Evening star., 1898-12-05

that weigh so heavily upon many peoples in
time OF peace was communicated TO this
Government with earnest invitation to
be represented in the conference which 1t Is
contemplated to assemble with view to
discussing the means of accomplishing
desirable a result. His Majesty was at once
informed of the cordial sympat thy of this
Government with the principle Involved in
his exalted proposal and Of the readin sss of
the United States to take part in the con-
ference. The active military forces of the
United States. as measured by our popula-
tion. territorial area. and taxable wealth,
is. and under any conceivable prospective
conditions must continue TO be. in time of
peace conspicuously less than that of
the armed powers TO whom the Tsar's ap-
peal is especially addressed that the ques-
tton can have for US practical import
aEce save marking auspicious step
toward the betterment of the condition of
the modern peoples and the cultivation of
peac, and good will among them; but In
this view 1t behooves US nation to lend
cOuntenance and aid to the beneficent pro-
ject.
The claims of owners of American sealing
vessels for seizure by Russian cruisers in
RerinG Sea beiTg pressed to a settle
ment. The equities of the cases justify the
expectation lQaI Il measure Oh TepdTdtlOH
Will eventually be accorded in harmony with
precedent and in the light of the proven
facts.
The recommendation made in my special
message of April nth last is renewed, that
appropriation be made to reimburse the
master and owners of the Russian bark
Hans for wrongful arrest of the master and
detention of the vessel in February, 1896
by officers of the United States district
court for the southern district of Missis-
sppi. The papers accompanying my said
message make ont most meritorious
claim. and justify the urgency with which
1t has been presented by the Government
Of Russia.
Malietoa Laupepa, King of Samoa. died
on August 22d last According to Article
l Of the general act of Berlin his successor
shalt he duly elected according to the laws
and customs of Samoa"
Arrangements having been agreed upon
between the signatories of the general act
for the return of Mataafa and the other
exiIed Samoan chiefs, they were brought
from Jaluit by a German war vessel and
landed al Apia on September 18th last.
Whether the death of Malietoa and the
return of his old-time rival Mataafa will
add to the undesirable complications which
the execution of the tripartite General Act
has heretofore developed remains to be seen.
The efforts of this government will, as
heretofore, be addressed toward harno-
nious and exact fulflIment of the terms of
the International engagement to which the
United States became a party in 1859.
The Cheek claim against Siam, after some
FIVE years Of controversy. has been adjusted
nv arbitration, under an agreement signed
July g. 1897. an award of 10G.T21 ticals
,about sIs7.9S1.7s). with releasa of the Cheek
estate from mortgage claims, having been
rendered March n, 1Sts, in favor of the
claimant by the arbitrator. Sir Nicholas
John Hammer. British Chief Justice for
China and Japan.
An envoy from Siam has been accredited
10 this government and has presented his
credentials.
Immediately upon the outbreak of the war
with Spain TIE Swiss Government, fulfilling
the high mission it has descrvedly assumed
the patron of the international Red
Cross. proposed to the United States and
Spain that they should severaIly recognize
and carry into execution, as a mOdus vi
vendi during the continuance of hostiiities.
the additional articles proposed by the in
tsrnational conference of Geneva, October
81. 1868. extending the effects Of the ex-
listing Red Cross convention of 1854 to the
conduct of naval war Following the exam
pie set by France and Germany in 1870 in
adopting such modus vivendi. and in view
Of the accession of the United States to
these additional articles in 1882, although
the exchange of ratifications thereof still
remained Unaffected. the Swiss proposal was
promptly and cordially accepted by US, and,
simultaneously, by Spain.
This Government feels a keen satisfaction
in having thus been enabled to testify its
adherence to the broadest principles of hu-
ranity even amidst the clash of war. and
it is to be hoped that the extension of the
Red Cross compact TO hostilities by sea as
We'll land may soon become
complIshed fact through the general pro-
mitigation OF the additional naval Red
Cross articles by the maritime powers now
parties to the Convention OF 1864.
The important question of the claim of
Switzerland to the perpetual cantonal al
legiauce of American citizens of Swiss
origin has not made hopeful progress to-
ward solution. and controversies in this
regard still continue.
The newly accredited envoy of the United
States to the Ottoman Porte carries in
structions looning to the disposal of mat
ters in controversy with Turkey for a num-
ber of years He is especially charged t.
press for a just settlement of our claiu
for indemnity by reason of the destruction
OF the property of American missionaries
resident in that country during the Ar
menian troubles of 1SS,. as well as for the
recognition of Older claims Of equal just
ness.
lie is also instructed to seek an adjust
ment of the dispute growing out + The
refusal of Turkey TO recognize the acquired
citizenship Of Ottoman-bo born persons nat
UrsiIzed in the United States since 1869
without prior imperial consent: and in the
same general relation he is directed - en-
deavor 10 bring about a solution If the
question whlCl has more OF less acut=ly
existed since 1869 concerning the jurisdic-
u"nal tights OF the nited States in mat
ters of criminal procedure anu punishment
under Art4c4e N Of the treaty of 1880.
This latter difficulty grows out of verbal
difference. Gained by Turkey to be essen
tial, between The original Turkish text and
the promulgated translation.
After more tnan two years from the at
p"intment OF consul of this country TO
ZrZeruTn. he has received his exequatur
The arbltfa. trIUunaI appointed under the
treaty OF FEBRUARY =, 1897, between Great