The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-17

thus making tho United States appear without
reserve or qIallication as slgnatories 70 Joint
the conservation of tho territorial integrity of
distant 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 Mt all impaired, and
holding that an engagement TO those in the obi
cation of enforcing neutrality in the remote val
Icy of the Congo would be an alliance whose
responsibilities we are not in n position TO
assume, i abstain from asking tho sane
ton OF the Senate 20 that general act.
The correspondence will be laid before YOU and
the instructive and interesting report of the
agent sent by this government 20 the Congo
country, and his recommendations for the estab-
lishment of commercial agencies on the African
coast, are also submitted for your consideration.
THE COMMERCIAL COMMISSION.
The commission appointed by my predecessor
last winter 10 visit the Central and South Amer
lean countries and report on the methods of en-
larging the commercial relations of the United
States herewith has submitted reports which
CoREA.
No opportunity has been omitted 10 testify the
friondliness Of this government toward Corea,
whose entrance into the family of treaty pow
ers the United States were the fnst TO recognize.
AMERICAN OFFICERS IN coREA.
regard with favor the application made by
the Corean Government to be allowed TO employ
American officers as military instructors, to
which the assent OF Congress becomes necessa-
ry and am happy to say this request has the
concurrent sanction Of China and japan.
THE SANTOS CASE.
The arrest and imprisonment Of Julio r. San
tos, citizen OF the United States, by the author
titles of Ecuador, gave rise TO n contention with
that Government, in which his right TO be re-
leased or TO have speedy and impartial trial
OF defense stipulated by treaty, was
insisted upon by United States
After an elaborate correspondence and repeated
| and earnest representations on our part Mr.
Santos was, after alleged trial and convic-
ton, eventually included in n general decree of
amnesty and pardon by the Ecuadorian execu-
tive and released, declaring the question of his
American citizenship denied by the Ecuadorian
Government, but insisted upon by our own.
FRENCH CLAIMS PAID.
The amount adjudged by the late French and
American Claims Commission TO be due from
the United States 20 the French claimants on
| account of injuries suffered by them during the
war Of secession having been appropriated by
the last Congress, has been duly paid to the
French Government.
AMERICAN CLAIMS AGAINST THE FRENCH.
The act of Feb. IS, 1885, provided for a pre-
| liminary search Of the records of the French
Prize Court for the evidence bearing on the
claims OF American citizens against France for
spoliations committed prior 70 1901 The duty
has been performed, and the report of the agent
| will be laid before you.
AMERICAN PORK ABROAD.
regret to say that the restrictions upon the
importation of our pork into France continue not
withstanding the abundant demonstrations of
safety from danger in its use but L entertain
strong hopes that with n better understanding of
the matter, this yeXatious prohibition will be
moved. 10 would be pleasing To be able 20 say
rs much with regard 10 Germany, Austria and
other countries where such food products are alb
solutely excluded without present prospect of
reasonable change.
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND NATUALIzED
AsfERICANs.
The Interpretation of our existing treaties of
naturalization by Germany during the past year
has attracted attention by reason of an apparent
tendency on the part OF the Imperial Govern
ment to extend the scope Of the residential re-
strictions to which returning natralized citizens
Of German origin are asserted to be liable under
the laws of the empire. The temperate and
just attitude taken by this Government with re-
gard To these questions, will doubtless lead to a
satisfactory understanding.
THE CAROLINE ISLANDS DISPUTE.
The dispute Of Germany and Spain relative TO
the domination of the Caroline Islands has Mt
tracted the attention of this Government, by
reason of extensive interests of American citi-
zens having grown up in those parts during the
last thirty nine years, and because the question
of ownership involves jurisdiction of matters
affecting the status of our citizens under civil
and criminal law. Whilst standing wholly eloof
from the proprietary issues raised between
powers To both of which the United States
friendly this Government expects that nothing
in the present contention shall unfavorably af
feet our citizens carrying a. peaceful com
merce on their domicile, and has informed
the Governments of Spain and Germany.
GREAT BRITAIN.
The marked good will between the United
States and Great Britain has been maintained
during the past year.
THE BRITISH AMERICAN FIsHEREs
The termination of the fishing clauses of the
Treaty of Washington, in pursuance OF the joint
resolution Of March B. 1888, must have resulted
in the abrupt cessation on the lst of July of this
year, in the midst of their ventures. of the Oper-
ations Of citizens of the United States engaged
in fishing in British-American waters, but for IA
diplomatic understanding reached with her
Maiostys Government in June last, whereby
assurance was obtained that no interruption OF
those operations should take place during the
current fishing season.
in the interest of good neighborhood aud the
commercial intercourse of adjacent communi-
ties.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDED
The question of the North American fisheries
is one OF much Importance. Following out the
intimation given by metwhen the extensive ar
rangenents above described were negotiated,
recommend that Congress provide for the APP
pointment Of Il commission, in which the Gov
ernments of the United States and Great Britain
shall be respectively represented charged with
the consideration and settlement upon just,
equitable, and honorable basis Of the entire
question of the fishing rights of the two Gov
coast of the United Stntos and British North
America.
Tho fishing interests being intimately related
TO other general questions dependent upon con-
tiguity and intercourse, consideration thereof in
all their equities might also properly come
within the purview of such commission, and the
fullest latitude of expression on both sides
should be permitted The corresp ndence in
relation to the fishing rights will BIO submitted.
THE ALERT.
The Arctic exploring steamer Alert, which
was generously given by Her Afajesty's Govorn-
ment TO aid in the relief of the Greedy expedi-
ton, was, after the successful attainment of
that humane purpose, returned to Great Britain
in pursuance of the authority conferred by the
act of March 3, 1885.
EXTRADIIION WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
The inadequacy Of the existing engagements
| for extradition between the United States and
Great Britain has been long apparent. The
fourth article of the treaty of 1912, one of the
| earliest compaots in this regard entered into by
US, stipulated for surrender in respect OF n
| limited number OF offenses Other crimes no
| less inimical to the social welfare, should be
embraced, and the procedure of extradition
| brought in harmony with present international
| practices.
Negotiations with Her Majesty's Government
| for enlarged treaty of eXtradition have been
! pending since 1870 and entertain strong hopes
that satisfactory result may be soon attained
THE BOUNDARIES OF ALASKA.
The frontier line between Alaska and British
/ Columbia, which was defined by the treaty Of
| cessation with Russia, follows the demarkation
| assigned in prior treaty between Great Britain
and Russia. Modern exploration discloses that
this ancient boundary is mprncticable as geo
| graphical fact. In the unsettled condition OF
| that region the question has lacked importance,
but the discovery Of mineral wealth in the
| territory the line is supposed 10 traverse adj
4 monishes that the time has come when an accu-
! rate knowledge Of the boundary is needed to
| avoid iurisdictional complications.
| 1 recommend, therefore, that provision be
| mede for preliminary reconnaissance by officers
| of the United States 10 the end of acquiring
| more precise information on the subject
| have invited the Russian Government TO con-
| slider with us the adoption OF more convenient
| line to be established by meridian observations
| or by known geographical features without the
| necessity of an expensive survey OF the whole.