The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-03-12
A ROUGH ROAD AHEAD
PROBLEMS FOR THE M'KIN-
LEY ADMINISTRATIONS.
Cuba, Alnsiian boundary, Haw ,iinn An
nexation and German Exclusion All
Demand Early Attention-Mr Oiney


WASHINGTON, March 6.-President
Mckinley is obliged to face at the very
beginning of his assumption to power
many and important questions affect
ing the foreign relations OF the United
States. Some of them may be for IL
time kept in the background. but
others of great gravity are likely to
force themselves upon his immediate
attention.
Foremost and of the greatest inter
est to the people of the United States
is the subject of relations towards
Cuba 1t is understood to be the pol
icy of the new President to deal with
this matter deliberately and not to
undertake to depart from the policy
with which it has so far been treated,
at least not until internal financial af-
fairs shall have been settled. But the
situation is such that it is not safe to
predict that through some act of u
subordinate among either the Spanish
forces or in the insurgent lines the
administration will not be forced to
depart from its plans and direct atten-
ton at short notice to this dangerous
subject.
One of the issues that was carried
over from the Harrison administra-
ton, but which now stands in very
different shape from that it held then
is the subject of Hawaiian annexation.
r1a oif IF ha tcla N
lie have come to look upon the Re-
publicans as their friends and have
for some time been engaged in care
fully prepared agitation to further
their ends. They will seek, with the
aid Of powerful friends in and ont of
Congress, to induce the President to
negotiate new annexation treaty.
As to the Alaskan fur seal complied
ton backed by the highest expert
authority, ex-Secretary Olney said at
the close of his administration of the
state department: THE fur seal herd
is threatened with utter ruin unless
some changes are speedily made in the
award regulations" Yet he was I'M
able to induce the British government
to make these, influenced as it was by
the fear of the adverse effect upon the
political status OF British Columbia,
the home of the seal pirates.
As senator, Mr.. Sherman has clearly
indicated his wish for the ratification
of the general arbitration treaty and
President McKinleys inaugural add
dress leaves no room for doubt as to
the administration policy. Mr. Sher-
mans senate record also shows that he
will be found resisting sturdily all
efforts to surrender charge of Samoa
under the tripartite alliance.
The new tariff bill may put Il severe
strain upon the relations with some OF
the great European powers and first
of all with Germany. 1t is understood
to be the intention of Congress to pro-
vide for active retaliation upon The ma
tionS that have barred American meat
products and cattle from their markets
and among these Germany is the chief
offender Complaints of the unwhole-
someness of American meats have been
responded to by the United States by
the establishment of the most rigid in
spection system and the challenges to
produce evidence of the charges have
resulted in failures on the part OF the
accusers. A long series of consular
reports make clear the fact that these
charges are but subterfuges and that
the real purpose is to exclude not only
American meats, but all American
products that threaten to compete
with German and French, Belgium
and Dutch agricultural or industrial
products.
Secretary Olney also left to his sue
cessor the negotiations looking to an
abatement of the restrictive regula-
tions which have choked the life out
of the American insurance companies
seeking to continue business in Ger
many. What Secretary Sherman will
do in this matter cannot be told.
With the French the administration
starts unincumbered by diplomatic
issues of moment, excepting so far as
that country may be involved wi,
Germany in the settlement of the meat
exclusion question. If, however. the
general arbitration treaty with Great
Britain should be concluded, it is COR
fidently expected that France will seek
to enter into similar arrangement
with the United States, which can be
conSummated only with great diff
Guilty. owing to the radical difficulty
between the judicial systems OF the
two countries.
The conditions in Turkey are such
as to require the greatest vigilance
and circumspection. Heretofore Amer
ica's efforts have been confined strictly
to guarding the interests of American
citizens in that country. and it is safe
to predict that this policy will be con-
tinued, so that there is little prospect
of a serious Disagreement unless resist
anca shall he met to demands for rea-
sonable indemnity for the pecuniary
losses suffered by Americans during
the Armenian uprising.