The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-12-12

TERM OF once expired, and was, appar
emily, successful in procuring business
concessions from the Hovas, of create,
or less value.
After the occupation of Tamativ,
and the declaration of martial Law
by the French. he was arrested
upon various charges, among then
that OF communicating military in
formation to the enemies of France
was tried and convicted by military
tribunal and sentenced to thirty years
imprisonment. Following the course
justified by abundant precedents, this
government requested from that OF
France the record of the proceedings OF
the French tribunal, which resulted In
Mr.. Walters condemnation. This re-
quest has been complied with to the
extent Of supplying copy of the Of
fetal record, from which appear the
constitution and organization of the
court, the charges as formulated and
the general course and result of the
trial, and by which it is shown that
the accused was tried in open court
and was defended by counsel; but the
evidence adduced in support of the
charges, which was not received bv the
French minister for foreign affairs till
the first week in October, has thus far
been withheld, the French government
taking the ground that its production
in response to our demand, would es-
tablish a bad precedent. The efforts
of our ambassador to secure it, how
ever, though impeded by recent changes
in the French ministry, have not been
relaxed, and it is confidently expected
that some satisfactory solution of the
matter will be shortly reached. Mean
while it appears that Mr.. Walters con-
f1nement has every alienation which
the state of his health and all the other
circumstances of the case demand or
permit.
An agreeable contrast to the differ
ence above noted, respecting a matter
Of common concern where nothing is
sought except such mutually salts
factory outcome as the true merits of
the case require, is the recent resolu-
ton of the French chambers favoring
the conclusion of permanent treaty of
arbitration between the two countries.
An invitation has been extended by
France to the government and the PEG.
pie of the United States to participate
in great international exposition at
Paris In 1900, as a suitable common.
Grafton of the close of this. the worlds
marvellous century of progress. /
heartily recommend its acceptance, TO-
gether with such legislation as will ad.
equately provide for due representa-
ton of this government and its people
on the occasion.
Serenity of Germany.
Our relations with the states of the
German empire are, in some aspects,
typical of condition of things else
where found in countries whose pro-
auctions and trade are similar to our
own. The close rivalries of competing
industries, the influence of the delusive
doctrine that the internal development
Of a nation is promoted and its wealth
increased by policy, which in under
the exclusive use of it's own producers,
necessarily obstructs this class in for
eign markets, and prevents free access
to the products Of the world; the desire
to retain trade in time-worn ruts, re-
gardless of the memorable laws of new
needs and changed conditions of de-
mand and supply, and our own hating
hardness in inviting free exchange
of commodities, and by this means i'm
periling our footing in the external
markets naturally open to us, have
created situation somewhat injurious
to American export interests not only
in Germany, where they are perhaps
most noticeable, but in adjacent coun-
tries.
The Protection Of the Scaling Herds.
Our relations with Great Britain,
always intimate and important, have
demanded, during the past year, a
greater share of consideration than is
usual. Several vexatious questions
were left undetermined by the decision
of the Behring sea arbitration tribunal.
The application of the principles laid
down by that august body has not been
followed by the results they were In
tended to accomplish, either because
the principles themselves lacked in
breadth and definitness, or because their
execution has been more or less imper.
feet. Much correspondence has been
exchanged between the two governments
on the subject of preventing the ex-
terminating slaughter of seals.
The insufficiency Of the British pa
troll of Behring sea, under the regula-
lions agreed on by the two govern
ments, has been pointed out, and yet
only two British ships have been on po-
lice duty during this season in these
waters. The need of more effective
enforcement of existing regulations, as
we'll as the adoption of such additional
regulations as experience has shown to
be absolutely necessary to carry ont
the intent of the awards, have been
earnestly urged upon the British gov
eminent, but thus far without effective
results. In the meantime, the deple.
ton of the seal herds by means OF pei
agic hunting has SO harmfully prog
ressed, that, unless their slaughter is
at once checked, their extinction,
within few years seems to be mat
ter of absolute certainty.
Venezuelan Boundary Dispute.
1t being apparent that the boundary
dispute between Great Britain and the
republic of Venezuela concerning the
limits of British Guiana, was approach
ing an acute stage, definite statement
of the interest and policy OF the United
States. as regards the controversy