The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09

Limitation of Chinese emigration Joined
to protection of those Chinese snbiects
who remain in this country, may be Sc.
cured.
Legislation is needed to executa the
provisions of our Chinese convention of
1880, to check the opium traffic. While the
good will of the Columbia government
toward our country is manifest.
the situation of American interests
ON the lsthmus of Panama has
at times excited concern and invited
teiendly action looking to the perform.
ance ot the engagements of the two ma
tlons concerning the territory embraced
IN the lnter-oceanic transit. With the
substance of the Isthmian disturbance
and erection of the state of Panama into
Federal district, under the direct govern
ment of the constitutional administration
or Bogota, new order OF things has been
lnaugurated which, although as yet some
what experimental and afford.
Ing scope for the arbitrary exer-
else of power by the delegates
OF the national authority promises much
improvement.
The sympathy between the people of
the United States and France, born dur.
ing our colonial struggle for inde-
pendence, and continuing to-day, has re-
ceived fresh impulse in the successful
completion and dedication of the
colossal statue of Liberty Enlightening
the World, in New York harbor-the gift
of Frenchmen to Americans.
A convention between the United
States and certain other powers for the
protection of submarine cables was
signed at Paris on March IA, 1884, and
has been duly ratified and proclaimed by
this government by agreement between
the high contracting parties. This
convention is to go into effect
the 1st of January next, but the legisla.
tion required for its execution in the
United States has not yet been adopted
earnestly recommend its enactment
Cases have continued to occur in Ger.
many giving rise to much correspondence
in relation to the privilege of sojourn of
our naturalized citizens of German ori-
gin visiting the land of their birth. Yet
| am happy to say our relations with that
country have lost none of their accus-
toned cerdiality. The claims for the
amount of tonnage dues illegally exacted
from certain German steamship lines
we're favorably reported in both houses of
congress at the last session, and / trust
will receive final and favorable action at
an early day.
GREAT BRITAIN.
The recommendation contained in my
last annual message in relation to a mode
of settlement of the fishery right in the
waters of British North America, so long
subject of anxious difference between
the United States and Great Britain, was
met by an adverse vote of the senate on
April 13 last, and thereupOn negotiations
were instituted to obtain an agreement
with her Brittanic majesty's government
for the PRONUNCIATION of such joint inter-
probation and definition of the
article of the joint convention of 1918,
relating to the territorial waters and
in shore fisheres of the British provinces
as should secure the Canadian rights from
encroachment by United States fisher
mon, and at the same time ensure the en-
joyment by the latter of the privileges
guaranteed to them by such convention
The questions involved are of long stand
ing, of grave consequence, and from time
to time for nearly three quarters of a
century have given rise to earnest inter-
national discussion, not unaccompanied
by irritation. Temporary arrangements
by treaties have served to allay friction
which, however, has revived as
each treaty was terminated. The
last arrangement under the treaty
of 1871 was abrogated after due netice
by the United States on June 30, 1885, but
was enabled to obtain for our fishermen
for the remainder of that season the en-
ioyment of the full privileges accorded
by the terminated treaty. The joint high
commission by whom the treaty had been
negotiated, although invested with plenary
power to make a permanent settlement,
were content with temporary arrange
ment, after the termination of which the
question was re-legated to the stlpula'
tions of the treaty of 1913
as to the first article of which
no construction satisfactory to both
counties has ever been agreed upon. The
progress of civilization and the growth
of population in the British provinces tC
which the fisheries in question are contlg-
uous, aud the expansion of commercial
intercourse between them and the United
States present to-day condition of af-
fairs scarcely realizable at the date of The
NEGOTIATIONS of 1878. New and vast in
terests have been brought into existence
Modes of interco .rse between the respec
tive countries have been invented ano
multiplied. The modes of conducting the
fisheries have been wholly changed and
all this is necessarily entitled to candidand
careful consideration in the adjustment
The fishery question negotiations are
still pending with possible hope that
before the close of the present session OF
CONGRESS the announcement may be made
that an acceptable conclusion has been
reached, and at early day there may oe
laid before congress the correspondence
of the department of state, in relation TO
the important subject, so that the history
of the past fishing season may De run!
disclosed, and the action and the attituue
of the administration clearly comp-e-
hended. A more extended reference Is
not deemed necessary in this communl,
cation. The recommendation submitted
last year that provision be made toi
a preliminary reconnaissance of the con-
ventional boundary between Alaska and