The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-14

to deliver up passenger in transit
from Nicaragua to Guatemala upon
demand of the military authorities ol
Honduras, our minister to that country
under instructions protested against
the wanton act and demanded satisfac-
ton. The government of Honduras,
actuated by a sense of justice and in
spirit of the utmost friendship,
promptly disavowed the illegal conduct
of its officers and expressed sincere
regret for the occurrence.
1t is confidently anticipated that a
satisfactory adjustment will soon be
reache! of the questions arising out OF
the seizure and use of American
vessels by insurgents in Honduras and
the subsequent denial by the successful
government of commerial privileges to
those vessels on that account.
A notable part of the southeaserly
coast of Liberia, between the Cavally
and San Pedro rivers, which for nearly
half century has been generally re-
cognized as belonging to that republic
by cession and purchase, has been
claimed to be under the protectorate
of France in virtue of agreements
entered into by the native tribes over
whom Liberals control has not been
| we'll maintained.
More recently negotiations between
the Liberian representative and the
French government resulted in the
signature at Paris of a treaty whereby
as an adjustment certain Liberian
territory is ceded to France. This
convention, at last advices, had not
been ratified by the Liberian Legisla-
ture and executive.
Feeling sympathetic interest in
the fortunes of the little common
wealth, the establishment and develop
ment OF which were largely aided by
the benevolence of our countrymen,
and which constitutes the only in
dependently sovereign State on the
west coast of Africa, this government
has suggested to the French govern
ment its earnest concern lest territorial
impairments in Liberia should take
| place without her unconstrained con-
| sent.
Our relations with Mexico continue
to be of that close and friendly nature
which should always characterize the
intercourse of two neighboring re-
publics.
The work of relocating the monu-
ments marking the boundary between
the two countries from Paso del Norte
to the Pacific is now nearly COM
pleted.
The commission recently organized
under the conventions of 1884 and
1889, it is expected, will speedily
settle disputes growing out of the
shifting currents of the Rio Grande
river east of Ell Paso.
| NICARAGUA CANAL.
Nicaragua has recently passed
through two revolutions, the party al
first successful having in turn been
displaced by another. Our newly
appointed minister, by his timely
good offices, aided in a peaceful ad.
justment of the controversy involved
in the first conflict. The large
American interests established in tha,
country in connection with the Nicara-
qua canal were not molested.
The canal company has, unfortuna
tely, become financially seriously
embarrassed, but generous treatmen,
has been extended to it by the govern.
ment of Nicaragua. The United
States are especially interested in the
successful achievement of the vast
undertaking this company has in
charge. That it should be accom-.
plished under distinctively American
auspices, and its enjoyment ussured
not only to the vessels of this country
as a channel of communication be
tween our Atlantic and Pacific sea.
boards, but to the ships of the world
in the interests of civilization, is a
proposition which, in my judgment
does not admit of question.
Guatemala has also been visited by
the political vicissitudes which have
afflicted her Central American neigh
bors, but the dissolution of its legisla-
ture and the proclamation of a
dictatorship have been unattended
with civil war.
An extradition treaty with Norway
has recently been exchanged and pro
claimed.
The extradition treaty with Russia,
signed in March, 1887, and confirmed
by the Senate in February last, wa:
duly proclaimed last June.
SAMOAN INTERESTS.
Led by desire to compose differ
ences and contribute to the restoration
of order in Samoa, which for some
years previous had been the scene O
conflicting foreign pretensions and
native strife, the United States, de-
parting from its policy consecrated by
a century of observance, entered foul
years ago into the treaty of Berlin
thereby becoming jointly bound with
England and Germany to establish
and maintain Malietoa Laupepa a
King of Samoa. The treaty provided
for foreign court of justice, E:
municipal council for the district o
Apla, with a foreign president thereof
authorized to advise the King; q
tribunal for the settlement of native
and foreign land titles, and a revenue
system for the kingdom. 1t entailee
upon the three powers that part of the
cost Of the new government not me
by the vevenue Of the islands,
Early in the life of this triple
protectorate the native dissension i
was designed to quell, revived. Rival
defed the authority of the new King