Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-12-14

| otlaIiItu 1T tlic ttSllllllDS vi tnt Gull
troversy to tender our good offices tt
induce an amicable arrangement o
the initial difficulty growing out O
the Japanese demands for administra
tive reforms in Korea, but the un
happy precipitation OF actual hostilitie'
defeated this kindly purpose. Deplor'
ing the destructive war between two
most powerful of the Eastern nation.
and anxious that our commercial
interests in those countries may be
preserved and that the safety OF oul
citizens there shall not be jeopardized
| would not hesitate to heed any init.
nation that our friendly aid for the
honorable termination of hostilities
J would be acceptable to both belliger
ents.
A convention has been finally con
cluded for the settlement by arbitra-
ton OF the prolonged dispute will,
Ecuador, growing out of the proceed.
ings against Emilio Santos, a natural
lied citizen of the United States.
Our relations with the republic OF
France continue to be such as should
exist between nations SO long bound
together by friendly sympathy and
similarity in their form of govern.
ment. The recent cruel assassination
of the President OF this sister Republic
called forth such universal expressions
of sorrow and coincidence from our
people and government as to leave no
doubt of the depth and sincerity ol
our attachment. The resolutions
passed by the Senate and House ol
Representative on the occasion have
been communicated to the widow oil
President Carnot.
Again the reported discovery oi
Texas fever in cargoes OF American
importations of live stock and fresh
meats from this country has been re.
vived. 1t is hoped that Germany will
soon become convinced that the in
hibition is as needless as it is harmful
to mutual interests.
BERING SEA CONTROVERSY.
Early in the present year an agree
ment was reached with Great Britain
concerning instructions to be given to
the naval commanders of the two
governments in Bering sea and the
contiguous North Pacific ocean, for
their guidance in the execution of the
award of the Paris tribunal of arbi.
tration and the enforcement of the
regulations therein prescribed for the
protection of seal life in the water
mentioned. An understanding has
also been reached for the payment by
the United States of 1926 600 in full
satisfaction of all claims which may
be made by Great Britain for damages
growing out OF the controversy as to
fur seals in Bering sea or the seizure
OF British vessels engaged in taking
seals in these waters. l am convinced
that settlements upon the terms men,
toned would be an equitable and
advantageous one, and I recommend
that provision be made for the prompt
payment of the stated sum.
Preliminary surveys of the Alaskan
boundary and a preparatory exsmins.
ton of the question of protection OF
food fish in the contiguous waters OF
the United States and the Dominion
of Canada are in progress.
Since communicating the volum-
inous correspondence in regard to
Hawaii and the action taken by the
Senate and House of Representatives
on certain questions submitted to the
judgment and wider discretion OF
Congress the organization of . govern
ment in place of the provisional ar
rangement which followed the deposi-
ton OF the Queen has been allowed
with evidence of its effective opera
ton. The recognition usual in such
cases has been accorded the new gov
ernment.
JAPAN A CIVILIZED NATION.
Apart from the war in which their
land empire is engaged, Japan attracts
increasing attention in this country
by her evident desire to cultivate more
liberal intercourse with US and to seek
our kindly aid in furtherance of her
laudable desire for complete autonomy
in her domestic affairs and full equal
ity in the family of nations. The
Japanese empire of to-day is no longer
the Japan OF the past, and our rela-
tions with this progressive nation
should not be less broad and liberal
than those with other powers.
Peace being restored along her
northern frontier, Mexico has asked
the punishment of the late disturbers
OF her tranquility. There ought to be
a new treaty Of commerce and naviga.
ton with that country to take the
place of the one which terminated 13
years ago. The friendliness of the
intercourse between the two countries
has not been interrupted.
An indemnity rendered by Mexico
as a gracious act for the murder in
1887 of Leon Baldwin, an American
citizen, by a band of marauders, in
Durango, has been accepted and is
being paid in installments.
The problem Of the storage and use
of the waters OF the Rio Grande for
irrigation shonld be solved by ap-
propriate concurrent action OF the two
| interested countries.
THE BLUEFIELDS INCIDENT.
Prominent among the questions ol
the year was the Bluefields incident
in what is known as the Mosquito In
dian strip, bordering on the Atlantic
ocean and within the jurisdiction O
Nicaragua. By the treaty of 1860
between Great Britain and Nicaraugus
the former government expressly rec