Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Relations of the United States Witt
the Various Foreign Countries.

our relations and correspondence with other
governments, and the year just closed leaves
few international questions of Importance re-
naming unadjusted. Nc obstacle is believed
to exist that can long postpone the consid-
Grafton and adjustment of the still pending
questions upon satisfactory and honorable terms
The dealings of this government with other
states have been and should always be marked
by frankness and sincerity; our purposes
ayowed, and our methods free from intrigue
This course has borne rich fruit in the past and it
is our duty as nation to preserve the heritage OF
good repute which a century of right dealing
with foreign governments has secured to US.
The Pan-American Congress.
1t is a matter of high significance and no less of
congratulations, that the first year OF the second
century of our constitutional existence finds, as
honored guests within own borders, the rep
YesentatiVes of all the independent states Of
North and South America, met together in earn
est conference touching the best methods of per
petuating and expanding the relations of mutual
interest and friendliness existing among them.
That the opportunity thus afforded for promot-
ing closer international relations and the in
creased prosperity of the states represented VIII
be used for the mutual good of all cannot per
init myself to doubt Our people will await with
interest and confidence the results to flow from
so suspicious meeting of allied and In a large
part Identical interests.
The recommendations of this international con-
ference of enlightened statesmen will have the
attention of congress and its cooperation in the
removal of unnecessary barriers to beneficial in
tercourse between the nations of America, but
while the commercial results, which it Is hoped
will follow this conference, are worthy of pursuit
and of the great interest they have excited 1t
is believed that the browning benefit will be
found in the better securities which may be de-
vised for the maintenance of peace among all
American nations, and settlement of contentious
by methods that christian civilization ap-
prove. While viewing with interest our national
resources and products the delegates will, l am
sure, find higher satisfaction in the evidences
of unselfsh friendship, which every where attend
the intercourse with our people.
Another international conference having great
possibilities for good has lately assembled and is
now in session in this capitol. An invitation was
extended by the government under the act or
congress of July 9, 1885 to all maritime nations
to send delegates to confer touching the revision
and amendment of the rules and regulations gov
ernng vessels and to adopt uniform system of
marine signals The response to this invitation
has been very general and very cordial Deli
gates from twenty nations are present in the
conference, and they have entered upon their use
full work with great zeal, and with an evident ap-
probation of its Importance, so far as the agree
ment to be reached may require legislation to give
it effect. The cooperation OF congress is conf
IDENTIFY relied upon. 1t is an interesting and I'M
precedented fact that the two international
conferences have brought here the accredited
representatives of thirty-three nations. Bolivia,
Ecuador and Honduras are now represented by
resident ENJOYS of the plenipotentiary grade. All
the states of the American system now maintain
diplomatic representation at this capitol. In this
connection it may be noted that all the nations of
the western hemisphere, with one exception, send
to Washington envoy extraordinary and minis
tiers plenipotentary, being the highest grade &C
credited TO this government. The United States,
on the contrary, sends ENJOYS of lower grade to
some of our sister republics. Our representative
in Paraguay and Uruguay is a minister resident,
while to Bolivia we send minister resident and
CONSUL general In view of the Importance of
our relations with the states
OF the American System,
our diplomatic agents in those countries should
be of uniform rank of envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary. Certain missions were
so elevated by the last congress with happy effect,
and recommend the completion of the reform
thus begun with the inclusion also of Hawaii and
Hayti in view of their relations to the American
system of states. 1 also recommend that timely
ha do
invitation to be represented in international con-
ference now sitting at this capitol.
Our relations with
China
have the attentive consideration which their mag
nitude and interest demand. The failure of the
treaty negotiated under the administration of my
predecessor for the further and more complete
restriction of Chinese labor immigration, and
with it, the legislation of the last session of con-
gress dependent thereon leave some questions
open, which congress should now approach IN
in that wise and just spirit, which should charac-
terlZe the relations of two great and friendly pow
ers. While our supreme interests demand the ex-
cusion of laboring element, which experience
has shown to be incompatible With our social life all
steps to compass this imperative need should be
those strangers now lawfully among us to hui
name ana just treatment. The accession of the
young emperor of China marks we may hope an
era of progress and prosperity for the great
country over which he is called to rule.
The present state of affairs in respect to the
Samoan Islands
is encouraging. The conference which was held
in this city in the summer of 1887 between the
representatives of the United States and Ger
tmany and Great Britain have been adjourned be-
cause of the persistent divergence of views, which
was developed in its deliberations. The subse-
quent course of events in the islands gave rise to
questions of a serious character. On the 4th of
February last, the German minister at
this capital in behalf of his government,
proposed a resumption of the conference
at Berlin. This proposition accepted.
as congress in February last was informed
miSSoners were appointed by me, by and with
the advice and consent of the senate, who pro-
ceeded to Berlin where the conference was renew
ed. The deliberations extended through several
weeks and resulted in the conclusion OF treaty
which will be submitted to the senate for its APP
proyal. trust that the efforts which have been
made to effect an adjustment of this question
will be productive of the permanent establish
ment of law and order in Samoa, upon the basis
of the maintenance of the rights and interests of
the native. These questions which have arisen
during the past few years between Great Britain
and the United States, are in abseyance or in
course of adjustment
On the part of the government of
The Dominion of Canada,
an effort has been apparent during the season
Just ended to administer the laws and regulations
applicable to the fisheries with as little occasion
for friction as was possible, and the temperate
representations of this government in respect Of
cases OF undue hardship or of harsh lnterpreta-
tions have been in most cases met with measures
of tranSItory relief 1t is trusted that the attain
ment of our Just rights under existing treaties
and in virtue of the concurrent legislation of the
two contiguous countries will not be long de-
ferred, and that all existing causes of difference
may be equitably adjusted. L recommend that
provision be made by international agreement
for viSibly marking the water boundary between
the United States and Canada, in the narrow chan
nels that join the great lakes. The conventional
line therein traced by the northwestern boundary
surveyed years ago is not in all cases readily aScer
tainable for the settlement of luriSdictiOn3 QueS
tons just and acceptable enlargement of the
list of offenSes f. which eXtradition may be claim
ed and granted is most desirable between this
NJ nnl bpl
should become secure harbor for the evil-doerS
of the other through avodable shortcomings in
this regard. A treaty this sub Get be-
tween the two powers has been recently nego-
mated and will soon be laid before the senate.
The Importance of the commerce of
Cuba and Porto Rico
with the United States, their nearest and princi-
pal market, justified the expectation that the eX
listing relations may be beneficially expanded.
The impediments resulting from varying dues on
navigation and from the veXatiouS treatment of
our vessels, in merely technical grounds of COM
plant in West India ports should be removed
The progress toward an adjustment of pending
claims between the United States aud Spain is
not as rapid as could be desired.
Questions affecting American interests IN con-
nection with railways constructed and operated
by our citizens IN
Peru,
has claimed the attention of this government. 1t
is urged that other governments, in pressing Peru
TO the payment of their claims have disregarded
the property rights of American citizens. The
matter will be carefully investigated with a view
TO securing a proper and equitable adjustment.
In pursuance of the charter granted By con-
gress, and under the terms of its contract with
the government of
Nicaragua,
the inter-oceanic canal company has begun the
construction of the important waterway between