The rustler., 1891-12-18
ruE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TuE STATE DEPARTMENT.
What Has Been Done In the Sealing. Chill
ian and Italian ynchiEE Diniculties
The work OF the state department. during
the last year has been characterized by an
unusual number OF important negotiations
and by diplomatic results OF notable and
highly beneficial character. Among these are
the reciprocal trade arrangements which
have been concluded. in the exercise Of the
powers conferred by section OF the tariff
law. with the republic OF Brazil. with spain.
for ~ West India possessions, and with san
Domingo
Like negotiations with other countries
have been much advanced. aud Il is hoped
that before the close OF the year furt her
dennitve trade arrangements OF great value
will be concluded
AFFAIRS Win GREAT BRITAIN.
In view of the reports which have been
received as to the diminutlun of the
seal herds in the Bohring sea, I deemed
Il wise to propose Go her maiesty's
government In February last that an agree.
mcnt for closed season should be made.
pending the negotiations for arbitration
which then seemed TO be approaching Il
favorable conclusion After much CORE.
spondence. and delays for which this gov.
ernment was not responsible, an agreement
was rene he'd and signed on the 18th OF June.
that cate ana until Nav l. is9l, TO prohibit
the killing by her subjects Of seals In the
Bchrlng sea and the government of the
United states during the same period To-
enforce It's existing prohibition against
pelngic sealing aud TO limit the catch by the
fur seal company upon the Islands to : 900
skins II this agreement could have been
reached earlier. In response TO the strenuous
.eudeuvors OF this government, Il would have
lssasfF saffa ltHN tlFtsH 1uff
as Il did, II unquestionably resulted In
greatly diminishing tho destruction of the
seals by the Canadian sealcrs
IL my last message stated that the basis
of arbitration proposed by her maiesty's
government for the adjustment of the long.
pending controversy as to the seal fisheries
was not acceptable | am glad now to be able
TO announce that terms satisfactory TO this
government have been agreed upon and
that an agreement as To the arbitrators Is
all that is necessary to the completion OF the
convention.
MEAT INSPECTION.
The law OF the last congress providing Il
system Of inspection for our meats intended
for export, and clothing the president with
power to exclude foreign products from our
market In case the country sending them
should perpetuato unjust determinations
against any product Of the United states.
effectively urge the removal of such discrlm.
nations against our meats. II ls 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 Tho removal of
these restrictions In every instance was
asked for and given solely upon the ground
that we had now provided meat inspection
that should be accepted as adequate TO the
complete removal OF the dangers, real or
fame ed. which had been previously urged.
The state department. our ministers abroad
and the secretary of agriculture have CO.
operated with unnagging and intelligent
zeal for the accomplishment of this great
result The outlines of an agreement have
been reached with Germany. looking TO
equitable trade concessions in consideration
of the continued free importation OF her
sugars. but the time has not yet arrived
when this correspondence can be submitted
10 congress.
THE NEW ORLEANS LYScmNG
The lynching at New Orleans In March last
of eleven men of Italian nativity by mob OF
citizens was a most deplorablc and discred.
table incident. II did not, however, have Its
origin In any general animos,y to the Ital.
ian people, nor In any disrespcct to the gov
crnmeut of Italy, with which our relations
werG- of the most friendly character. The
fury of the mob was directed against these
men as the supposed participants or acces'
sores on the murder OF II city officer. / dc
not alludc to this US mitigating In any dc.
gree this of nse against law aud humanity,
but only as affecting the international ques.
tiOns which grew out of IL. 1t was once re.
presented by the Italian minister that
several of those whose lives had been taken
by the mob were Italian subjects, aud IA de.
mand was mnde for the pun ishment of the
participants and for an indemnity to the
families of those who were killed.
1t il to be regretted that the
manner In which these claims
were presented was not such as TO promote
II calm discussion of the questions involved
but this may well be attributed to the ex
citement and Indignation with which the
crime naturally evoked. The views of this
government as to its obligations to foreign
ers domiclied here were fully stated In the
correspondence. as wclf as its purpose "a
make an investigation of the affair with q
view to determine whether there were
present any circumstances that could, under
such rules OF duty as we had indicated. ere.
ate an obligation upon the United States
The temporary absence OF q minister plcni.
potentlary nt this capital has retarded the
further correspondence, but IL Ia not doubt.
ed that n friendly conclusion Is attainable
Some suggestions growing out of this un
congress. II would, believe, be entirely
competent for congress to make offense'
against the treaty rights of foreigners domi
ciled In the United States cognlzable In tn,
federal courts This has not, however. beer
done, and the & deral on ,ers and court;
have no power In such cases to intervene
either for the protection of II foreign citlzer
or for the punishment of his slayers i
seems to me to follow In this state of law
that the officers of the state charged with tn,
police and judicial powers in such case
must, In the consideration of internationa
questions, growing out of such Incidents, b.
regarded s. such sense as federal agents as I,
make this government answerablo for thel
acts in cases where 1t would be answerablc
the United states had used Its constitutions
power to define and punish crimes agains
treaty rights.
cHILIAN AFFAIRS.
Tho civil war In Chill. which began II
January last. was continued, but, fortunate
ly with infrequent and not important arme'
collisions, until August IS, when the con