The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-10
His Judgment Respected in All
VexatiouS Foreign Com
pliCationS.
WILL TAKE THE OATH TO-DAY
Many Controversies With European
Powers That Require lmme-
dIate Attention.

oath of office tomorrow. There will be no
undue haste, however, on the part of the
| new chief of the State Department..
Olney has given much close study to the
| larger law questions before his department,
and it will take some time for him to put
the work aside and for the new Attorney
General to grow into it. Olney, moreover,
| is equipped in advance for the duties of
his new office, as he has been consulted
constantly during the last year on the
various complications over Venezuela,
Nicaragua, BerIng Sea, the Waller case,
| foreign tariff retaliation, the Japan-C China
troubles, SPANS conflict with Cuba and
the lesser questions in which the United
States has been brought in relation with
| the rest of the world.
| The last year has been unusually fruitful
in foreign complications. Some of these
| were closed by Gresham or advanced to
| such a state that settlement may be
said to have been reached. These latter in
| clude the -Nicaraguan incident, in
which the United States aided toward
| settlement; the Japan-China treaty of
peace, which was effected as a result of
kindly Intervention by the United States,
and the friction with Hawaii as the result
of the demand for the recall of Minister
Thurston. The other foreign questions
which attracted public attention during
Mr.. Gresham's administration of the de-
partment are still pending
With Great Britain there are two ques-
tons of special Importance to be adjusted,
viz, those affecting Boring Sea and the
Venezuelan boundary. A Boring Sea con-
ference will be held in Washington in
October next, Sir Julian Pauncefote hay
ing effected the preliminary arrangements
with Mr.. Gresham. The purpose is to
draft new treaty by which the claims of
Canadian sealers for alleged seizures and
losses will be submitted to a commission
The conference will not take up the more
important question of readjusting the
Boring Sea regulations in order to make
them effective. This will come later, how
ever, and promises to call out vigorous
legal and diplomatic controversy.
The British Venezuelan question is
mainly significant in involving the Mon
roe doctrine. The United States has asked
Great Britain to arbitrate the question. So
far as is known, no definite answer has
been given to ambassador Bayard, who
presented the request of this country But
as the British Foreign Office has positively
declined to consider similar requests by
Pope Leo and by the International Arbi-
tration Association it is not doubted that
in due time a declination will come to the
United States. 1t will then remain for the
State Department to determine to what
extent British aggression in Venezuela is
compatible with the Monroe doctrine.
Gresham had made a special study of the
subject, regarding it as of more importance
| ho Of ho
consideration. Olney was called into con-
ference and for several weeks prior to his
selection for Secretary of State he was
busy investigating this complicated ques-
ton. 1t is probable that a definite issue
will be reached when En- bassador Bayard
sends Great Britain's answer.
With France the only question of conse-
quence pending is as to the imprisonment
of ex-Consul- General Waller. ambassador
Eustis has been instructed to make in
quiries with view to securing for Waller
all the rights of an American citizen
abroad, including trial by civil court
Germany, Austria and Denmark are
having numerous tariff complications
with the United States. which threatened
at one time to bring about radical retalia-
ton by this country. The readjustment
has proceeded largely through the State
Department.. Germany and Denmark con-
tinue their exclusion of American meats,
but there are prospects that satisfactory
settlement will be effected. The discrim-
mating duties levied against the beet
sugars of Germany and Austria brought
on the conflict, and Denmark followed the
lead of her influential neighbors.
/ The Cuban revolution promises to be
source of controversy with Spain. Min
lister Dupuy de LONE has already asked the
State Department to apprehend those
sending arms to Cuba, and the suggestion
is made that Spain will make a claim
against the United States, based or the
precedent of the Alabama claims. Off
Gals are not solicitous however, as to this
claim, and the intimation is made that it
is inspired by British sources out of re-
sentiment for the Alabama decision.
Italy and the United States are expected
to arrive at a satisfactory settlement ere
long concerning the murder of number
of Italians in Colorado. 1t is understood
Secretary Gresham regarded the offenses as
such an infringement of international
rights that he inaugurated negotiations for
the payment of cash indemnities to the fam
lilies of the deceased Italians This step, if
consummated, will be in addition to the
steps taken by the authorities of Colorado
to prosecute the offenders.
The only subject of consequence pending
with Russia is that concerning the amelio-
ration of the condition of the Jews. The
United States has taken little part in the
Armenian question, which is provoking
conflict between Turkey and the European
powers.
One of the first acts Mr. Olney is likelv
to be called upon to perform is that of
recognizing the new Government of
Ecuador, which has come into power after
bloody revolution. There are no pend
ing questions with other South or Central
American countries, except that in which
Venezuela is involved.