulates have during the
past year been established in Persia,
Siam, and Corea. 1t is probable that
permanent missions of these coun-
tries will ere long be maintained in
the United States A special en-
! bassy from Siam is now on It's way
hither. Treaty relations with Corea
were perfected by the exchange at
Seoul on the 10Th of May last of the
; ratification of the lately concluded
convention. and ENJOYS from the
King OF Tah-Chosun have visited
; this country and received a cordial
welcome. Corea as yetis unacquaint-
ed with the methods of Western civ
: ilization 1t now invites the atten-
ton of those interested in the adj
vancemento 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 over
= other nations, but as the Chosunese
in seeking for higher civilization
have confided in this republic we
cannot regard with indifference any
entertainments on their rights
China, by the payment of a money
indemnity, has settled certain of the
long pending claims of our citizens,
and | have strong hopes that the
remainder will soon be adjusted.
Questions have arisen touching
the rights of American and other
foreign manufacturers in China,
under the provisions of the treaties
which permit aliens to exercise their
industries in that country. On tLis
SPECIFIC point our own treaty is silent,
but under the operation of the most
favored national clause we have like
privileges with those of other pow
ers. While ii is the duty of the
Government to see that our citizens
have the full enjoyment of every
benefit secured by the treaty, |
doubt the expediency of leading in
a movement to constrain China to
admit an Interpretation which we
have only an indirect treaty right to
exact. The transference to China of
American capital for the employ
ment there of Chinese labor would,
in effect inaugurate competition for
| the control of the markets now sup
piled by our home industries.
/ There is good reason to believe the
law restriction on the immigration
Of Chinese has been violated inten-
tinnally or otherwise by the officers
of China upon whom devolved the
duty of certifying that the emigrants
belong to excepted classes. Meas
ures have been taken to ascertain
the facts incident to the supposed
iniraction, and it is believed that the
Government of China will Co operate
with the United States in securing
the faithful observance of the law.
The same considerations which !
prompted Congress at its last session
to return to Japan the Simoniski
indemnity seem to me to require at
its hands like action in respect to the
Canton indemnity fund, now
amounting to three hundred thou I
sand dollars.
The question of the general revis-
ion OF the foreign treaties with Japan
has been considered in an interna-
tional conference held at Toxic, but
without beneficial result as yet. This
Government is disposed to cencede
the requests Of Japan to determine its
own Tariff duties, to provide such
proper judicial. tribunals as may