The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-12-02

raising lCS representation at Bangkok to |
the diplomatic rank, has evoked from
Siam evidences of warm friendship and
augurs well for our enlarged intercourse
The Siamese government has presented
to the United States acommodfous man.
sion and grounds for the occupancy of
the legation, and l suggest that by Joint
resolution Congress attest its apprecia-
ton of this generous gift
Spain.
This government has more than once
been called upon of late to take action
in fulfllment of its international obliga-
ton toward Spain, agitation in the Is
land of Cuba hostile to the Spanish
crown having been fermented bv per-
sons abusing the sacred right of hos
! pitality which our territory afforded.
The officers OF the government have
been instructed to exercise vigilance to
! prevent infractiOns of our neutrality
laws at Key West and other points near
the Cuban coast. | am happy to saw
that in the only instance where the pre-
cautiOnary measures We're successfully
eluded, the offenders, when foundin our
territory, were subsequently tried and
convicted The growing need of closer
relationship of intercourse and traffic
between the Spanish Antilles and their
natural market in the United States led
to the adoption, in January last, of
commercial agreement looking to that
end. This agreement has since been
superseded by a more carefully framed
and comprehensive convention, which
shall submit to the Senate for approval.
! hoe, la on 0f
to open such a favorable reciprocal ex-
change of productions carried under the
flag of their country as to make the in
tercourse between Cuba and Porto Rico
and ourselves scarcely less intimate than
the commercial movement between our
domestic ports, and to insure a removal
of the burdens on shipping in the Span
ish Indies, of which in the, past our
shipownerS and shipmasters have
so often had cause to complain.
The negotiation of this convention has
for time postponed the prosecution of
certain claims of oureitizenS which were
declared to be without the jurisdiction
of the Spanish-American claims COM
mission. and which we therefore re-
mitted to diplomatic channels for ad-
justment The speedy settlement of
these claims will now be urged by this
government.
Negotiations for a treaty of COM
mercial reciprocity with the Dominion
Republic have been successfully con-
cluded, and the result will shortly be
laid before the Senate.
Certain questions between the United
States and the Ottoman Empire still re-
main unsolved. Complaints in behalf
] of our citizens are not satisfactorily adj
justed. The Porte has sought to with
hold from our commerce the right OF
favored treatment to which we are en-
titled by existing conventional stip.tla-
ton, and the revision OF the tariffs nm
accomplished.
The final disposition of pending ques-
tons with Venezuela has not as yet
been reached, but have good reasons
to expect an early settlement, which viii
provide the means of re-examining the
Caracas awards, in conformity with the
expressed desire of Congress. and which
will recognize the justice OF ccrtain
claims preferred against Venezuela.
The Central and South American
commission appointed by authority OF
the act of July eth, 1884, will soon pro
coed to Mexico. It has been furnished
with instructions which will be laid he
fore you. They contain a statement OF
the general policy Of the government
for enlarging its commercial intercourse
with American States. The cQmmls-
sioners have been actively preparing for
their responsible task by holding con
ferences in the principal cities with
merchants and others interested in Cen
trail and South American trade.
International Meridian, 5l
The international meridian confer.
ence lately convened in Washington
upon the invitation of the govern
ment of the United States, was
!, composed OF representatives from
: twenty-five nations. The conference
4 Concluded its 1abors on the first of No
vember, having, with substantial unani
mity agreed upon the miridian OF
Greenwich as the starting point whence
, longitude is to be completed through
1870 degrees eastward and westward, an6
upon the adoption, for all purposes fol
which it may. be found convenient, O
: universal day, which shall begin a.
midnight on the initial miridian, ane
where hours shall be counted from zero
!, mn TO twenty-four. The formal report
of the transactions of this conference
will be hereafter transmitted to Con
gress.
international Exhibitions.
This government is in frequent re
ceipt of Invitations from. foreign State
to participate in international exhibi
tons Ioften of great interest and import
! ance. Occupying as we do, an ,ad
2 vanced position in the worlds produc
7 ton, and aiming to secure a .profltabl'
share for our industries in the genera
competitive markets, 1t is matter Q
/ serious concern that the want of mean
/ for participation in these exhibitions
f should so often exclude our producer
E from the advantage enjoyed by thos'
; of other countries. During the pas
T wear the attention of Congress wa
2 drawn to the formal invitations IN TIN
: regard rendered by the governments o
E EngIand. Holland, Belgium, German!
: and Austria. The executive has II
! some instances appointed honofar.
commissioners. This is, however,
{, most unsatisfactory expedient. for with
, Ou1 some provisions to meet the neces
: sary- working expenses OF a conanissloII
81 can effect little or nothing IN behal
+ Of exhibitors. An inteInational lnyen
/ tors exhibit is to be held In London
navt May. This viii cover a field
II zo;,I 5ir,,oortauce - IN which on