Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-10

held at Berlin last winter to discuss
methods whereby the Congo BASIN
might be kept open to the world. Del
egates attended in behalf OF the United
States with the understanding that
their part should be merely delibera-
tive, without imparting to the reEult
anything of character so far as the
United States were concerned. This
reserve was due to indisposition of this
Government to share in any disposal by
an International Congress OF iurisdic-
tion Of question in remote foreign terri
tories. The results Of the conference
were embodied in formula of the nc
ture of an International Convention,
which laid down certain obligations
purporting to be binding on the sig
natories, subject to ratification yithin
one year. Notwithstanding the reserv-
alton under which the delegates Of the
United States attended, their sigma
lures were attached to the general act
In the same manner as those Of the
plenipotentiaries Of other governments,
thus making the United States appear
without reserve or qualification, as
signatures do against international
engagement upon the signers, the con-.
servation Of the territorial integrity OF,
district regions, where we have no
established interests or control This
government does not, however, regard
its reservation Of liberty Of action in the
premises as at all impaired, and hold
ing that an engagement to share in the
obligation Of enforcing neutrality In
the remote valley Of the Congo would
be in alliance, whose responsibilities we
are not In a position to assume, I ab-
stain from asking the sanction of
the Senate to that general aot
The CORES pondence will be laid before
you, and the instructive and interest
ing report Of the agent sent by this
Government to the Congo country and
his recommendation for the establish
ment of commercial agencies on the
African coast, are also submitted for
your consideration. The Commission
appointed by my predecessor last win
ter to visit the Central and South
American countries and report ON the
methods OF enlarging the commercial
relations Of the United States there
with, has submitted reports which Will
be laid before you No opportunity
has been omitted to testify the friend
lness Of this government towards Co
rea, whose entrance into the family
of treaty powers United States
were the first to recognize.
/ regard with favor the application
made by the Oorean government to be
allowed to employ American officers
as military instructors, to which the as
sent Of Congress becomes necessary,
and I am happy to say this request has
the concurrent sanction Of China and
Japan. The arrest and imprisonment
Of Julio r. Santos, citizen Of the
United States, by the authorities of
Ecuador, gave rise to q contention with
that government, in which his right to
be released, or to have a speedy and
impartial trial on announced charges,
and with all guarantees Of de-
tense stipulated by treaty,
was insisted upon by us.
After an elaborate correspondence
and repeated and earnest representa-
tions on our part, Mr.. Santos was, after
an alleged trial and conviction, event
ually included in general decree Of
amnesty and pardoned by the Ecua-
dorian executive and released, leaving
the question Of his American Citizen
ship denied by the Ecuadorian gov
ernment but insisted upon by our
own.
FRENCH CLAIMANTS.
The amount adjudged by the late
French and American Claims Commits
sion to be due from the United States
to French claimants on account Of in
juries suffered by them during the war
Of secession, having been appropriated
BY the last Congress, has been
duly paid the French government.
The act Of February 25th, 1886, pro-
vided for q preliminary search Of the
records Of the French Prize Court for
evidence bearing on the claims Of
American citizens against France for
spoliations committed prior to 1901.
The duty has been performed and the re-
port Of the agent will be laid before you.
THE AMERICAN HOG.
Iregret to say that the restrictions
upon the importation Of our pork into
France, notwithstanding the abundant
evidence Of the absence of the presence
OF sanitary danger in it's use, still re-
mains, but 1 entertain strong hopes
that with better understanding of the
matter this vexatious prohibition