The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-12-05
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10 IN ha Y,laoab
GERMANY.

GERMANY.
Our relations with Germany. country
which contributes to our own some OF the
| best elements of tiZenshfp, continue to be
cordial. The United States have extrddi-
tiOn treaties with several of the German
states, but. by reason of the confederation
OF these states under the imperial rule, the
| application of such treaties i not as uni
form and comprehensive as the interests OF
the two countries require. Therefore. ne
gOtiat!Ons should be opened for a single
convention TO embrace all the territory of
the empire.
GREAT BRITAIN.
It affords me great pleasure to say that
our intercourse with Great Britain con-
tinues 10 be Of most friendly character.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The Government of Hawaii has indi-
Gated iJS willingness to continue for seven
years the provi, ,iOns of the existing reel
procity treaty. Such continuance in view
of the relations OF that country to the
American system of States, should, in my
Judgment, be favored.
HAYTI.
The revolution in Hayti against the es-
| tablished Government has terminated.
While it was in progress it became neces-
sary to enforce our neutrality laws by in
sttuting proceedings against individuals
and vessels charged with their infringe
ment. These prosecutions were in all cases
successful.
TARIFF ON woBKs OF ART.
| Much anXi ,ty has lately been displayed
! by various European Governments, espe-
cially by the Government OF Italy, for the
abolition of our import duties on works of
aSt. 1t Is well to consider whether the
present discrimination in favor of pr0duc.
tlOns of American artists abroad is not
likely to result, as they themselves seem
very generally TO believe itmay, in the prac-
tical exclusion of our painters and sculp-
tors from the rich fields for observation,
study and labor whlch they have hitherto
enjoyed.
JAPAN.
There is prospect that the long-pending
revision of the foreign treaties of Japan
may be concluded at u new conference to
be held at Toxic. While this Government
fully recognizes the equal and independent
station of Japan i'm the community of ma
tiOns it would not oppose the general adOp-
tion of such terms OF compromise as Japan
may be disposed to offer in furtherance of
uniform policy of intercourse with west
ern nations.
MEXICO.
During the past year the increasing good
will between our own Government and
that of Mexico has been varionsly mani
tested. The treaty of commercial reciprOc-
ity, concluded January 20, 1883, has been
ratified, and awaits the necessary tariff leg.
iSlaliOn of Congress to become effective.
This legislation will, doubt not, be among
the first measures TO claim your attention.
A full treaty of commerce, navi -ati0n and
consular rights is much to be DIES red, and
such treaty, have reason TO believe the
Mexican Government stands ready to con-
clude. Some emb birra'sment has been Oc-
cas- onrd by the failure of Congress, Mt its
last sess0il, to pr wide means for the due
eXecutiOnOf the treaty of Jniy 20, 1882, fOrthe
resurvey of the Mexi"an boundary and the
relocation of boundary monuments.
THE IsTHMUs CANAL.
With the republic OF Nicaragua q treaty
has been concluded which authorizes the
construction by the United States of ca
nal, railway and telegraph line across the
Nicarauguan territory. BY the terms of
this treaty, sixty miles Of the River San
land sea forty miles in width, are to con.
stitutc part of the projected enterprise.
This covers, for actual canal c0nsti ucti0n,
seventeen miles on the Pacific side and
thirty-siX miles Oh the Atlantic. To the
Unltei States, whose rich territory on the
Pacific Is, for the ordinary purposes of COM
merce, practically cut off from cOmmuni
cation by water with the Atlantic ports,
the political and commercial advantages of
such project can scarcely be overesti-
mated.
1t is believed that when the treaty is laid
before yOu the justice and liberaily of its
provisions will command universal approval
ut home AMI abroad.
RUSSIA.
The death of our representatives, at Rus
sia, while at his post ut ST. Petersburg, af-
fOrded to the Imperial Government re
in manner beiitting the intimate friendli.
ness which has ever marked the intercourse
of the two countries.
The course of this Government In raising
its representation at Ii lng-KOk to the dip
lOmatic rank has evoked from Siam evi.
dences OF warm friendship, and augilrs well
for our enlarged intercourse. The Siamese
Government has presented to the United
States cOmmOdiOus mansion and grounds
for the occupancy of the legislation, and /
suggest that by JOINT resolution Congress
attest its appreciation OF this generous gift.
SPAIN.
This government has more than once
been called upon of late to take action in
fulfillment of It's interna!iOna obligation
toward Spain. Agitation In the Island OF
Cuba, hostile to the Spanish crown, having
been fermented by persons abusing the sa-
cred rites of hospitality which our t'rritOry
affords, the officers of the Government have
been instructed to exercise vigilance to
prevent infractions of our neutrality laws
at Key West and at other points near the
Cuban coast. am happy to say that, in
the only instance where these precaution-
ary measures were successfully eluded, the
offenders when found In our territory were
subsequently tried and convicted.
THE SPANISH ANTILLES.
The growing need of close relationship
of intercourse and traffic between the Span
ish Antilles and their natural market i'm the
United states led to the adoption, In JAN
uary last, of commercial agreement look
ing to that end. This agreement has since
been superseded bya more carefully framed
and comprehensive convention, which /
shall submit to the Senate for approval. 1t
has been the aim of this negotiation to
open such a favored reciprocal exchange of
productions carried under the flag of either
country as to make the intercourse between
Cuba and Porto Rico and ourselves scarcely
less intimate than the commercial move
ments between our domestic ports, and to
insure removal Of the burdens on ship
ping In the Spanish Indies, of which, In
the past our ship.owners and ship-masters
have so often had cause to complain. The
negotiation of this convention has for q
time postponed the prosecution of certain
claims of our citizens which were declared to
be without the jurisdiction of the Spanish
American Claims Commission, and which
are therefore remitted to diplomatic cham