The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-05
FOREIGN RELATIONS.

While our foreign relations have not
1t al times during the past year been
entirely free from perplexing and en-
barassing situations. but little re-
mains that will not yield to the spirit
OF fairness and love of justice which,
Joined with consistent firmness, char
T acterize a truly American policy. My
!. predecessor having accepted the Office
ut arbitrator of the long-standing
missions of the boundary dispute, ten
dered to the president of the Argentine
Republic and Brazil, it has been my
agreeable duty to receive the special
ENJOYS commissioned by these states
TO lay before me evidence and argu-
nents in behalf of their respective
governments.
The outbreak of domestic hostilities
in the republic of Brazil found the
United States on the alert to watch
the interests of our citizens in that
country, with which we carry on i'm
portant commerce. Several vessels of
our new navy are now. and for some
time have been, stationed at Rio De
Janeiro. the struggle being between
the established government, which con-
trolls the machinery of the admins
tration, and with which we maintain
friendly relations, and certain officers
of the navy employing the vessels of
their command in an attack upon the
national capital and chief seaport; and
lacking, as it does, the elements of di-
vided administration. I have failed to
see that the insurgents can reasonably
claim recognition as belligerents. Thus
the position of our government has
been that OF an attentive but impair
ual, observer Of the unfortunate COLI
fict- Emphasizing our fixed policy Of
impartial neutrality IN such a cOndi-
ton of affairs as now exist, l deem
5t necessary 10 disavow in a
manner not to be misunderstood the
unauthorized action OF the late naval
commander Of these waters in saluting
the revOlted Brazilian admiral being
indisposed to countenance an act CAL
cuiated to give gratuitous sanction 10
the local instruction. The convention
between our government and Chill hav-
ling for its object the settlement and
adjustment of the demands of the two
countries against each other has been
made effective by the organization of
the claims commission provided for
The two governments failing 20 agree
on the third member of the commits
sion the good offices of the president
of the Swiss republic were invoked, as
provided il the treaty, and the selec-
ton Of the Swiss representative in the
country to complete the organization
WAS gratifying 20 the United States
and Chilli The vexatious question of
the so-called legation asylum for Of
tenders against the state and its laws,
was presented anew in Chill by the un-
cd of Ia mi on
States minister in receiving in his Off
cial residence two persons who had
failed in an attempt at revolution and
against whom criminal charges were
pending growing out of 4, former abor-
tive disturbance
The doctrine of asylum, as applied to
this case is sanctioned by the best
precedent and when allowed. tends to
encourage sedition and strife. Under
no circumstances can the representa-
tive Of this government be permitted.
under the ill-defined fiction of extra
terTitoriaity. TO interrupt the admin
istration of criminal justice in the coun-
tries to which they are accredited. A
temperate demand having been made
by the Chilean government. for the
correction Of this conduct in the in
stance mentioned the minister was in
structed no longer to harbor the OF
fender.
The legislation Of last year known
as the Geary law, requiring the
registration of all Chinese laborers
entitled to residence in the United
states and the deportation cf all not
complying with the provisions of the
act within the time prescribed. met
with much opposition from the China
men in this country Acting upon the
-4dvice 0f eminent ccunsel. that the law
Mas unconstitutional, the great mass