New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-12-12
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
A Year of Tranquility With'All Ma
tions-The Fisheries Question and

t1OnS-Ihe Fisheries Question and
Coast Boundary.
In pursuance of a constitutional provision re-
curing the president from time to time to give
to the congress information of the state of the
Union, have the satisfaction to announce that
the close of the year finds the United States in
the enjoyment of domestic tranquility and at
peace with all the nations. Since my last an
nual message our foreign relations have been
strengthened and improved by performance of
international good offices and by new and re-
newed treaties OF amity, commerce and recipro-
cal extradltion Of criminals Those international
questions which still await settlement are all
reasonably susceptible of amicable settlement
and there is no existing subject of dispute
between the United States and any foreign
power that is not suspectible of satisfactory adj
justment by frank dip omat1c treatment The
questions between the United States and Great
Britain relating TO the rights of American fish
ermen under treaty and international comfy in
Land, regret to say, are not satisfactorily adj
1usted. These matters were fully treated in nv
message to the senate of Feb. 20, 1883, together
with convention called under my au-
thority with her majes6y's government on the
18th OF February last for the removal of all
causes of misunderstanding. and were submit
| ted by me for the approval of the
by the senate, transmitted message
to the CONGRESS on the Odd Of August last, re-
viewing the transactions and submitting for
islation concerning the important questions in
volved. AfJerward on the 18th of September in
response to resolution OF the senate, I again
| communicated fully all the information in nv
possession as to the action of the government
of Canada affecting the commercial relation be-
tween the dominion and the United States, in
Guiding the treatment of American fishing yes
sells in the ports and waters of British North
America. The communications have all been
published, and therefore opened to the knowl-
edge OF both houses of congress. although two
Nul10 or cn1 tNr 1,oc 49,
upon. or repetition of their contents would be
superf1uous. and am not aware that anything
has since occurred which should be added to the
facts therein stated. Therefore, merely repeat
as applicable to the present time. the statement
which will be found in my message to the senate
OF Sept. ~, last, that since March 8, 1887, no
case has been reported to the department Of
state wherein complaint has been made Of I'M
friendly or unlawful treatment of American
fishing vessels on the part of the Canadian au-
thor1t1es, in which reparation was not promptly
and satisfactorily obtained by the United States
consul general at El'ifax. Having essayed the
discharge OF my duty to procure by negot1a ion
the settlement Of long standing cause of dis
pute, and to
REMOVE A CONSTANT MENACE
to the good relations of the two countries and
continuing to the opinion that the treaty of
February last wnich failed to receive the ap-
proval of the ate. did supply a satisfactory,
practical and final adjustment upon a basis hon
CRADLE and just to both parties of the difficulty
and vexed question to which it related; and
mended other legislation to congress, which [
hoped would suffice to meet the exigency created
by the rejection of the treaty, now again in
woke the earnest and immediate attention of the
congress to the condition of this important
question as it now stands before them and the
country. and for the settlement OF which am
deeply solicitous. Near the close of the month
OF OCTOBER last occurrences OF deeply regret
table nature were brought to my knowledge
which made it my painful but imperative duty
to obtain with as little delay as possible a new
nor Snno1 0,o Nf i'll ;,%an
his country with the government of Great Brit
ain. The correspondence in relation to this
incident will in due course OF time be laid be-
fore you, and will disclose the objectionable
conduct of the official referred to in his inter-
ference by advice and counsel with the suf-
frages of American citizens in the very crisis of
the presidential election then near at
hand: and also in his subsequent public
declarations to Justify his action superadding
1mpugnment OF the executive and senate of the
United States in connection with Important
questions now pending in controversy between
the two governments. The offense thus COM
mltted was most grave. involving disastrous
possibilities to the good relations Of The United
States and Great Britain constituting a great
breach of diplomatic privilege and an invasion
of the purely domestic affairs aud essential
sovereignty of the government to which the en-
yoy was accredited. Having first fulfilled the
just demands of international comfy by afford
ing full opportunity for her majesty's gftvern-
ment to act in relief of the situation, considered
prolOngatlOn of discussion to be unwarranted
and thereupOn declined to further recognize the
diplomatic character of the person whose con-
tinuance in such function would destroy the
mutual confidence which is essential to the
good understanding OF the two governments
and was inconsistent with the welfare and self
respect of the government of the United States
| The usual interchange OF communication has
since continued through her majesty's legation
in this city. My endeayors to establish by in
ternational evaporation measures for the pre-
vention of the determination Of fur seals in
Behring sea have not been relaxed, aud have
hopes of being enabled shortly to submit an eff
fecsive and satisfactory conventional project
with the maritime powers for the approval of
the senate.
THE COAST BOUNDARY
between our Alaskan possessions and British
Columbia, regret to say, has not received the
attention demanded by its Importance. and
had the honor to recommend to the congress.
The admitted impractlcahility, if not impossi-
hillty, of making an accurate and precise survey
and demarkation of the boundary line as it is
recited in the treaty with Russia under which
Alaska was ceded to the United States renders
it absolutely requisite for the prevention of ma
tional jurisdictional combinations that ade-
quate appropriation for a reconnoissa, ce and
survey To oh ain proper knowledge Of the local
lily and he geographical I features of the bound
ary should be authorized by congress with as
little delay as possible IA wledge to be TINS
obtained is essential prerequisite for negotia-
ton for entertaining common boundary or as
preliminary to anv other mode of settlement
II is much to be desired that some agreement
should be reached with her majesty's govern
on the great lakes nay be alleyiaIed by remov-