The herald., 1898-12-06

the general act Of Berlin, "his successo
shall be duly elected according to the law
and customs of Samoa" Arrangement
having been agreed upon between the sigma
tories of the general act for the return o
Malaafa and the other .exiled Samoa,
chiefs, they were brought from Jaluit by
German war vessel and landed at Apia OIL
September Is last
Whether the death of Malietoa and tn
return of his old-time rival, Mataafa, vii
add to the undesirable complications which
the execution of the tripartite general ac
has heretofore developed remains to b,
seen. The efforts of this government, will
as heretofore, be addressed towards har
monious and exact fulfllment of the term
OF the international engagement to which
the United States became party in 1889.
RELATIONS WITH SIAM
The Cheek claim against SIAM after somt
five years of controversy, has been adjusted
by arbitration, under an agreement signec
July 6, 1898, an award of $706, 72l tical,
(about $lS7,9S7) with the release of the
Cheek estate from mortgage claims, having
been rendered, March 81, 1898, in favor OF
the claimant by the f.rbitrator, Sir Nichol. q
John Hannah, British Chief Justice fo
China and Japa.n.
An envoy from Siam has been accredited
to this government and mas presented hi.
credentig,e.
lc.sGERNATIONAL RED CROSS
l.hmediately upon the outbreak OF the wal
with Spain, the Swiss government, fulfilling
che high mission it has deservedly assumed
as the patron of the International Red Cross
proposed to the United States and Spain
that they should sevcrally recognize anc
carry into execution as a modus vivendi, dur
ing the continuance OF hostilitics, the addi
tional articles proposed by the international
conference &C Geneva October 20, 1868, eX
tending tie effects of the existing Red Gross
convention of 1864 to the conduct of nava
war. Following the example set by France
and Germany in 1870, in adopting such 9
podus viyendi, and in view of the accession
Of the United States to those additional
articles in 1882, although the exchange OF
ratification thereof still remained unaffected
the Swiss proposal was promptly and cordi
oily accepted by US and simultaneously by
Spain.
This government feels keen satisfaction
in having thus been enabled to testify its
adherence to the broadest principles Of hui
manity, 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
well as on land, may soon become an accom-.
plished fact through the general promulga-
tions of additional naval Red Cross articles
convention of 1864.
The important question of the claim Of
Switzerland to the perpetual cantonal ale
glance OF American citizens of Swiss origin
has not made hopeful progress toward So
luton, and controversies in this regard still
continue.
TROUBLES WITH TURKEY
The newly accredited envoy of the United
States to the Ottoman Porte carries instruc-
tions looking to the disposal of matters in
controversy with Turkey for number of
years. He is especially charged to press for
a Just settlement of our claims for indemnity
by reason of the destruction of property of
American missionaries resident in that coun-
try during the Armenian troubles of 1895,
as well as Of the recognition of older claims
OF equal business. He is also instructed to
seek an adjustment of the dispute growing
out Of the refusal of Turkey to recognize the
acquired citizenship of Ottoman born citi-
Eens naturalized in the United States since
lSS9, without prior imperial consent, and
IN the same general relation he is directed to
endeavor to bring about a solution of the
question which has more or less acutely ex-
Isted since 1869 concerning the jurisdiction
and rights of the United States in matters
of criminal procedure and punishment under
Article Nv of the treaty of 1880. This latter
difficulty grows out of verbal difference
claimed by Turkey to be essential, between
the origrlal Turkish text and the promulgat-
ed tran station.
Alter more than two years from the ap-
poin.ment of Consul of this country to Er.
zerrum he has received his exequatur.
VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY
The arbitral tribunal appointed under the
treaty of February, 1897, between Great
Dritaln and Venezuela to determine the
boundary between the latter and the colony
OF British Guiana is to convene at Paris
during the present month. 1t is a source of
much qualification to this government to
see the friendly resort of arbitration an.
pied to the settlement of this controversy.
not alone because of the earnest part we have
had in bringing about the result, but also
because the two members named on behalf
OF Venezuela, Mr.. Chief Justice Fuller and
Mr. Justice Brewer, chosen from our highest
court, appropriately, testify the continuing
interest we feel in the definite adjustment
OF the question according to the strictest
rules OF justice. The British members. Lord
Herschel and Sir Richard Collins, are iurists
OF no less exalted repute, while the fifth
member and President of the tribunal. NJ.
r. De Martens, has earned a worldwide
reputation as an authority upon interna-
tional law
- The claim of Felipe Scandella AGAINST
Venezuela for arbitrary expulsion and ininrv
to his business, has been adjusted by the
revocation of the order of expulsion and by
the payment of the sum of $4,000.
PAN-AMERICAN BUREAU
l have the satisfaction of being able to
state the Bureau OF American Republics.
created IN 1880, as the organ for promoting
commercial intercourse and fraternal rela-
tlons among the countries of the Western
n!emlspheres, has become more efficient
instrument of the wise purpose of its found
ers and Is receiving the cordial support of
the contributing members of the Interna.
!lonal Union which are actually represented
m Its board of management. A commercial
directory IN two volumes, containing mass
OF statistical matter, descriptive of the in
dustrial and commercial interests of the
various countries, has been printed in En-
gllsh, Spanish, Portuguese and German, and
monthly bulletin published in these four
languages and distributed in the Latin
american countries will, as in the United
States, prove to be a valuable medium for
disseminating information and furtbering
tne varied interests OF the International
Union. During the past year the important
work OF collecting information of practical
benefit to American industries and trade
through the agency of diplomatic and CON
sular officers has been steadily advanced,
ana IN order to lay such data before the
f"'N W." ,ie iedst uelay tne practice was
begun in January, 1885, of issuing the com
mercial reports from day to day, and as
they are received by the Department of
State, 1t is believed that for promptitude
as well as fullness of information, the
service thus supplied to our merchants and
manufacturers will be found to show sensible
and to merit the liberal sun
port of Congress. sup
WARS WOEFUL WASTE
=, The experiences OF the last year bring fore.