Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-04

ne GHlDICtIHcDl Ol ulllGISHtidi ahNA@9 against the products of this country ex- ported to Cuba and Porto Rico prompt ed the immediate claim on our part to the benefit of the minimum tariff of Spain in return sfor the most favorable treatment permitted by our laws as re- gards the protection of Spanish territo- ries commercial arrangement was concluded in January last securing the treatment so claimed. Vigorous pro- tests against excessive fines imposed on our ships and merchandise by the GUS tom officers of these islands for trivial errors have resulted in the remission of such fines in instances where the equity of the complaint was apparent, though the vexatious practice has not been wholly discontinued.
 Armenian Affairs.
 Occurrences in Turkey have continued to excite concern. The reported massa- cres of Christians in Armenia and the development there and in other districts of a spirit of fanatic hostility to Chris. tian influence naturally excited appre- hension for the safety of the devoted Men and women who, as dependents or the foreign missionary societies in the Unit ed States, reside In Turkey under the guarantee of law and usage and in the legitimate performance of their educa- tional and religious mission. No efforty have been spared in their behalf ane | their protection in person and property has been earnestly and vigorously en- forced by every means within our power.
 I regret, however, that an attempt on our part to obtain better informa ton concerning the true condition Of affairs in the disturbed quarter of the Ottoman empire, by sending thither the United States consul at Sivas to make an inves- tigation and report, was thwarted by the objections of the Turkish government. This movement on our part was in no sense means gratuitous en- tanglement of the United States in the so-called eastern question, tion, nor an officious interfer- ence with the right and duty which be- long by treaty with certain European powers, calling for their intervention in political ma alters affecting the good gov ernment and religious freedom of the non Musselman subjects of the sultan, but it arose solely from our desire to have .an accurate knowledge of the conditions and in our efforts to care for those enti- tied to our protection. The presence of our naval vessels which are nowl in the vicinity of the disturbed localities, af lords an opportunity to acquire meas ure of familiarity with the condition of affairs, and will enable us to take suitable steps for the protection of any interests of our countrymen within reach of our ships that might be found imperilled.
 Japan.
 Japan has furnished abundant evidence of her vast gain in every trait and char acteristic that constitutes a nations greatness. We have reasons for congrat- ulation in the fact that the government of the United States by exchange of lib- eral treaty stipulations with the new Ja- pan. was the first to recognize her won derful advance and to extend to her the consideration and confidence due her na- tional enlightenment and progressive character. .. Guatemala.
 The boundary dispute which lately threatened to embroil Guatemala and Mexico has happily yielded to pacific counsels and Its determination has by the joint agreement of the parties been submitted to the sole arbitration of the United States minister to Mexico
 The commission appointed under the convention of February IS. 1889, to set new monuments along the boundary be- tween the United States and Mexico has completed its task
 As sequel to the failure of a scheme for the colonization in Mexico of negroes. mostly emigrants from Alabama under contract, great number of these help less and suffering people, starving and Smitten with contagious disease made their way or were assisted to the frontier, where, in their wretched plight, they were quarantined by the Texas authori- ties. Learning of their destitute condi- ton, I directed rationS to be temporarily furnished them through the war depart ment At the expiration of their quar- antine they were conveyed by the rail- way companies at comparatively nomi- nal rates to their homes in Alabama upon my assurance, in the absence of any fund availab ble for the cost of their transporta- tion, that I would recommend to con- gress an appropriation for its payment l now strongly urge upon congress the proprtety of making such an appropria-. ton. It should be remembered that the measures taken were dictated not only by sympathy and humanity, but by a conviction that it was not compatible with the dignity of this government that so large body of our dependent citizena should be thrown for relief upon the charity of a neighboring state.
 Mosquito Reservation.
 Tn last years message I narrated at some length the jurisdictional questions then freshly arisen in the Mosquito In- dian strip of Nicaragua. Since that time, by the voluntary act of the Mosquito nation, the territory reserved to them has been Incorporated with Nicaragua, the Indians formally subjectng them selves to be governed by the general laws and regulations of the republic, in- stead of by their own customs and regu- lations. and thus availing themselves of d privilege secured to them by the treaty between Nicaragua and Great Britain of January 28 1860.
 Corinto Affair.
 After this extension of uniform admin istration to the Mosquito strip, the case of British Vice-Consul Hatch and of several of his countrymen who had been summarily expelled from Nicaragua and treated with considerable indignity pro- voked a claim by Great Britain upon Nicaragua for indemnity, which, upon Nicaraguas refusal to admit liability, was enforced by Great Britain. While the sovereignty of and jurisdiction of Nicaragua was in no way questioned by Great Britain, the formers arbitrary con- duct in regard to British subjects fur nished the ground for this proceeding. A British naval force occupied, without resistance. the Pacific seaport of Corinto, but was soon after withdrawn upon promise that the sum demanded would be paid.
 Throughout this incident the kindly offices of the United States were invoked and were employed in favor of as peace full a settlement and as much considera- ton and indulgence towards Nicaragua as were consistent with the nature of the case. Our efforts have since been made the subject of appreciative and grateful rec Cgnition by Nicaragua.