The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-02
PAGES 5 AND 6.
constrained 10 disayOw Mr.. Miners act,
and recall him from his post.
1uE NIcARAGIfA CANAL


The Nicaragua canal project under the
control of our citizens, is making most en-
couragiLg progress. All the preliminary
conditions and initial operations have been
completed within the prescribed time.
During the past year negotiations have
been renewed for the settlement Ofth claims
Of American citizens against the Govern
ment Of Chill, principally growing out Of the
late war with Peru. The reports from our
Minister at Santiago warrant the expectaf
ton Of an early and satisfactory adjustment.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
our relations with China, which have for
several years occupied SO important place
in our diplomatic history, have called for
careful consideration, and have been the
subject Of much correspondence. The COM
municatiOns Of the Chinese Minister have
brought into view the whole subject Of our
conventional relations with this country,
and at the same time this Government.
through its legation at Peking, has sought
TO arrange various matters and complaints
touching the interests and protection Of our
citizens in China. In pursuance Of the con-
current resolution Of October |, 1890. have
ropOsed 10 the Governments Of Mexico and
Great Britain 10 consider a conventional
regulation Of the passage If Chinese labor
ers across our Southern and Northern fron-
tiers.
On the 22d Of August last Sir Edmund
Monson, the arbitrator selected under the
treaty of December 6, 1888, rendered an
award 10 the effect that no compensation |
was due from the Danish Government TO the |
United States on account of what is COM |
monty known as the Carlos Rutteriield
claim.
Our relations with the French Republic |
continue to be cordial. Our representative |
at that court has very diligently urged the |
removal of the restrictions imposed upon |
our meat products, and it is believed that |
substantial progress has been made towards |
a lust settlement.
The Samoan treaty, signed last year al
Berlin. by the representatives. Of the United |
states. Germany and Great Britain. after !
due ratification and exchange, has begun 10 !
produce salutary effects. The formation OF |
the Government agreed upon VIII soon re- |
place the disorder Of ;he past by stable adj |
ministratiOn alike just 10 the natives ana
equitable 10 the three powers most con
cerned in trade and intercourse win the Sa- |
moan Islands. The Chief Justice has
been chosen by the King of sweden and Nor |
way on the invitation Of the three powers, |
and will soon be installed the land commits
sion and the municipal council are IN pro- |
cess of organization; rational and evenly
distributed scheme of taxation, both NUM- |
cipal and upon imports, is in operation, and
MalietOa IS respected as hlng.
The new treaty o: eXtradition with Great
Britain, after due ratification. was pro-
claimed on the Doth Of last March. Its bene-
fetal working is already apparent.
BRHRING SEA TROUBLE.
The difference between the two Govern |
ments touching the fur-seal question IN
| the Behring sea is not yet adjusted, as Will
| be seen by the correspondence which VIII
soon be laid before Congress. The oiler 10
submit the question 10 arbitration. as pro-
| posed by Her Majesty's Government nan
not yet been accepted, for the reason ihal
| the form Of submission proposed Is no'
| though, TO be calculated 10 assure conclu-
/ sion satisfactory 10 either party. II Is sin
cerely hoped that before the opening OF an
other sealing season some arrangements
NAV be affected which Will assure 10 the
/ United States a property right desired from
| Russia, which has not been dsregarded by |
apy nation for more than eighty years pre-
ceding the outbreak Of the existing trou-
! Die.
I'm the Tariff act "A wrong was done TO the
Kingdom Of Hawaii. which am bound To
presume was wholly unintentonal. Du- !
| ties were levied on certain commodities
which are included in the reciprocity treaty |
now existing between the United states !
and the Kingdom of Hawaii. without indl- |
eating the necessary exception IN FAVOR ui
that Kingdom. ] nope Congress VIII repair
what might otherwise seem TO be breach
| of faith on the part of this Government.
Anaward i'm favor Of the United states M
the matter Of the claim of Mr. Van Box
keen against Hayti. was rendered on the
! An of December, 1855 but owing to diSor-
ders then and afterwards prevailing III
| Hayti the terms of payment were not oD'
! served. A new agreement as 10 the time oi
payment has been approved, and is now ln
! force Other Just claims Of citizens OF the
| United States tor redress Of wrongs suffered
| durin, the late political conflict it llayii
| VIII. il is hoped. speedily yield 10 friendly
| treatment. Proposition for the amendment
of the treaty of eXtraditiOn between the
| United States and Italy are now under con-
slider alton.
You will be asked TO provide the means Of
accepting the invitation of the Italian GOV
eminent TO take part in an approaching
| conference 10 consider the adoption oil
universal prime meridian from which To-
reckon longitude and time. As this prOpc-
sal follows in the track Of the reform sought
| TO be initiated by the meridian conference
| of Washington, held on the invitation OF TINS
| Government, the United states should man
ifest "A friendly interest in the Italian pro-
| pOsal. In tins connection, may refer Nlui
| approval to the suggestion OF my predeces-
sors. that stan ding provision be made for
| HCGeUtlnf. whenever Nttii'A ufiNhhANf A-i'
| frequent invitations of foreign governments
TO share in conferences looking To the ad-
! yancemeut of international reforms. in r.
| card TO science sanitation. commercial laws
! and other matters affecting the intercourse
and progress of modern communities
I'm the summer Of 1889 an incident oc-
Cured which for some time threatened 10
interrupt the cOrdiality Of our relations
with the Government Of Portugal. That
Government seized the DelagOa Bay rail
way. which was constructed under con-
| cesslOn granted 10 an American CITIZEN
and AT the same time annulled the charter.
| The cOncessiOnary, who had embarked NJ
fortune in the enterprise, having exhausted
other means OF redress was compelled 10 M
woke the protection OF his Government
our representations, made co-incldentally
with those Of the British Government.
| whose subjects were also largely inter
ested. happily resulted in the recognition by
Portugal Of the prOprlety OF admitting lnt
claim for indemnity, growing out 81 lis ac-
ton. TO arbitration. This PLAN OF settle
ment having been agreed upon, the inter-
ested powers readily concurred In The pro-
| posal 10 submit the case 10 the judgment o'
three eminent iuTists, to be designated 10y
the President Of the Swiss Republic, who.
| upon the Joint invitation Of the Govern
ments Of the United states, Great Britain,
and Portugal has selected persons We
qualified for the task before them.
| The revision OF our treaty relations win
the Empire Of Japan has continued to be
the subject of consideration and OF CORE
spondence. The questions involved arr
both grave and delicate, and. while it viii
be my duty to see that the Interests OF the
United states are not by any change eN-
posed TO undue discrimination, | sincerely
hope that such reyisions as will satisfy the
legitimate expectations OF tne JapaheS'
government and maintain the present ana
! long-continued friendly relations between
Japan and the United States may be
/ effected.
Friendship between our country and MeNi-
co. born of close neighborh0od and strength
ened by many considerations oil intimate
and reciprocal interest, has never been
more conspicuous than now, nor more hope
I lul of increased benefit 10 both nations. Inc
| intercourse of the two countries by rail, al
I ready great, is making constant growth.