The record-union., 1895-12-04

Nicaragua as were consistent with the
nature of the case. Our efforts have
ciative and grateful recognition by
Nicaragua.
CONCERNING RUSSIA.
The coronation of the Car of Rus
sia at Moscow in May next invites the
ceremonial participation of the United
States and in accordance with usage
and diplomatic propriety, our minister
to the Imperial Court has been directed
to represent our Government on this
occasion.
Correspondence is on foot touching
the practice of Russian ConSulS within
the jurisdiction of the United States of
interrogating citizens as to their race
and religious faith, and upon aScer-
tainment thereof to deny to Jews au-
Identification of passports or legal docu-
mentS for use in Russia. InaSmuch as
such proceeding imposes a disability,
which in the case Of succession to prop
erty in Russia may be found to in
fringe the treaty rights of our citizens,
and which is an obnoxious invasion of
our territorial jurisdiction, it has elic-
tied fitting remonstrance the result Of
which, it is hoped, will remove the
cause of complaint. The pending claims
of sealing vessels of the United States
seized in Russian waters remain unad-
jUSted. Our recent convention with
Russia, establishing a modus vivendi
as to Imperial jurisdiction in such cases
has prevented further difficulty of this
nature.
The Russian Government has well
coined in principle our suggestion for a
modus vivendi to embrace Great
Britain and Japan, looking to the bet
ter preservation of seal life in the
North Pacific and Bering Sea and the
extension of the protected area defined
by the Paris Tribunal to all Pacific
waters north of the thirty-ffth par
allel
1t is especially noticeable that Russia
favors the prohibition of the use of fire
arms in seal hunting throughout the
proposed area and a longer closed sea-
son for pelagic sealing.
SAMOA AFFAIRS.
In my last two annual messages,
called the attention of the Congress to
the position we occupied as one of the
parties to a treaty of agreement, by
which we became j Ointly bound with
England and Germany to so interfere
with the government and control of
Samoa as in effect to assume the man
agement of its affairs. On the 9Th day
Of May, 1894, / transmitted to the Sen
ate a special message with accompany
the subject and emphasizing the opin-
ion I have at all times entertained that
our situation in this matter was incon-
sistent with the mission and traditions
of our Government, in violation of the
principles we profess, and in all its
phases mischievous and veXatious. !
again press this subject upon the at
tentiOn of the Congress and ask for
such legislative action or expression as
leo ha ff of l.
cations both irksome and unnatural.
THE CUBAN INSURRECTION.
Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An
insurrection, in one respect more active
than the last preceding revolt, which
continued from 1868 to 1878, now eX-
lists in large part of the eastern in
terror of the Island, menancing even
some pOpula tionS on the coast, besides
deranging the commercial exchanges
of the Island, of which our country
takes the predominant share. This
fragrant condition of hostilities, by
arousing sentimental sympathy and in
citing adventurous support among our
people, has entailed earnest effort on
the part of this Government TO enforce
obedience to our neutrality laws and to
prevent the territory of the United
States from being used as a vantage
ground from which to aid those in arms
against Spanish sovereignty. Whatever
may be the traditional sympathy of our
cOuntrymen as individuals with a peo-
pie who seem to be struggling for
larger autonomy and greater free
dom, as s uch sympathy naturally
must be- inbehalf of our neighbOrs, yet
the plain duty of their Government is
to observe in good faith the recognized
obligations of international relation
ship.
The performance of this duty should
not be made more difficult by a disre-
gard on the part of our citizens Of the
obligations growing out of their allegi-
ance to their country. which should re-
strain them from violating as individ-
ais the neutrality which the nation of
which they are members is bound to
observe in its relation to friendly SOW
ereign States.
Though neither the warmth of our
peoples sympathy with the Cuban In
surgents, nor our loss and material
damage consequent upon futile endeav-
Ors thus far made to restore peace and
order, or any shock our humane Sensibili-
ties may have received from the cruel
ties which appear to especially charac-
terize this sanguinary and fiercely con-
| Quoted war, have in the least shaken
the determination of the Government
to honestly fulfil every international
J Ii
hoped, on every ground, that the de-
vastation of armed conflict may speed
lily be stayed and order and quiet re-
stored to the distracted Island, bringing
in their train the activity and thrift of
peaceful pursuits.
One notable instance of interference
by Spain with passing American ships
has occurred. On March Sth last, the
IAlliancia, while bound from Colon to New
nd ha tor
track for vessels near the Cuban shore,
but outside the three-mile limit, was
| fred upon by Spanish gunboat A
! protest was promptly made by the
United States against this act as not
being justified by the state of war nor
| permissible in respect of vessels on the
usual paths of commerce, nor toIerable
in view of the wanton peril occasiOned
to innocent life and property.
The act was disavowed with full ex-
pressions of regret and assurance OF
nonrecurrence of such lust cause of
complaint while the offending officer
was relieved of his command.
Military arrests Of citizens of the
| United States in Cuba have occasioned
! frequent reclamatiOnS. Where held on
| criminal charges their delivery to the
ordinary civil jurisdiction for trial has
| been demanded and obtained in con-
| formity with treaty provisions, and
! where merely detained by way of mill
| tary preCautiOn under a proclaimed
state of siege, without formulated accu-
| sation, their release or trial has been
! insisted upon.
The right of American Consular
officers in the Island to prefer protests
and demands in such cases, having
| been questioned by the authorities,
their enjoyment of the privilege stipu-
| lated by the treaty for the Consuls of
| Germany was claimed under the most
! favored nation provision of our con-
vention. and was promptly recognized.
| THE MORA CLAIM - DIFFEREN-
TIAL DUTIES.