The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11

ceedings against individuals and vessels
charged with their Infringement These
revolutions were In all cases successful
Much anxiety has lately been displayed by
various European governments, and espo-
clally by the government of Italy. for the
abolition OF our import duties upon works of
art 1t Is well to consider whether
tho narrow discrimination in favor of the
works OF American artists abroad ii not
likely to result, as they themselves seem
very generally to believe it may, il the prac-
tical exclusion Of our painters and sculptors
from the rich fields for observation, study
and labor which they have hitherto enjoyed
There Is . prospect that the long pending
revision Of the foreign treaties Of Japan may
DO concluded at Z new conference to be held
at Toxic. While this government :uiIy teooe-
mixes tho equal and independents station Of
Japan In the community of nations, it would
not oppose the general adoption Of such
terms OF compromise "a Japan may be dis
posed to otter in furthefahue OF Uniform
policy OF intercourse with Western nations.
During the past year the increasing good
" WI ,t ostTse4 our own government and that
OF Meda0 has been variously manifested.
ne treaty Of commercial reciprocity con-
cluded Jan 20, 1883, has been ratified
and awaits tho necessary tntitf legisla-
ton Of congress to become effective
This legislation will. doubt not, be among
the hrst measures to claim your attention
Aful treaty Of commerce, navigation, and
consular rights is much to be desired, and
such o treaty I have reason 10 believe that
the Mexican government stands ready to
conclude. Some embarrassment has keen
occasioned by the failAre Of congress at its
last session 10 provide means for the due
execution Of the treaty of July 20, 1852,
for the resurveY, Of the, Mexican boundary
and the relocation Of boundary monuments
With the republic of Nicaragua a treaty has
been concluded which authorizes the con-
struction by the United States of a canal,
railway and telegraph line across the Mica
raguan territory: BY the terms of this
well as the Lake Nicaragua. an inland sea
forty miles in width, are to CON
stitrte part Of the projected ENTERPRISE
Ihls covers for actual canal construction
seventeen miles on the Pacific side nna Till
ty-siA miles on the Atlantic TO the United
States, whose rich territory on the Pacific is,
1or tne ordinary purposes of commerce,
practically cut of from communication by
water with Atlantic ports. the political and
commercial advantages of such project can
scarcely be overesrimated 1t is believed
that when the treaty is laid before you the
Justice and libelality of its provisions will
command universal approval at home and
abroad. The death Of our representative at
Russia, while at his post at st. Petersburg,
afforded to the imperial government re-
hewed opportunity I'd. testify it's sympa7
ftiendlihess which has ever marked
the intercourse OF the two, countries
The course Of the government in raising it's
representative at bangkok to the diplomatic
rank has evoked from Siam evidences Of
warm friendship. The Sialnese government
has presented to the United States commo-
dious mansion and grounds for the occu-
pancy OF the legation, and I suggest that
by joint resolution congress attest its appre-
cation of this generous gift This govern
nent has more than once been called on of
late to take action in fultllment OF interna-
tlonal obligation toward Spain, agitation id
THE ISLAND OF CUBA
h9sttle to the Spanish crown having been
termented by persons abusing the sacred
right OF hospitality which our territory
affords. The officers of the government
have been instructed TO exercise vigilance to
prevent infractions Of our neutrality laws at
Key West and other ports near the Cuban
coast l am happy to say that in the only
Instance where these precautionary measures
were successfully eluded, the offenders when
found in our territory were subsequently,
close relationship of Intercourse and traffic
between the Spanish Antilles and their nat
ural market in the United States led to the
adoption, in January last, of commercial
agreement looking to that end. This agree
ment has since been superseded by q more
carefully framed and comprehensive con-
vention, which l shall subject to the senate
for approval. 1t has been the aim of this
negotiation to open such Il favored reciprocal
exchange OF production carried on under the
flag OF either country as TO make the inter
course between Cuba and Porto Rico and
ourselves scarcely less intimate than the
commercial movement between OUR domestic
ports and to insure removal OF the burdens
ON shipping in the Spanish Indies, OF which
III the past our shipowners and shipn1asters
have SO often had cause to complain.
The negotiation of this convention has sor
time postponed the prosecution of certain
claims Of our citizens Which were declared to
be without the jurisdiction of the late Span
lsh-American claims commission, and which
are, therefore, remitted to diplomatic chan
nels for adjustment The speedy settlement
of these claims. will now be urged by this
governments Negotiations for a treaty of
commercial reciprocity with the Dominican
republic have been successfully concluded,
and the result will shortly be laid before the
senate. Certain questions between the
United States and the Ottoman empire still
remain unsolved Complaints in behalf of
our citizens arc not satisfactorily adjusted
The porte has sought to withhold from our
commerce the right CT favored treatment to
which we are entitled by existing conven-
tional stipulations. and the revision of the
tariff is unaccomplished The final disposition
of pending questions with Venezuela has not
as yet been reached, but have good reason
to expect an early settlement, which will
provide the means of re-examining the
Caracas awards, In conformity with the ex-
pressed desire OF congress, and which will
recognize the justice OF certain claims pre-
ferred against Venezuela.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
The Central and South American commits
sion, appointed by authority of the act of
July, 1884, will soon proceed to Mexico 1t
has been furnished with instructions which
statement Of the general policy of the gov
eminent for enlarging it's commercial inter-
course with American states The commits
sioners have been actively preparing for
their responsible task by holding confer
ences in the principal cities with merchants
and others interested in the Central and
South American trade The International
Meridian conference, lately convened in
Washington, upon the invitation of the
government OF the United States, was COM
posed of representatives Of twenty-five ma
tions The conference concluded its labors
on the LIST OF November, having with sub
stantial unanimity agreed upon the meridian
OF Greenwich as the starting point whence
longitude is to be computed, through $50
degrees eastward and westward and upon
the adoption, for all purposes for which it
may be found convenient, of a universal
day, which shall begin at midnight on the
initial meridian, and whose hours shall be
counted from zero up to twenty
four. The formal report of the
transactions of this conference will
be hereafter transmitted to congress.
This government is in frequent receipt of in
vitatons from foreign states to participate
in International exhibitions, often of great
interest and Importance Occupying as we
do an advanced nosition in the Worl dis nr0-