The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-18
STATE DEPARrnrENr.

work or the state department
dui1nS the last year has been
characterized by an unusual mum
Der OF important negotiations and
tby diplomatic results Of q notable and
highly beneficial character. Among
these are the reciprocal trade arrange
ments which have been concluded, in
the exercise OF the powers conferred by
section B of the tariff law, with the re-
public Of Brazil, with Spain FORTS West
India possessions and with San Do
mingo.
Like negotiations with other countries
have been much advanced and it is
hoped that before the close of the year
further definite trade arrangements of
great value will be concluded.
Behring Sea Question.
In view of the reports received as
to the dlminution Of the seal herds in
the Behring sea. l deemed it wise to
propose to her majesty's government in
February last that an agreement for a
closed season should be made pending
the negotiations for arbitration which
then seemed to be approaching a favor
able conclusion. After much cores
pondence, and delays for which this
government was not responsible. an
agreement was reached and stoned on
the 10th OF June by which Great Britain
undertook, from that date and until
May ], 1892, to prohibit the killing by
her subjects Of seals in the Behring sea.
and the government Of the United States
during thes sane period to enforce its
existing prohibition against Delagic seal
ing, and to limit the catch by fur seal
companies upon the islands to 1900
skins. If this agreement could have been
reached earlier, i'll response to the strenu-
GUS e%ndeavors Of this government, it
would have been more effective, but
coming as late it did, it unauestionably
resulted in greatly diminishing the des-
truction of the seals by the Canadian
sealers. In my last annual message, I
stated that the basis of arbitration pro
posed by her majesty's government for
the adj ustment Of the long pending con-
troversy as to the seal fisheries was not
acceptable. l am glad now to be able
to announce that terms satisfactory to
this government have been agreed upon.
and that an treelnent as to the arbitra-
tors is all that is necessary to the COM
pletlon OF tie convention. In view of
the advanced position which this gov
eminent has taken upon the subject of
international arbitration, this renewed
S-PiS Sio IL oui ENtlltISllCc 10 Cl1S
method for the settlement Of disputes,
such as have arisen in the Beilring sea.
will, doubt not, meet with the concur
renee Of congress.
boundary Lines.
Provision should be made for q Joint
demarkation of the frontier line between
Canada and the United States whenever
required by the increasing border settle
ments and especially for the exact Local
ton OF the water boundaries in the
straits and rivers. I should have been
glad to announce some favorable dispo-
sltlon Of the boundary dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela. touching
the western frontier of British Guiana,
but The friendly efforts Of the United
States in that direction have thus far
been ~1Ilavailing. This government will
continue TO express its concern at any
appearance OF foreign encroachment on
territories long under the administrative
control OF American states. The deter
mlnation OF disputed boundary is easily
attainabie by amicable arbitration,
where the rights Of the respective par
ties rest, as here, on historic facts, read
lily ascertainable.
Trade Concessions.
The law of the last congress pro-
viding d system Of inspection for
our meats intended for export, and
clothing the president with power
to exclude foreign products from our
markets III case tho country sending
them should perpetuate unjust discrim-
nations against any product Of the
United States, placed this governmental
q position to effectively urge the removal
OF such determinations against our
meats. 1t is gratifying to be able to
state that Germany, Denmark, Italy,
Austria and France, in the order named,
have opened their ports to inspected
American pork products.
The removal of these restrictions in
every instance was asked for and given
solely upon the ground that we had now
provided a meat inspec Jon that slio1id
be accepted as adequate to the comr:eta
removal OF the dangers, real or fanciaa,
which had been previously urged. Tho
state department, our ministers abroad,
and the secretary of agriculture have
co-operated with unfagging and intelli-
gent zeal for the accomplishment of this
great result. The outlines of an agree
ment have been reached with Germany,
looking to equitable trade concessions in
consideration of the continued free i'm
portation OF her sugars, but the time has
not yet arrived when this correspondence
can be submitted to congress.
Rotations with Brazil.
The recent political disturbances in
the republic of Brazil have excited re-
gret and solicitudo. The information
we possessed was too meagre to enable
us to form a satisfactory Judgment Of
the causes leading to the temporary as
sumption OF supreme power by Presi-
dent Fonseca; but this government did
mot fail to express to him it's anxious So
llcltude for the peace of Brazil, and for
the maintenance of the free political in
stitutions which had recently been es-
tablisled there, nor to offer our advice
that great moderation should be observed
in the clash of parties and the contest for
leadership. These c%ounsels were received
in the most friendly spirit, and tie lat
est information is that constitutional
government has been re-estabiishod.
without bloodshed.
The New Orleans Lynching.
The lynching at New Orleans in March
last of eleven men OF Italian nativity by
a mob of citizens was a most d%eplorable
and discreditable incident. 1t did not,
however, have its origin in any general
animosity tt the Italian people, nor in
any disrespect to the government of
Italy, with which our relations were Of
the most friendly character. The fury
of the mob was directed against these
men as the supposed participants OF ac-
cessories of the murder of a city officer.
d not allude to this as mitigating in
any degree this ofRlse against law and
humanity, but only as affecting the in.
telnational questions which grew out of
it. 1t was represented by the
Italian minister that several of those
whose lives had been taken by the mob
We're Italian subjects, and a demand was
made for the punishment of the partici-
pants and for indemnity to the families
of those who were killed. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the manner in which these
claims were presented, was not such as
to promote a calm discussion of the
questions involved, but, this may well
be attributed to the excitement and in
dignation which the crime natural
Nv yoked The viarS of this poyarn.