The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-12-04

ish AMI Hes and their natural mar
ket in the United States led to The RdOp
tiOn iu January last of commercial
apre.ueut lonAing t0 that end, This
agrroineut hH- since been supersed0d bN
more carefully framed and r.mpfe'
honsiVe convention, which | shall sub-
nit to the senate iOT approval. IL hes
hoen the aim 0i thi, negotiation 10 span
such favored reciprocal eIchangn oi
productions, carried under tho nag ui
sither county, a. to make tho iuteF-
course between Cuba aud Porto REQ
aud Ourselves scarcely Ices ia
timale Than IN, commercial move
ment hslwean our domestic ports aud
"a insure the removal Of the burdens on
shipping In the Spanish Indies, Of which,
In the past, our ship owners aud ship
masters have ~ often had csusn 10 cOul-
plain, The negotiation of this conven-
ton has for time postponed the prose-
cutiou of certain claims OF our clliEens
which were declared 10 hn without ths
Jurisdiction sf thu late Spanish-Ameri-
can claims comm ,slon, and which wa
therefore remitted To diplomatic chan
nels for adjustment The speedy settle
ment of these claims will now DO urged
by the government.
Negotiations for a treaty OF commcr-
ci Il reciprocity with the Dominican re-
public have been successfully concluded
aud tho result will shortly be aid before
the senate.
Certain questions hetween tho Unit' d
States and Tue Ottoman empire still re-
main unsettled. Complaints In behalf
Of our citizens are not satisfactorily Rd-
lGstcd. The porta has sought u with
hold from our commerce the right OF
favored treatment, to which We arc sn-
titled by existing conventional stipula-
tions, and tho revision of tho tariff Is
unsccompllshed.
The inal disposition of tho pending
question with VoneEuc!a has not yet
been reached, but have good reason 20
expect AN early settlement, which will
provide the means OF ro-examininy tho
Caracas awards, In conformity with the
expressed dU-lre at the congress, and
which will recognize the justice of cor
tnin Gains proierr dayNinst Venezuela.
The Central aud South American ON
mission, appointed by RutnOrity OF tho
act OF July 7, 1884,, will soon proceed To
Mexico. IL has boon furnished
with instructions, which will bs
laid before you. They contain
y statement of the general policy of the
government for enlarging its CONNER
cial intercourse with American states.
The commissioners haye been actively
preparing for their responsible task by
noldinga conference in the principal
cities with merchants and others inter
cSted in the central aud South American
trade.
The International Meridian confor-
encc lately convened in Washington
upon the Invitation of the government
of the United States, was
composed of representatives from
TWENTY-FIVE nations. The conference
-
vrmber. having, with substantial unan-
unity, agreed upon the meridian OF
Greenwich as the starting point, whence
longitude is To be computed, and on the
adoption for ali purposes for which il
may be found convenient of a universal
day, which saall begin at midnight on
the Initial meridian and whose hours
shall be counted from zero up to twenty
four. The formal report of the transac
tons of this conference will hereafter be
transmitted to the congress.
Tho government Is in frequent receipt
of invitations from foreign states to par
ticipate in international exhibitions,
often of great interest and importance.
Occupying as we do an sdyanced posi-
tion iii the world's production and
aiming to secure profitable share fl r
tive markets, it IL matter of serious
concern that the want OF
means for participation in these
exhibitions should SO often enclude our
producers from advantages eiijtyed by
those of other countries. During the
past year the attention of tho congress
was drawn to the formal invitation in |
this regard rendered by the govern
ments OF England, Holland, Belgium,
Germany and Austria. The executive |
has, in some instances, appointed hon
igg il
Il most unsatisfactory eXpedient; fer |
without some provision to meet the nso-
essary working expenses of u commits.
sion IL can effect little or nothing in be-
half of exhibitors. An international in
exhibition is to be
held in London next May. This
viii cover ii ld of special Importance,
N wiich1ur country holds foremost
'ank, but the executive is at present
ion OF our vas' natioual interests in this
Erection. l have in several previous
messages referred to this subject. 1t
seems to me that q statute giving to the
Executive general discretionary authori-
Y u accept such inyitati ms, and to
'ppoint honorary commissioners, with
,ut salary, placing at the disposal
II. the secretary of state small
und tor defr, ying their reasonable eS-
,enses, would be ol great public utility.
This government has received official
l0tico that tho revised international
eguations for preventing collisions at
ea have been adopted by ali the leading ,
maritime powers except the United
/, tates. and came into force on the lst of
september last. For the due protection
# our shipping interests. the provisions
nto c,n.ormity with those regulations.
The question Of securing to authors,
omposers and artists copyright privi-
es in this country i'll return for re-
inr veal rights abroad, Is one that may
Justly challenge your attention.
l. would recommend that Inc scope OF
he neutrality laws of the United States {
70 SO enlarged AZ to cover all potent
cts Of hostility committed in our terri {
Dry and aimed against the peace of
.iendly nations. Existing stat
tel prohibit the fitting out
I armed expeditions and restrict /
he shipment of explosives. Though '
he enactuents in the latter respect were i
ot framed with regard to international |
b.igations, but simply for tho protec-
on OF passenger travel, all these stat 8
tes were intended to meet special ,
that had already arisen c
ther emercencies have arisen sin g G
nd modern ingenuity supplies means I
,r the organization of hostilities with ]
ut open resort to armed veS- {
els or to tilibustering parties. /
SEQ no reason why overt preparations |
this country for the commission Of &
riminal acts, such as are here under c
,nsideraton. should not be alike pun. G
liable, whether such acts are intended c
!, be committed In our country or in IA q
,reign country with which we are at Y
oace. The prompt and thorough treat t
tent of this question is one which inn V
concerns the national honor. t
Our existing naturalization laws also t
eed revision. Those sections relating q
persons residing within the limits OF O
10 United States in l795 and 179S have L
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