Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-12-04

This government has more than once been
called upon Of late to take action IN fullillmpnt
of It's International Obligations toward Spain.
An agitation in the island Of Cuba hostile to
the Spanish crown, having been fcrmcntcd by
persons abusing the sacred rights of hospItall-
~ which our territory affords the officers OF
thCgoycrnmcnt have been instructed to use due
vigilance To prevent the infraction of our ncu-
trality laws at Key West and at points near the
Cuban coast. ] am happy TO say that in the
only instance where these precautionary meas
urCs were successfully cudCd the offenders
were found in our territory. and were subse-
qucntly tried and convicted. The growing
need OF close relationship Of intercourse and
traffic between the Spanish Antilles and their
Latrlral market in the United States led to the
adoption in January last of commercial
agreement looking tO that end. This agree
mcnt has since been superseded by n more
carefully framed and comprehensive cOuvcn-
ion, which shall submit to the senate for ap-
prOyal. lthas been the aim OF this negOtia-
ton To open such Il favored reciprocal ex-
change OF production. carried under the flag of
either country, as To make the intercourse be-
tween Cuba and Porto X co and ourselves
scarcely less intimate than the commercial
movement between OLr domestic ports and to
insure a removal of the burdens on shipping In
the Spanish indies, of which in the past our
ship owners and ship masters have so often
had cause to complain.
The negotiations Of this convention have for
n time postponed the prosecution Of certain
claims of our citizens which wcrcNlcClnrCd to
he without the jurisdiction Of the late Spanish
American claim commission and which we
therefore rccOmmitt, Il To diplomatic channels
for adjustment The speedy settlement OF
these claims will now he urged by the govern
mcnt.
The Cncgutia'iOns for treaty Of commercial
reciprocity with the American republic have
been successfully concluded and The result will
shortly bc laid before the senate Certain
questions 'Ctwccu the United States and the
Ottoman Empire still remain unsolvCd; com
plants In behalf of our citizens are not salts
factOrily adjusted The senate has sought to
withhold frIm oar commerce the right Of IA
yOrcd trCalm, mt tp which we are entitled by
existing conventional st'pulatOuS and the re-
vision If the tariff is unaCCUmpli-hed
The final disposition Of pending questions
with Venezuela has not, as yet been reached,
but have good reason TO expect nn early set
tlemcnt which provides the means of rccXamin'
ing the CarncHs awards in conformity with the
| expressed desire Of congress and which will
recognize the Justice of certain claims prefer.
red against Venezuela. The Central and
South American commission appointed by au-
thority of the act Of July 1th lSsi will soon
proceed 10 Mexico II has been furnished
with instructions which will be laid lcfOrc YOU.
they contain statement of the general policy
Of the government for cnlargnG lis CONNER.
Cial intercourse with the American states
The commissioners have been actively prcpar
ing for their responsible task by holding con.
fcrcncCS in the principal cities with merchants
and Others interested IN Central and South
American trade. The internal meridian con
ference lately called in Washington upon tho
invitation OF the government Of the United
States is composed of representatives from
twenty live nations The conference con,
cludcd IL, lihots ON the Isl Of November lav
ing with substantial unal.imty, agreed upon
the Mordilu Of Greenwich as ihc starting
| point whrucr longitude is To b. computed
| through uur hundred and eighty degrees east
ward, and westward. and un the adoption fOl
all purposes Tor which it may he found con
vcnicnt Gf Il universal day which shall begin al
midnight on the initial mcr dian and who,t
| hours shall br counted from 2.ro, NJ TO twenty
four. The formal report Of the transactions
of this conference will be hereafter Transmitted
| to CONGRESS,