The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-27
FOREIGN RELATIONS.

'NA
It Is gratifying to announce that the relations
IF the United States with all foreign powers con-
.inue TO be friendly. Our position, after nearly
1 century Of successful constitutional govern
nent, the maintenance OF good faith in all our en-
sagemcnts the avoidance OF complications with
other nations and consistent and amicable atti-
.ude toward the strong and weak alike, furnish
proof of n political disposition which renders
profession Of good will unnecessary.
There are no questions OF difficulty
pending with any foreign government.
The Argentine government has revived the long
dormant question Of the Falkland islands by
claiming from the United States indemnity for
their loss, attributed To the action Of the COM
mander of the sloop-of-war Lexington in break
ing up a practical colony of those islands in
1881, and their subsequent occupation by Great
Britain. In view of the ample justification for
The act of the Lexington and the direlect condi-
lion of the islands before and after their alleged
occupation by Argentine colonists, this govern
ment considers the claim as wholly groundless.
THE TILT WITH AUSTRIA.
A question has arisen with the government OF
Austrio- Hungary, touching the representation Of
The United States at Vienna. Having, under
my constitutional prcrogativc, appointed our
sstimable citizen of unimpeached probity. and
competence as minister at that court, the gov
eminent of Austrlo:Hungary invited this gov
eminent to take cogniZ ance of certain exceptions,
based upon allegations against the per-
sonal acceptabiIity OF MIR. Kelley. the APP
pointed envoy, asking that, in view there
Of, the appointment should be withdrawn.
The reasons advanced were such as could not be
acquiesced in without violation OF the oath Of
office and the precepts of the constitution, since
they necessarily involved a limitation in favor of
4 foreign government upon the right Of selection
by the executive, and required such IN applica-
ton of a religious test rs a qualification for office
under the United States "a would have resulted
in the practical disfranchisement of a large class
Of our citizens and the abandonment Of a vital
principle OF our government. The Austro-llun-
yarian government ii nally decided not TO receive
MIR. Kelley as the envoy Of tho United
States, and that gentleman has since re-
signed his commission, leaving the post vacant.
I have made no new nomination. and the inter-
ests of this government at Vienna are now in
the care of the secretary of legation, acting as
charge ddfdirPs al interim. Early in March
last war broke out in Central America, caused
by the attempt of Guatemala to consolidate the
several states into n single government. In this
contest between our ncighboring states the
United States fOrbOre to interfere actively, but
sent the aid of their friendly offices in deprc-
eating of war and to promote peace and concord
among the belliCcrents, and by such counsel
contributed impartially to the restoration OF
tranquility in that locality.
THE PANAMA EPISODE.
Emergencies growing out OF civil war In the
United States OF Columbia demanded of the gov
eminent at the beginning of this administratio
the employment of an armed force to fulfill its
guarantees under the thirty-fifIh article of the
treaty of 1916. in order to keep the transit open
across the Isthmus of Panama. DESTROYS of eX-
ercising only the powers expressly reserved to
no nv ,ha traptv anI mindful nf tho riphts az
Columbia, the forces sent to the 18th
mus were instructed to confiue thcil
action to positively and eficaciOusly'
preventing the transit and its accessories
from being interrupted or embarrassed.
The execution OF this delicate and responsible
task necessarily involved police control where
the local authority was temporarily pow rlcss,
but always in aid of the sovereignty Of Colon
bia. The prompt and successful fulfllment OF
its duty by this government was highly apple
ciated by the government of Colombia. and has
been followed by an expression of its s~at.sfac.
ton. High praise is due to the officers and mer
engaged in this service, the restoration of tn,
peace on ths isthmus by the re-establishmen
of the constituted government. These be-
ing thus accomplished, the forces
Of the United States were withdrawn
Pending these occurrences, n question OF mucl
Importance was presented by DEGREES of til,
SOlOmIldu HONtInHHtuI pioSidihiiuS III Ciooui'
OF certain ports, then in the hands OF insurgents
and in declaring vessels held by the revolution
Is TO be p~iratical and liable to capture by an!
ycr. To neither Of these propositions coul,
n United States assent. An ~cflcctiv
&c . %: ports, not In the possession of tn,
osur rent, but held by hostile parti
,yernL Id not be recognized; neither coult
ms, cot OF insurgents against the legiti
10 vessel. ignty be deemed hOStpS human
ate severe lthe prccepts of International law
eueris With. t d. the definition and pcnalt!
,hateycr nigh err the municipal law Of tn
Z their acts uuo ,authority they were in re
ate against WHO'S this government OF the Co
olt. The denial by did not. however. impl!
,mbian propositions 'gcrent status on the par
no admission Of a bell, Colombian government
& the insurgents. The ,ss to negotiate con
,.s exuressed its williusn, mt by arbitration
,cntions for the adjustn. arisin ny ont OF TIL
4 claims by foreign citizens spinwall by tn
destruction OF the CITY
Insurrectionary forces. Al.
THE NICARAGUAN CAN i'm n practi
r,o interest of the United States " land sep
49,, .ransi. for ships across the strip' has beer
,r,tiny the Atlantic from the racine aif-ccn
manifested during the last l. to b
A. Immediate predecessor caused con
With Nicaragua a treaty Tor the '.et
=, rrcoop by and at the sole cost Oh IN; om v
u,o,es Of n canal through Nicaraeuah .cri''m
81 laid before the senate, pending the aoUoL
OF that body thereon. Withdrew u 80 q,
e-examination. Attentive n.,th,o,d
provisions leads me 10 Snnato
-r,m r~e-submission 10 the seha'o.
aiming. az / do, the position OF a line Oh
= ,ts from Washington's day winch pro,
iins ,tangling alliances with foreign states
es'de' vor a policy Of acquisition OF new AM
RIDES c. ',ory or the incorporation OF rehho''
10 not ia. o., Laws of progress ar
slant tern .na ,uo r,us. he conscious o
tereSts with tide OF commercial expansio'
tai and or.anl ,nita,t ot our active civiliza
at Irresistible ia being urged onwar
hich. as the conc. facilities sf production
oil, day by day