Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08

Senerai act III The same ma 0nef AS tnOSe VI INC
penlpotentiafies of other governments, tnuS
making the United States appear without re-
serve or qualification, signatOries to joint
International engagement imposing on the
signers the conservation of the territorial in
tegrlty OF distant regions where we have no es-
ta6lished interests or control.
Ihls Government does not, however regard
It's reservation of liberty of action in the prem
1ses as at all impaired; and holding that an en-
ing ne neutrality in the remote valley ofthe Congo
would be an alliance whose responsibilities we
are not In position to assume, abstain from
asking the sanction of the Senate to that gene
raj act.
The correspondence will be laid before you,
and the instructive and interesting report of
the agent sent by this Government to the Congo
country, and his recommendations tor the es-
tao!lshment OF commercial agencies On the
African coast are also submitted for your con-
The commission appointed by my predecessor
last winter to visit the Central and South
american countries and report ON the methods
OF enlarging the commercial relations of the
United states Herewith has submitted reports,
which will be laid before you.
No opportunity has been omitted to testify
the friendlinesS of this Government toward
Corea, whose entrance into the family of treaty
powers the United states Were the first to recOg-
nlze regard with favor the application made
by the Corean Government to be allowed TO
employ American officers as military instruct
OrS, to which the assent of Congress becomes
necessary, and l am happy to say this request
mas the concurrent sanction of China and Japan.
The arrest and imprisonment of Julio II. San
t's, citizen of the United States, by the au-
thorities OF Ecuador gave rise to a contention
with that government, in which his right to be
released or to have speedy and impartial trial
on announced charges and with all guarantees
or defense stipulated by treaty was insisted
upon by US. After an elaborate correspondence
ana repeated and earnest representations
our part Mr. Santos was after an alleged trial
ana conviction, eventually included in gen.
eral decree of amnesty and pardoned by the
Ecuadorian Executive and released, leaving the
question of his American citizenship denied
by the Ecuadorian Government but insisted
upon by our own.
The amount adiudged by the late French and
American Claims Commission to be due from
the United States to French claimants on &C
count 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.
The act of FEBRUARY 25, 1885, provided for
preliminary search OF the records of French
prize courts for evidence bearing on the claims
tions committed prior TO 1901. The duty has
been performed, and the report OF the agent
will be laid before you.
regret to say that the restrictions upOn the
importation OF our pork into Francs continue,
Notwithstanding the abundant demonstration
of the absence of sanitary danger in its use: but
! entertain strong hopes that. with a better ur-
derstanding of the matter, this veXatiouS pro-
h1bitiOn will be removed. 1t would be pie Y,sing
many, Austria, and other countries where such
food-products are absolutely excluded. without
present prospect of reasonable change.
The Interpretation of our existing treaties of
naturalization by Germany during the past
year has attracted atte.tiOn by reason of an
apparent tendency on the part OF the Imperial
government to extend the scope of the resideu-
tlal restrictions to which returning naturaliZed
citizens OF Germankorigin are asserted to be
liable under the laws OF the empire. The tenn
perate and just attitude taken by this Govern
ment with regard TO this class OF questions will
doubtless lead to a satisfactory understanding.
The dispute OF Germany and Spain relative
to the domination OF the Caroline Islands has
attracted the attention of this Government by
reason OF extensive interests of Americ. nj
having nc If.ri = mo
past thirty 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
aioOf from the proprietary issues raised between
powers to both of which the United States are
friendly, this Government expects that nOthin3
in the present contention shall unfavorably
AFFECT our citizens carrying on q peaceful com
merce or there domciled, and has so informed
the Governments OF Spain ana Germany.
GREAT BRITAIN AND THE US
The marked good will between the United
States and Great Britain has been maintained
during the past year.
The termination of the fishing clauses of the
treaty OF Washington in pursuance of the Joint
resolution OF March ), 1888, must have resulted
in the abrupt cessation on the ST of July of this
year, in the midst of their ventures, of the ope-
rations of citizens of the United States engaged
in fishing in British-American waters, but for a
diplomatic understanding reached with Her
Majesty's Government in June last, whereby
assurance was obtained that no interrup.ion OF
those operations should take place during the
current fishing season.
In the interest OF good neighborhOOd- and of
the commercial intercourse of adjacent com
munities, the question of the North American
fisheries is one OF much importance Following
out the intimatiOn given by me when the ex-
tensory arrangement above described was nego-
tiated, recommend that the Congress provide
for the appointment of a commission i'm which
the Governments 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 Governments ard their respective citizens
on the coasts OF the United States and British
North America. The fishing interests being
Intimately related TO other general questions
dependent upon contiguty and intercourse
might also properly come within THO ri,rview
OF such coi1iIn,.ioa- ana ne ntlicst altitude
OF expression on both sides should he permitted
The correspondence in relation to the fishing
rights will be submitted.
The Arctic exploring steamer Alert, which
was generously u, gwen by Her Majesty,s Govern
ton, was, after the successful attainment of
that humane purpose. returned to Great Britain,
III pursuance of the authority conferred by the
act of March 3, 1885.
The inadequacy ofthe existing engagements
for eytradition between the United States and
Great Britain has been long apparent. The
tenth article Of the Treaty of 1S42, one of the
earliest colnpacts in this regard entered into
by u, stipulated tor surrender in respect OF
limited number Of OfienseS. Other crimes no
less inimical to the social welfare, should be
embraced, and the procedure of eXtradition
brought IN harmony with present international
practice. Negotiations WITH Her Majesty's Gov
eminent for enlarged treaty of eXtradition
have been pending siuce 1870, and entertain
strong hopes that satisfactory result may be
soon attained.
The frontier line between Alaska and British
Columbia, defined by the treaty OF cession
with Russia, follows the demarkation assigned
In prior treaty between Great Britain aud
Russia Modern exploration discoses that this
ancient boundary is impracticable as /. geo.
graphical tact. In the unsettled condition OF
that region the question has lacked import
the territory the line is supposed to traverse
admOnishes that the time has come when an
accurate knowledge OF the boundary Is neediui
to avert junsdictionai complications. recon-
mend, therefore, that provision be made for
preliminary reconnaissance by officers OF the
United states, to the end Of acquiring more pre-
else information on the subject. / have invited
Her MAjesty's Government to consider with us
Inc adoption OF a more convenient line, to be
established by meridian observations or by
known geOgral heal features without the ne
CESS Z OF an expensive survey OF the whole.
lhe iate 1nsurrectionary movements in Hayti
having been quelled, the government of that
republic has made prompt provision for adjndt-
eating the losses suffered by foreigners bec;u use
OF hostiilties there, and the claims Of certain
cttiZens OF the United States will be In this
manner determined
The long pending claims Of two citizens OF the
oniteo States, Pelietier and Lazare, have been
dlspt-'ea OF by arbitration, aud an award, in
favor OF each claimant has been made, which,
Dy the terms of the eDgac omeUt. Is final. II