The Portland daily press., 1884-12-02
attest its appreciation of this gener-


called upon of late TO take action in the fulfill
| ment of its International obligation toward
! Spain, the agitstton in the Island Of Cuhs
! hostile to the Spanish crown, having been TO
mented by persons abusing sac ed rights o
hospitality which our territory affords. The
officers of the government have been instructed
TO exercise vigilance to prevent infractioDs o
our neutrality laws at Key West, and at othel
| points near the Cuban coast. l am
happy to cay that IN the only instance
! where these precautionary measures
were successfully eluded the offenders when
found 10 our territory were subsequently tried
| aud convicted. The growing need of close re-
| iatoush1p OF intercourse and traffic between
the Spanish Autilers and their natural markell
| III the United States led to the adoYton in
January last OF commercial agreement look
| ing TO that end. This agreement has since
! been supers eded By mora carefully framed
| and comprehensive convention, which shall
submit 10 the Senate for approval. Ii has been
the aim OF the negotiation 10 open such favor
able reciprocal exchange OF productions carried
under the flag OF either coantry az TO make the
latercouree between Cuba and Porto Rico and
ourselves scarcely less intimate than CONNER
cial movement between our domestic ports
and TO insure removal of tho burdens oo
shipping IN the Spanish Indies, OF which IN
The past cur ShIp owners and Shipmasters have
50 often had cause TO complain. The negotia-
tion of this convention he's for "a time pcst.
poned the prosecH tion of certain claims of our
citizens which were declared to be without the
jurisdiction of the late Spanish A merican
claims commission, and which are therefore re-
mitted TO diplomatic ehaunes for adjustment.
Tha spesdy settlement OF these claims will no "
be urged BY this government.
Negotiations for treaty of commercial reci-
procity WITH the Doninio4n ReDublic have
been successfully concluded, and the result
VIII shortly be laid before the Senate.
certain questions between ths United States
ana the ottoman EmDlre still remain nnsolv-
Cd. complaints on behalf of our citizans are
net sttlstsarorily adiasssd. This Porte has
sought TO withhold from our commeYce the
right OF favored treatment, TO which We are
entitled By existing conventional stipulation,
and the revision of the tariffs is unaccom-
plished.
The final disposition of pending questions
with Venezuela has hot yet bean reached buk
have good reason to expect an early settle
ment, which will provide the means OF re-ex-
amin1ug Caracas award in conformity ith the
expressed desire of Congress- and which viii
recognize the justice OF certain aims pre-
terred against Venezuela. The Central and
South American commission appointed BY
ausnorlty OF the act of July 7th,
1854, will soon proceed to Mexico.
1t has been furnished vita instruc-
tions which will be laid before you. Thsy
contain a statement os the general nolicv az
the government for enlargiug its commercial
intsreourse with American States. The COM
missloners have been actively prep ring for
their responsible task by holding conferences
IN the principal cities with merchants and
others Interested 10 tho Central and South
American trade.
THE MERIDIAN CONFERENCE.
The international conference lately convened
IN Washington upon invitation of the govern
ment of tina United States was composed OF
representatives from twenty-five nations The
conference concluded its labors on the first
OF November, having With substantial uDan--
unity agreed upon the meridian of Greenwich
as tne starting point wheDca the loDgitn.ie il
TO be computed through 1S0 degrees Eastwar
aad Westwatd; and upon adoption, for all
purposes fer which it nay be fodnd convenient.
OF universal da7 which shall begin at mid
night on tae initial meridian, aud whose hours
snail be counted from zero uO to twenty-fpur
A formal report of the transactions of this
conference viii be hereafter transmitted to
Congress.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
This governmenti is in frequent receipt of in.
vitatinns from foreign states to participate in
International exhibitions, often of great inter
est ana Importance. Occupying, as we do, an
advanced position in the worlds production
and aiming to secaFe a profitable SHARE for our
industries IN the general competitive markets
IL IS q matter of serious concern that the
want of means for partici patton ia these exhi-
bitions should go often exclude our producers
from the advantages enioyed by those Of otbsr
OF Congress was drawn to the formal invita-
tIons Ia this regard rendered by the goyerf,-
ments OF England, Holland, Germany and
Austria. The Executive has in some instances
appointed commissioners. This is most an-
satisfactory expsdient, for without some pro-
vision to meet the necessary working expenses
OF Commission it can effect littlo in behslt
OF exhlvltors. An international Inventions sx-
hibttian is to be beld iu London next Nav.
Ihis will cover field Of special Importance in
* ~ 7k-..lf
tbs Executive is at present powerless to orgsn-
lzs proper representation OF our vast national
interests in this direction. have 10 several
previous messages referrod to this saSiset, Il
seems to me that statute giving to the ttxecu-
tive general discretionary suthority TO accept
such invitations aud to appoint honorary COM
DIssioners without salary, aud placing at the
disposal Of the Secretary Of State small fund
for defraying their reasonable expenses would
De OF great public utility.
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
This government has rsceived official notice
thar the revised International regulations for
preventing collisions at sea had been adopted
hy all the leading maritime powers except the
United States and came into force on the first
Of September last. For the due protection of
our shipping interests the provisions of our
statutes should at oncs be brought into con-
formity with these regulations.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHTS.
The question OF securing to authois, COM
posers and artists copyright privileges in this
country IN return for reciprocal rights
abroad is one that may Justly challenge your
attention. 1t is true that a convention wi Ii be
necessary for fully accomplishing this result
but until Congress shall by statute fix the ex-
tent to which foreign holders of copyright
shall be here privileged it has been deemed un-
advisable to negotiate such convention. For
this reason the Uaited States were not reprs-
sented at the recent conference at Berne.
NEUTRALITY LAWS
recommend that the scope of the neutrality
laws OF the United States be- SO enlarged as to
cover all patent ects of hostility committed ia
our territory and aimed against the peace OF
friendly nation. Existing statutes prohibit
tae nstiug out OF armed expeditions aid re-
strict Gns shipment OF explosives, though tha
ensetaiehtS in. tue latter respect were not
framed With regard to international obliea-
tlons bat simply for the protection of passenger
travel. All these statutes were to meet special
emergencies that had arisen. Other energen-
cies have arisen since and modern ingenuity
supplies means for the orgauiz atien Of hos.
tllltles without open resort TO armed vessels or
to fiHbusteling parties. SEQ no reason why
overt preparations in this country for the COM
mission OF criminal acts, such ss ara here un-
der consideration should not be alike punish
abie, whether sach acis are intended 10 be-
committed Ia cur own country or in foreign
country with which va are at peace Promnt
aud thorough treatment Of this question is one
which intimAselg concerns the nstioaal honor
NATURALIZATION LAWS.
Oar existing naturalization laws also need
revision. Those sections relating to persons
residing within tho limits of the Unitsd States
IN 1775 and 1898 have low oDly historical iu-
tersst.. Secton 2l72 recognizing the citzan-
snip OF tbe chilaren OF paturalizsd parents is
amoiguoas IN its terms aud partly obsolete
There are sp cial provisions of law fayoriug
the naturalization OF those who serve in the
army or IL merchant vessels while no similar
privileges are granted tno9e who serve in the
navy or the marine corps A uniform rule 0!
naturalization such as the constitution con-
templates, should among other things clearly
detile he status of persons born within the
United States subject to foreign power (Sec-
tion 1922 and of minor children OF fathers who
have declared their intention of becoming eiti-
Zens, but have failed to perfect their natural-
Zatoa. 1t might be wise to provide for ecu
trai bureau of registry wherain should bs flied
authentic transcripts Of every record OF natu-
raiiz ton in the several federal courts, and to
make provision also for tho vacation or cancel
lation Of SUCH record in cases where fraud had
been praeticed by the applicant himself, or
where he had renounosd his acquired citizen.
ship. A just and uniform law in this respect
would strengthen the hands of the govern
ment III protecting It's citizsps abroad, and
| would pave the gay for the conclusion of trea-
| ties OF naturalization.
THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.
| Legislation of the last session effected in the
1 Il