Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-02

In view OF the rei1tlons OF sn&b couuthy
the American system Of States should b
favored
HArTf.-JAPAE.-MExI
The revolution in Hayti against the estab
lished government has terminated. While i
was 10 progress il became necessary to en-
force our neutrality Laws by instituting pro
ceedings against individuals and vessel.
charged with their infringement These pros
ecutions we're In all cases successful Mucf
anxiety has lately been displayed in various
European governments. especially by the
government of Italy, for abolition OF oui
import duties on works OF art II
il we'll 10 consider whether the present
determination in favor of the productions Of
American artists abroad il not likely 70 result,
as they themselves seem very generally to
believe il may. in the practical exclusion Of
our painters and sculptors from the rich field.
for observation. study, and labor. which they
have hitherto enjoyed. There is prospecttha'
the long pending revision Of the foreign trea
ties Of Japan may be concluded. at new con-
ference to be held at Toxic. While this gov
eminent recognizes the equal and independent
station Of Japan in the community OF nations,
1t would not oppose the general adoption OF
such terms Of compromise as Japan may be dis
posed 10 offer in furtherence of a uniform pol
lev Of intercourse With western nations dur
ing the past year Increasing good will between
our government and that of Mexico has been
yariously manifested. The treaty Of CON-
mercial reciprocity. concluded January goth,
1883. has been ratified and awaits necessary
tariff legislation of Congress TO become
effective. This legislation will, | doubt not,
be among the first measures to
claim your attention. A full treaty
OF commerce and consular rights
10 much to be desired, and such a treaty
have reason 70 believe the Mexican govern
ment stand ready to conclude. Some embar-
rassment has been occasioned by the failure
OF Congress at its last session to provide the
means for the due execution of the treaty OF
July 20. 1882, for the re-survey of the Mexi-
can boundary and relocation Of boundary
monuments.
NIcARAUGUA.-RUssIA.
With the Republic of Nicaragua treaty
has been concluded which authorizes the con-
struction BY the United States of a canal
railway and telegraph line across Nicarau-
guam territory. By the terms of the treaty
so miles of the river San Juan
as well as Lake Nicaragua, an in
land sea, 40 miles wide, are TO constitute
a part of the projected enterprise This
leaves for actual canal construction II miles
on the Pacific side and SO miles on the
Atlantic to the United States, whose rich
territory on the Pacific, is for ordinary pur
poses of commerce, practically cut of
from communication by water. with
the Atlantic ports. The political-com
mercial advantages of such a treaty
project can scarcely be overestimated.
1t is believed that when the treaty is laid be-
fore you, the justice and liberality of its pro-
visions will commend universal approval at
home and abroad The death of our repre-
sentative at Russia, while at his post at st.
Petersburg, afforded to the Imperial govern
ment a renewed opportunity to testify its
sympathy in manner betitting the intimate
friendiness which has ever marked the inter
course of the two coutries.
DIPLOMATIC AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS.
The course of this government in raising
its representative at Bangkok to diplomatic
rank has evoked some evidences of friend
ship ard augurs well for our enlarged in
tercourse. The same government has pre-
sented to the United States a
mansion and grounds
for the occupancy of the legation
and suggest that by joint resolution Con-
gress attest its appreciation of this generous
gift This government has more than once
been called on, of late. to take sction
in fultiluent of its international obligations
toward Spain. Agitation in the island of
Cuba hostile to the Spanish crown having
been fomented by persons abusing the
sacred rights of hospitality. which our terri
tory affords, the officers of this 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 one instance where these
precautionary measures were success
fully eluded, the offenders when found in our
territory were subsequently tried and con
victed. The growing need of close relation
ship Of intercourse and traffic between the
Spanish Antilles and their natural market in
the United States. led to the adoption on
January last of a commercial agreement look
ing 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. 1t has
been the aim of the negotiation to open such
favored reciprocal exchange of productions
carried on under the flag of either country as
to make the intercourse between Cuba and
Porto Rico and ourselves scarcely less init
mate than the commercial movement between
our domestic ports, and to ensure a removal
of the burdens on shipping in Spanish
Indies, of which in the past our ship owners
and ship masters have so often had cause to
complain. The negotiatin of this convention
has for time postponed the prosecution OF
certain claims of our citizens which were de-
clared to be without the jurisdiction of the
late Spanish-American claims commission
which are therefore RENTED to diplomatic
consuls for adjustment The speedy settle
meut Of these claims will now be urged BY
this government.
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 on behalf of our
citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted. The
Porte has sought to withhold from our COM
merce the right of favored treat
ment to which we are entitled BY exist
ing conventional stipulation and revision OF
tariffs.
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 means Of
re-examining Caracas awards in conformity
with the expressed desire of Congress. and
which will recognize the justice of certain
claims preferred agsi st Venezuela.
MExIco.-A COMMON MERIDIAN.
The Central and South American commits.
sion appointed by authority of the act of july
Z, 1884, will soon proceed to Mexico. 1t has
been furnished with instructions which will