Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-07
NEGOTIATIONS wITn OTHER NATIONS
silver, Rcciproctty, Arbitration and
Rnris Expedition RcNicMcd.

| Under the provisions of the act of congress
approved March 3, 1897, for the promotion OF
an international agreement respecting hi
metallsm, l appointed on the 14th day of
April, 1897, Hon. Edward O. Wolcott of Colo
rado, Hon Adlai +. Stevenson of Illinois and
Hon. Charles j. Paine of Massachusetts as
Especial ENJOYS to represent the United
states. They have been diligeut In their
efforts to secure the concurrence and CO.
operation of European countries In the inter
national settlement of the question. but up
! TO this time have not been able to secure an
agreement contemplated by their mission.
The gratifying action OF our great sister
| republic of France in joining this country
| in tho attempt to bring about an agreement
between the principal commercial nations of
| Europe whereby fixed and relative value
| between gold and silver shall be secured
| furnishes assurance that we are not alone
among the larger nations OF the world in
realizing the International character of the
problem, and in the desire of reaching some
wise and practical solution of It, The British
government has published resume of the
steps taken Jointly by the French ambassador
| IN London and the special ENJOYS of this
United States with whom our ambassador at
| London actively co-operated in the presenta-
| tion of this subject to her majestys govern
ment This will be laid before congress
Our special ENJOYS have not made their
| Anal report as further negotiations between
the representatives of this government and
the governments of other countries are pend
| ing and in contemplation. They believe that
doubts which have be~1 raised In certain
quarters respecting the possibility OF main
tanning the stability Of the parity between
tho metals and kindred questions may yet
be solved by further negotiations.
| Meanwhile it gives me satisfaction to state
| that the special ENJOYS have already demon
strated their ability and titness to deal with
| the subject, and 1t is to be earnestly hoped
| that their iabors may result in an interna-
| tional agreement which will bring about
| recognition of both gold and silver as money
| upon such terms and with such safeguards
| as will secure the use Of both metals upon
| basis which shall work no injustice to any
| class of our citizens.
PROGRESS ON RECIPROCITY.
In order to execute as early ss possible the
provisions of the third and fourth sections
of the revenue act approved July "a 1897,
appointed Hon. John A. KesSon of Iowa a
! special commissioner plenipotentary to un-
| dertake the requisite negotiations with for
eign countries desiring to avail themselves
| of these provisions The negotiations are
now proceeding with several governments,
both European and American. 1t is believed
that by careful exercise of the powers
| conferred by that act some grievances of
our own and of other countries in our mutual
trade relations may be either removed or
| largely aevated, and that the volume of
| our commercial exchanges may be enlarged
with advantages TO DOtn contracting parties.
| Most desirable from every standpoint of
! national interests and patriotism is the ef-
| fort to extend our foreign commerce. To
| this end our merchant marine should be i'm
proved and enlarged. We should do our full
share OF the carrying trade of the world.
We do not do it now. We should be the
| aggard no longer. The inferiority of our
merchant marine iS justly humila.i'g to the
national pride The government, by every
proper constitutional means, should aid in
making our ships familiar visitors at every
| commercial port of the world, thus opening
up new and valuable markets to the surplus
products of the farm and the factory.
PROTECTION OF SEALS.
The efforts which had been made during
the two previous years by my predecessor
to secure better protection to the fur seals
| in the north Pacific ocean and Bering sea
were renewed at an early date by this ad-
| ministratiou and have been pursued with
| earnestness. Upon my invitation the gov
ernments of Japan and Russia cent delegate
| to Washington, and an international confer
| ence was held during the months of October
and November last, wherein it was unani-
mously agreed that under the existing regu-
| latiorS this species of useful animals wac
threatened with extinction, and that an in
| ternational agreement of all the interested
powers was necessary for their adequate pro-
lection.
Tho government of Great Britain did not
see proper to be represented at this confer
encc, but subsequently sent to Washington
as delegates the expert commissioners OF
Grelt Britain and Canada, who had during
the past two years visited the Pribyloif
islands and who met in conference similar
| commissioners on the part of tle United
States. The result of this conference was
an agreement on important facts corrected
| with the condition of tle seal herd heret o.
foro in dispute, which should place beyond
controversy the duty of the governments
concerned to adopt measures without delay
for the preservation and restoration of the
| herd. Negotiations to this end are DOW in
| progress, the result of which | hope to be
able to report to congress at an early day.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
International arbitration cannot be omitted
from the list Of subjects clamoring for our
consideration. Events have only served to
strengthen the general views on this ques-
tion expressed in my inaugural address.
| The best sentiment of the civilized world Is
moving toward the settlement of differences
| between nations without resorting to the hor-
rors of war Treaties embodying these
humane principles on broad lines without IN
any way imperilng our interests or our
honor snail have my constant encourage
ment.
The acceptance by this government of the
invitation of the republic Of France to par
| ticipate in the Universal exposition of 1900
, at Paris was Immediately followed by the
appointment of a special commissioner to
| represent the United States in the proposed
exposition, with special reference to the
securing of an appropriation for an ade-
quate exhibition on behalf Of the United
States. The special commissioner delayed
his departure for Paris long enough to as
certain the probable demand for space by
| American exhibitors His inquiries developed
an almost unprecedented interest in the
proposed exposition and the information thus
| acquired enabled him to Justify an applica-
ton for a much larger allotment of space
for the American section than had been re-
served by the exposition authorities. The
result was particularly gratifying in view
of the fact that the United States was one
OF the last countries TO accept the invitation
| OF France.
The reception accorded our special com
missioner was most cordial and he was
given every reasonable assurance that the
United States would receive a consideration
commensurate with the proportions of our
exhibition. The reports of the special COM
missioner as to the Importance and magni-
tude CT the coming exposition and the great
demand for space for American exhibits sup
plies new arguments for a liberal and ju-
dicous appropriation by congress to the end
that an exhibit fairly representative OF the
industries and resources of our country may
be made in an exposition which will illus
trate the worlds progress during the nine
teenth century That exposition is intended