The Penn's Grove record., 1895-12-06

: ooua the Indians formally subjecting them
selves to be governed by the general laws
and regulations of the republic instead
Of by their own customs and regulations,
and thus availing themselves of a privilege
secured to them by the treaty between
Nicaragua and Great Britain of January
2S, 1860.
AFTER this extension Of uniform Nicar-
opuan administration to the Mosquito
strip, the case of the British Vice Consul,
Hatch, and of several of his countrymen,
Tho Occupation Of cerints.
who had been sumarily expelled from
Nicaragua and treated with considerable
indignity, provoked q claim by Great
Britain upon Nicaragua for pecuniary In
demnity, which, upon Nicaragua refusal
to admit liability was enforced by Great
Britain. While the sovereignty and juris-
diction Of Nicaragua were In NO way Ques-
toned by Great Britain. the formers ar
bitrary conduct In regard to British sub
iects, furnished the ground for this pro-
ceeding. A British naval force occupied
without resistance the pacific seaport of
Corinto; but was SCOT after withdrawn
upon the promise that the sum demanded
would be paid. Through this incident the
kindly Offices Of the United States were In
voked, and were employed in favor Of as
peaceful as settlement and as much CON
sideration and indulgence toward Nicsra-
qua as were consistent with the nature of
the case. Our efforts have since been made
the subject Of appreciative n grateful
recognition by Nicaragua.
Coronation Of the Gear.
The coronation of the Gar of Russia
at Moscow In May next invites the cere-
monial participation of the United States,
and in accordance with usage and diplo-.
matte propriety. our Minister to the I'M
uerial Court has been directed to repre-
sent our government on the occasion.
Correspondence Is on foot touching the
practice of Russian Consuls within the
jurisdiction of the United States to in
terrogate citizens as to their race and
thereof to deny the authentication of pass
ports or legal documents for use In Rus
STA. Inasmuch rs such q proceeding i'm
Ioses a disability. which In the case Of
succession to property In Russia may be
found to infringe the treaty rights of
citizens, and which il an obnoxious inva-
sion of our territorial Jurisdiction, 1t has
elected fitting remonstrance the result of
which 1t Is hoped will remove the cause
of complaint.
Preservation Of Seal Life.
The pending claims of sealing vessels
of the United States seized In Russian
waters remain unadjusted. Our recent
convention with Russia establishing
--l.. -fn~nl 80. 80 tpnnarsal furfodinfian
in such cases has presented further diff
Guilty of this nature. The Russian Govern
meat has welcomed in principle our sug-
gestion for a modus vivendi. to embrace
Great Britain and japan. looking to the
better preservation of seal life in the North
Pacific and Bering Sea. and the extern
sion of the protected area defined by the
tribunal to all Pacific waters north
of the thirty-6fth parallel.
1t is especially noticeable that Russia
favors prohibition of the use of firearms
In seal hunting throughout the proposed
area and q longer closed season for pc
lagic sealing.
The Treaty as to samos.
In my last two annual messages I called
the attention of the Congress to the posi-
ton we occupied as one Of the parties
to a treaty or agreement by which we
became jointly bound with England and
Germany to SO interfere with the govern
ment and control of Samoa as in effect
to assume the management Of its affairs.
On the 9th day of May. 1894, / trans
to the Senate a special message
with accompanying documents giving in
formation on the subject and emphasizing
he opinion / nave at all times entertained
that our situation in this matter was in
with the mission and traditions
Of our government. in violation Of the
we profess, and In all its phases
and vexatious.
I again press this subject upo the at
tention of the Congress. and ask for such
legislative action or expression as will
cad the way to our relief from obligations
both irksome and unnatural.