Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01

government stands ready To conclude.
some emn3rrlSSIent has been occaSioned by the
failure OF Congress N its last session 10 provide
means Tor the que execution Ot the treaty OF July
~. 1882 Tor the resurvey of the Mexican boundary
ana the relocation OF boundary monuments.
NICARAGUA AND THE IsTRMUs CANAL
With the republic OF Nicaragua treaty has been
concluded which authorizes the construction by the
United States OF canal, railway and telegraph
line across Thc Nicaraguan territory. BY the terms
OF this treaty sixty miles OF the river san Juan rs
We'll Lake Nicara qua, an inland sea forty miles
in width. are to constitute part OF he projected
enterprise. This leaves Ior actual canal construc-
tion seventeen miles on the Pacific side ana thirty
six miles on the Atlantic. TO the United States,
whose rich territory on the Pacific is for the ori-
nary purposes OF commerce practically cut of from
COMMUNICATION by water with tie Atlantic ports,
the political and commercial advantages OF such a
project can scarcely be oyeTeSJimated II is be-
ileVed that when the treaty IS laid before you the
justice and Hoerallty OF It's provisions VIII COM
mand universal approval at home and abroad.
RUSSIA SIAM.
The death OF our representative at Russia while
at his post at ST. Petersburg afforded TO the Impe
rial Government a renewed opportunity to testify
its sympathy in manner befitt.ng the intimate
TrfendlineSs which has ever marked the intercourse
OF the two countries.
The course of this Government I'm raising its rep
resentation at Bangkok 10 the diplomatic rank has
evoked from Siam evidences of warm friendship
and augurs well Tor our enlarged Intercourse The
Slamese Government has presented To the United
States a commodOuS mansion and grounds for the
occupancy OF The legation. and / suggest that by
'ouslSSS dtteSt
this generous gift
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN
IhS Government has more than once been called
upon of late to take action in ufllment Of its in
ternational obligations toward Spain. Agitation
in the island OF cuba hostile 10 the Spanish crown
having been fomented hy persons abusing the
sacred rights OF hospitality which our territory
Affords the officers CT this Government have oeen
Instructed TO exercise vigilance prevent iHfrac-
ucns oil 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 pTecatl-
uonary measures were successfully eluded, the
Offenders when found in our territory were subse-
quently tried and convicted.
the growing heed Of close relationship OF inter-
course and traffic between the Spanish Antilles
and their natural market in the United States led
10 the adoption. in January last, or a commercial
agreement looking to that end. This agreement
has since been superseded 10y a more carefully
framed and comprehensive convention. which |
shal submit TO the Senate for approval II has
been the aim OF this negotiation TO open such Ia
yored reciprocal exchange OF productions carried
under the nag OF either country. TO make the in
tercourse between Cuba and Porto Rico and our
selves scarcely less intimate than the commercial
movement between our domestic ports and TO fn-
sure removal OF the burdens on shipping In the
Spanish Indies, of which in the past our SniD-Own-
erS ana shp-masteTS have so often had cause 10
complain.
The negotiation OF this convention has for q time
postponed the prosecution or certain claims of our
citizens which were declared TO be without the
Jurisdiction OF the late Spanish-American Claims
commission, and which are therefore remtted TO
diplomatic channels for adjustment. The speedy
settlement OF these claims Will be urged by this
government
OTHER COUNTRIES
Negotiations Ior treaty OF commercial rocip-
rocity 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 unsolyed. Com
adjusted. The Porte has sought TO Withhold from
our commerce the right OF favored treatment TO
Wnlcn we are entitled by existing conventional
supualons, and the revision OF the tariffs Is
compliShed.
The final disposition Of pending questions with
venezuela has not as yet been reached. but have
good reason 10 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 VIII recognize the justice OF
certain Claims prefe Tred against Venezuela.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH ANERIcAN COMMISSION.
The Central and South American Commission ap-
pointed by authority OF the act OF July 4 1884, Will
soon proceed to Mexico. 1t has been furnished
with Instructions which Will be laid before you
They contain statement OF the general policy OF
the government for eDarg.ng its commercial inter-
course with American States The commissioners
have been actively preparing for their responsible
task by holding conferences in the principal cities
with merchants and others interested in Central
and South American trade.
INTERNATIONAL MERIDIAN CONFERENCE.
The International Meridian Conference. lately
convened in Washington upon the invitation OF the
Government OF the United States, was composed OF
representatives from twenty-five nations. The
conference concluded its laoOTs the 1St OF No
Tember, having with substantial unanimity agreed
upon the meridian OF Greenwich as the starting
point whence longitude is to be computed through
one hundred and eighty degrees eastward and
westward, and upon the adoption, for ali purposes
for which 1t may be found convenient, OF a uni
versal day which shall begin at midnight on the
initial meridian and whose hours shall be counted
from zero up TO tWenty-Tour.
The formal report OF the transactions of this con-
ference VIII be hereafter transmitted TO the Con-
greSS.
s6sI.S INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
This Government is in frequent receipt OF invita-
tionS from foreign states TO participate In inter-
national exhibitions often OF great interest and i'm
portance. Occupying as We do an advanced posi-
ton in the worlds production, and aiming to secure
profitable share for our industries in the general
competitive markets, IL is matter OF serious con-
Germ that the want OF means for participation in
these exhibitions should often exclude our pro-
ducerS from advantages enjoyed by those OF other
countries. During the past year the attention OF
Congress was drawn to the formal Invitations In
this regard rendered by the Governments OF Eng
land, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria
honorary commissioners. This is, however, a most
unsatisfactory expedlent, for without some provi-
sion 10 meet the necessary working expenses OF
commission It can effect little nothing behalf
OF exhibitors An international inventions eXhibi-
tion is 10 be held in London next May. This Will
cover field OF special Importance, In which our
country holds a foremost rank, but the Executive
is at present poweriess to organize proper repre-
senta1on OF our vast national interests In this d.
rection.
nave in several previous messages referred to
this subject. IL seems TO me that statute, giving
to the Executive general discretionary authority
to accept such invitations, and TO appoint honor
airy commissioners, without salary, and placing at
the disposal OF the Secretary OF State small fund
for defraylng their reasonable expenses, would be
OF great public utility.
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
This Government has received official notice that
the Revised International Regulations for prevent
ing collisions at sea have been adopted by all the
leading maritime powers except the United States
and came into force on the 1St or September last
For the due protection Of our shipping interests
the provisions OF our statutes should at once be
brought into conformity with these Regulations
COPYRIGHT.
The question OF securing 10 authors, composers.
and artists copyright privileges in this country in
return for reciprocal rights abroad is one that may
justly challenge your attention. It is true that
conventions Will be necessary for fully accomplish
ing This result, but until Congress shall by statute
nX the extent 10 which foreign ncderS OF copyright
shall be here privileged, IL has been deemed mad
viSabie to negotiate such conventions. For this
reason the United States were not represented at
the recent conference at Berne.
NEUTRALITY LAWS SHOULD BE AMENDED.
recommend that the scope OF the neutrality
laws OF the United States be SO enlarged as to
cover all patent acts or hostility committed in our
territory and aimed against the peace OF friendly
nation. Existing statutes prohibit the fitting out
or armed expeditions and restrict the shipment OF
explosives, though the enactmentS In the latter
Spect were not framed with regard International
obligations, but simply Tor the protection OF pas
senger travel. All these statutes were intended
TO meet special emergencies that had already 1
arisen Other emergencies have arisen since, and /
modern ingenuity supplies means for the organiza-
fSrr.f a. xrfEl .