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

| Iglesas. AS result of the conclusion of this
| treaty, General Iglesias has been formally
recognized by Chill as President OF Peru, and
his government installed at Lima, which has
been evacuated by the Chilians. A call has
| been issued BY General Iglesias for represen-
tative assembly to be elected on the 18th OF
! January and to meet at Lima on the lst OF
March next. Meanwhile the provisional gov
| ernment of Gen. Iglesias has applied for rec
| ognition to the principal powers of America
and Europe. When the will of tbe 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 centen-
nial celebration Of the birth of the illustrious
| Bolivar. At the same time the Inauguration
| OF the statue of Washington in the Venezuelan
capital testified to the veueration in which his
memory is held there. Congress at its last
| session authorized the executive to propose to
| the Venezuelan government a reopening of
the awards of the mixed commission of Cara
| cas-. The departure from this country OF the
| Venezuelan minister has delayed the opening
| of negotiations for reviving the commission.
| This Government holds that until the estab-
llshment OF treaty upon this subject, the
Venezuelan government must continue to
make the payments provided in the conven-
| tion of 1866.
There is ground for believing that the dis
| pute growing out of unpaid obligations due
| from Venezuela to France will be satisfactori-
| ly adjusted. The French cabinet has proposed
| a basis of settlement which meets my approval,
| but as it involves recasting of the annual
| quotas Of the foreign debt, it has been deemed
| advisable to submit the proposal to the judg-
| ment Of the cabinets OF Berlin, Copenhagen
and the Hague, London and Madrid.
At the recent coronation of his Majesty, King
Kalakaua, this government was represented
both automatically and by the formal visit of
vessel of war; The question of terminating
or modifying the existing reciprocity treaty
vinced that the charges of abuse and frauds
\ under that treaty have been exaggerated, and
renew the suggestion Of last years message
that the treaty be modified wherever its pro-
visions have proved ionerons to legitimate
trade between the two countries. l am not
disposed to favor the entire cessation of treaty
relations which have fostered good will be-
tween the countries and contributed toward
the equality of Hawaii in the family of nations.
In pursuance of the policy declared by this
government OF extending our intercourse with
the eastern nations legations have during the
past year been established in Persia, Siam and
Corea. 1t is probable that permanent missions
OF these countries will ere long be maintained
in the United States. A special embassy from
Siam is now on its way hither. Treaty rela-
tions with Corea were perfected by the ex-
change at Seoul ON the 10Th of May last, of the
ratifications of the lately concluded conven-
tion, and ENJOYS from the King of Tab Chosun
have visited this country and received a COR
dial welcome. Corea, as yet unacquainted
with the methods Of western civilization, now
invites the attention of those interested in the
Advancement of our foreign trade as it needs
the implements and products which the Uaited
States are ready to supply. We seek no mo-
nopoly OF Its commerce and no advantages
from other nations But as the Chosunese in
reaching for higher civilization have confid-
cd In this republic we cannot regard with in
dlference any encroachment on their rights.
China, BY the payment Of money idemnity,
has settled some of the long pending claims of
our citizens, and 1 have strong hopes the re-
mainder will soon be adjusted. Questions have
arisen regarding the rights of Americans and
other foreigna manufacturers 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
nation clause, we have like privileges with
those OF other powers. While it is the duty of
the government to see our citizens have enjoy
ment OF every benefit secured by treaty /
doubt the expediency of leading in q move
ment to constrain China to admit an inter-
probation which we have only an indirect
treaty right to expect. The transference to
China OF American capital for employment
there OF Chinese labor would in effect inaugu-
urate competition for control of markets now
supplied by our home industries There is
good reason to believe that the law restricting
immigration Of Chinese has been violated in
tent1onally or otherwise by the officials of
China, upon whom is devolved the duty of
certifying that immigrants belong to excepted
classes, and measures have been taken to as
certain the facts incident to this supposed in
fraction, and it is believed that the govern
ment of China will cooperate 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 Simonski indemnity, seem to REQUIRE at
its hands like action in respect to the Canton
indemnity fund, now amounting to three hun
dred thousand dollars. The question of q gem
eral reconstruction of the foreign treaties of
Japan has been considered in an international
conference held at Toxic, but without definite
result as yet This government is disposed to
concede the requests of Japan to determine its
own tariff duties, to provide such proper ju-
dlcial tribunals as nay commend themselves
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 minister at London and at
Monrovia this government has endeavored to
aid Liberia in its differences with Britain
touching the northwestern boundaries of that
republic. There is a prospect of an adjust
ment OF the dispute by the adoption of the
Manuah river as the line. This arrangement is
compromise of conflicting territorial claims
and takes from Liberia no country over which
it has maintained effective jurisdiction. The
rich and prosperous valley of the Congo is be-
lng opened to commerce by society called the
International African Association, of which
the King OF the Belgians is president and an
agent of the United States the chief executive
officer Large tracts of territory have been
ceded to the association by native chiefs, roads
have been opened, steamboats, placed on the
river, and the nuclei of states established at %
stations under one flag, which offers freedom
to commerce and prohibits the slave trade
The objects OF the society are philantrophic. 1t
does not aim at permanent political control,
but seeks the neutrality of the valley. The
United States cannot be Indifferent to this
work, nor to the interests of her citizens in
volved in it. 1t may become advisable for US
to cooperate with other commercial powers in
promoting the rights of trade and residence in
the Congo valley free from interference or DO
litical control of any nation.
In view OF the frequency of invitations from
foreign governments to participate in a social
and scientific congress for the discussion of i'm
portant matters of general concern, 1 repeat
the suggestion of my last message that provis-
ion be made for the exercise of discretionary
power by the Executive in appointing dele
gates to such conventions. Able specialists
are ready to serve the national interests in this
capacity without personal profit or other COM
pensation than Of defrayment of expenses actu-
ally incurred, and thus compar ratively small
annual appropriation would lsnfficient to meet.
have alluded in my previous message to the
injulious and vexations restrictions suffered by
our trade in the Spanish West Indies. Brazil
whose natural outlet for its great national sta
ple-coffee-is in and through the United
States impoess heavy export duty upon
that product. Our petroleum exports
are hampered in Turkey and in other
ports by restrictions as to storage and by
onerous taxation. For these mischiefs
adequate relief is not always afford
ded by reciprocity treaties like that with
Hawaii or Mexico now awaiting the action
OF the Senate. Is it not advisable to provide
some measures Of equitable retaliation in our
relations with governments which Discriminate
against our own? If flor instance) the execu-
tive were empowered to apply to Spanish ves-
sells and cargoes from Cuba and Puerto Rico
the same rules of treatment and scale of penal
ties for technical faults which are applied to
our vessels and oargoes in the Antillesa resort
to that course might not be barren of good re-
suits.
THE FINANCES.
The report of the Secretary of the
Treasury gives full and interesting exhibit of
the financial condition of the country. 1t
shows
Ordinary revenues from all
sources for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1888, amounted to. ,$398, ,2S7, ,581 90
Whereof there were received
From customs ............ S214, zoe, ,496 93
From internal revenue. ....., 144, 4,720 1868 9S
From sales of public lands 7,955,864 AZ
From tax on circulation and de-
posits of national banks. j. 49,. Oil 0OS SO
From profits on coinage, bullion
deposits and assays........ ...,. 4,460.205 II