River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-04
rOREIGN RELATIONS.
ENTIRELY AyrcARrE

FOREIGN RELATIONS.
ENTIRELY AMIcABLE.
Our relations with all foreign powers con
tinue to be amicable With Belgium a con-
ycntion has been signed whereby the scope
of present treaties has been so enlarged as TO
secure to citizens of either country within
the jurisdiction of the other equal rights and
privileges IN the acquisition and alienation of
property. A trademark treaty has also been
concluded The war between Chilli and Peru
is at an end For the arbitration of the
claims of American citizens who during it's
continuance suffered through the acts of the
CHILEAN authorities, a convention will soon
be negotiated. The state of hostilities be-
tween France and China still continues to be
an embarrassing feature in our Eastern rela-
tions. The Chinese government has promptly
adjusted and paid the claims of American
citizens whose property was destroyed in
the recent riots at Canton. l renew the rec
concentration of my last annual message.
that the Canton indemnity fund be returned
/ to China The true Interpretation of
the recent treaty with that country
permitting the restriction of Chinese
immigration is likely to be again
a subject of your deliberations. 1t may be
seriously questioned whether the statute
passed at the last session does not
violate the treaty rights of GER
tain Chinese, who left this country
with return certificates, valid under the
old law, and now seem to be debarred from
anding from lack of certificates required by
the new. The recent purchases by the
United States of large trading feet here
tofore under the Chinese flag, enhanced our
commercial Importance in the East In view
of the large number of vessels built or pur-
chased by American citizens in other coun-
tries and exclusively employed in legitimate
traffic between foreign ports under the rec
Ognized protection of our flag, it might be
well to provide uniform rate for their reg
istration and Recommendation, Sc that the
bona tide property rights of our citizens
therein shall be duly evidenced and properly
guarded. Pursuant to the advice of the SEN
ate at the last session, l recognized the flag
Of the International Association of
THE CONGO
as that of friendly government avoiding,
in so doing, any prejudgment of the conflict
in territorial claims in that region. Subse-
quently, in execution of the expressed wish
of the congress, appointed commercial
agent for the Congo basin The importance
of the rich prospective trade of the Congo
valley has led to a general conviction that it
should be open to all nations upon equal
terms An international conference for the
consideration of this subject was called by
the emperor of Germany, and is now in SEES
sion at Berlin. Delegates are in attend
ance on behalf OF the United
States OF the results of the con
ference you will be duly advised,
The government of Corea has generally aid
ed the efforts of the United States minister
to secure suitable premises for the United
matte intercourse with Eastern nations de-
mand that the legation premises be owned
by the represented power, I advise that an
appropriation be made for the acquisition of
this property by the government. The
United States already possesses valuable
premises at Tangiers, as a gift from the
sultan of Morocco, and they have
lately received a similar gift from
the Siamese government The govern
ment of Japan stands ready to
present to us extensive grounds at Toxic,
wherein TO erect a suitable building for the
legation court house and Jail, and similar
privileges can probably be secured in China
and Persia The owning of such premises
would not only effect large saving of the
present rentals, but would permit of the due
assertion of the extra territorial rights in
these countries. and would the better serve
to maintain the dignity of the United States.
The failure of congress to make appropria-
ton for our representation at the court of
the khedive has proved a serious embarrass-
ment in our intercourse with Egypt; and in
view of the necessary intimacy of diplo-
matte relationship due to the participation
of this government as one of the treaty
powers IN all matters of administration there
affecting the rights of foreigners, advise
the restoration of the agency and consulate
general at Cairo on its former basis.
/ do not conceive it TO be the wish
OF congress that the United States should
withdraw altogether from the honorable po-
sition they have hitherto held with respect
to the khedive, or that citizens of this re-
public residing or sojournilig in Egypt should
hereafter be without the aid of and protec-
ton of competent representative. With
France the traditional cordial Relationship
continues The Barthodi statue of Liberty
Enlightening the World the generous gift of
the people of France is expected to reach
New York in May next l suggest that con
gressional action be taken in relation TO the
spirit which has prompted this gift, and in
aid of the timely completion of the pedestal
on which it is to be placed Our relations
with Germany, a country which contributes
to ours some OF the best elements of citizen
ship, continue to be cordial The United
States have extradition treaties with several
of the German states, but by reason of the
confederation of these states under the inn
perIal rule, the application of such treaties
is not as uniform and comprehensive as the
interests of the two countries require.
propose, therefore, 20 open negotiations for
convention of extradition, to embrace all
the territory of the empire 1t affords me
pleasure to say that our intercourse with
GREAT BRITAIN
continues to be of most friendly character.
The government of Hawaii has indicated its
willingness to continue for seven years the
provisions of the existing reciprocity treaty.
Such continuance, in view of the relations of
that country to the American system of
states, should. in my Judgment, be favored.
The revolution in Hayti against the estab-
hshed government has terminated While it
was in progress it became necessary to en-
force our neutrality laws by instituting pro-
ceedings against individuals and vessels
charged with their infringement These
revolutions were ia all cases successful.
Much anxiety has lately been displayed by
various European governments, and espt-
clally hy the government of Italy. for tEt
abolition Of our import duties upon works @.
art It is well to consider whether
the narrow discrimination in favor of the
| works of American artists abroad is not
likely to result. as they themselves seem
very generally to believe it may, in the prac-
teal exclusion Of our painters and scuiptoTs
from the rich fields for observation. study
and labor which they have hitherto enjoyed.
There is a prospect that the long pending
revision Of the foreign treaties of Japan may
be concluded at new conference to be held