The Yale expositor., 1895-12-13

| priation, which is urgently recommended.
This survey was undertaken under the
| provisions OF the convention entered into
| by this country and Great Britain, July
/ 22, 1892, and the supplementary convention
| OF February 3. 1894 AS to the remaining
| section OF the Alaskan boundary, which
| follows the one hundred and forty-hrst
| meridian northwardly from Mount st.
Elias TO the frozen ocean. the settlement
! of which involves the physical location
| OF the meridian mentioned, no conven-
| tional agreement has yet been made. In
the meantime the valley of the Yukon is
| becoming a highway throughout the
| hitherto unexplored wilds of Alaska, and
| abundant mineral wealth has been dis
| covered In that region. especially at or
| meridian with the Yukon and its tribu-
| taries. In these circumstances IL is
expedient, and indeed imperative. that
| the jurisdictional limits OF the respective
| governments in this new region be speed
| lily determined. Her Britannia majesty's
| government has proposed joint delimita-
/ uon OF the one hundred and forty-frst
| meridian by an international commission
| OF experts, which, If congress will author
| ize II and make due provisions therefor.
can be accomplished with no unreason-
| able delay 1t is impossible to overlook
| the vital Importance of continuing the
work already entered upon. and supple
menting 1t by further effective measures
looking 10 the exact location of this entire
boundary line.
1t being apparent that the boundary
dispute between Great Britain and the
Republic OF Venezuela concerning the
| limits of British Guiana was approaching
an acute stage, n definite statement OF
the interest and policy OF the United
| States as regards the controversy seemed
| TO be required both on it's own account
ana In view OF its relations with the
friendly powers directly concerned. In
July last. therefore, dispatch was ad-
dressed TO our ambassador at London for
communication TO the British government,
| in which the attitude of the United States
was fully and distinctly set forth. The
general conclusions therein reached and
| formulated are in substance that the tra-
| ditional and established policy OF this
| government is firmly opposed to forctble
increase by any European power of its
territorial possessions on this continent;
| that this policy is as well founded in
principle as 1t is strongly supported by
numerous precedents; that as q conse-
quence the United States is bound to pro-
| test against the enlargement OF the area
of British Guiana in derogation of the
rights and against the will OF Venezuela;
that, considering the disparity in strength
| of Great Britain and Venezuela, the ter
ritorial dispute between them can be rea-
sonably settled only by friends and i'm
partial arbitration, and that the resort to
such arbitration should include the whole
controversy, and is not satisfied If one OF
the powers concerned is permitted TO draw
| an arbitrary line through the territory
| i'm debate and to declare that il will sub
nit to arbitration only the portion lying
| on one side of II. In view of these con-
clusions, the dispatch in question called
| upon the British government for a definite
answer to the question whether IL would
or would not submit the territorial con-
| troversy between itself and Venezuela in
| Its entirety to impartial arbitration. The
answer of the British government has not
yet been received. but is expected shortly,
when further communication on the sub
Ject will probably be made to the con-
gross.
L call attention TO the unsatisfactory de-
| Limitation of the respective Jurisdiction of
the United States and the Dominion of
Canada, in the Great lakes at the ap-
proaches TO the narrow waters that con-
meet them. The waters in question are
frequented by fishermen Of both national
| tiles. and their nets are there used.
Owing TO the uncertainty and ignorance
| as TO the true boundary, veXatious dis
| putes and injurious seizures of boats and
nets by Canadian cruisers often occur. A
Joint commission TO determine the line
I'm those quarters, on practical basis, by
measured courses following range marks
on shore, is n necessity for which imme-
date provision should be made
Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An
insurrection, in some respects more active
than the last preceding revolt, which con-
tinued from 1865 to 1873. now exists In
large part of tho eastern interior of the
island, menacing even some populations
on the coast. Besides derangAg the COM
mercial 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 obedi-
ence TO our neutrality laws and 10 pre-
vent the territory of the United States
from which to aid those in arms against
Spanish sovereignty. Whatever may be
the traditional sympathy of our country
men az individuals with a people who
seem 10 be struggling for larger autonomy
and greater freedom. deepened as such
sympathy naturally must be in behalf of
our neighbors yet the plain duty of their
government is to observe I'm good faith
the recognized obligations OF international
relationship; The. performance of this
by disregard on the part OF our citizens
OF the obligations growing out of their
allegiance to their country, which should
restrain them from violating as individ-
uals the neutrality which the nation of
which they are members is bound TO OBJ
serve In its relations TO friendly sovereign
states. Though neither the warmth of
our peoples sympathy with the Cuban
insurgents. nor our loss and material
damage consequent upon the futile en-
deavors thus far made TO restore peace
and order, nor any shock our humane
sensibilities may have received from the
cruelties which appear to especially char
acterize this sangunary and fiery con-
Quoted war; have in the least shaken the
determination OF the government to
honestly fulfill every international obli-
every ground. that the devastation of
armed conflict may speedily be stayed and
order and quiet restored TO the distracted
island. bringing in their train the activity
made full disavowal and assurance of
non-recurrence of such an affair as the
firing on the American steamer Allianca
by a Spanish warship. Military arrests
OF Americans I'm Cuba by Spain's troops
have occurred, but we have demanded and
secured free civil trials under the most
favored nation treaty. The ng-standing
Mora claim has been paid by Spain.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued
to excite concern. The reported massacre
OF Christians in Armenia and the develop
ment there and in other districts of a
spirit of fanatic hostility to Christian in
huence naturally excited apprehension for
the safety of the devoted men and women
who as dependents of the foreign mis-
| sionary societies in the United States, re-
side i'm Turkey under the guarantee of
| law and usage and in the legitimate per-
| formanco OF their educational and
| religious mission No efforts have been
spared in their behalf and their protec-
| tion I'm person and property has been
| earnestly and vigorously enforced by
every means within our power. regret,
however. that an attempt on our part to
| obtain better information concerning the
true condition of affairs in the disturbed
quarter of the Ottoman empire, by send
| ing thither the United States consul at
Sivas to make investigation and report,
was thwarted by the objections of the
| Turkish government The presence of
our vessels which are now in the vicinity
| of the disturbed localities affords oppor-
tunity to acquire a measure of familiarity
with tho condition of affairs and will on