The Owosso times., 1898-12-09


plenipotentiary. The Russian ambassador
TO this country has since presented his cre-
denti2ls
CZAR's PEACE PROPOSAL.
An Assurance Given Of Our Readiness
to Take Fart I'm the Convention.
The proposal Of the czar for general re-
duction of the vast military establishments
that weigh so heavily upon many peoples
In time Of peace, was commu,. .cated to this
government. with an earnest invitation to
be represented In the conference which II
is contemplated to assemble with view
to discussing the means Of accomplishing
so desirable a result. His majesty was at
once informed of the cordial sympathy OF
this government with the principle In
volved in his exalted proposal, and or the
readiness of the United States to take part
In the conference. The active military
force Of the United States as measured by
our population, territorial area, and tax
able wealth, is, and under any conceivable
prospective conditions must continue to be-
In time of peace so conspicuously less than
that of the armed powers to whom the
cars appeal Is especially addressed, that
the question can have for us no practical
Importance save as marking an auspiGious
step toward the betterment OF the condition
of the modern peoples, and the cultivation
of peace and good will among them; but In
this view It behooves us as a marion 5nn3 20 iena
pfHR}s't;l TRe Claims q owners of American seal
ing vessels for seizure by Russian cruis-
ers in Behring sea are being pressed to q
settlement. The equities of the cases tusti-
fy the expectation that a measure or rep
aration will eventually be accorded In har-
mony with precedent and In the light OF the
proven facts
The recommendation made in my special
message Of April 21 last 10 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.
1895. by officers of the United States dis
trict court for the southern district of
said message make out most meritorious
claim, and justify the urgency with which
It has been presented by the government
Death of King of Samoa.
Malieta Laupepa, king of Samoa, died on
August % last According to article of
the general act of Berlin his successor
and customs of Samoa" Arrangements
having been agreed upon between the sig
NJ e ibs act for the xeS
Samoan chiefs. they were brought from
Jaluit by German war vessel and land
the death of Maiieta and the return of his
old-time rival Mataafa will add to the,
undesirable complications which the ex-
heretofore developed remains to be seen.
The efforts OF this government will as
heretofore be addressed towards a har-
of the international engagement to which
the United States became party In 1889.
some FIVE neeN Years. s' of coStroVersy S has @ Been
ment signed July g, 1897 an award Of 70s.-
Cheek estate from mortgage claims, hav-
Ing been rendered March q. 1898. in favor
Sf the claimant npn by the Sir
tice for China and Japan
An envoy from Siam has been accredited
to this government and has presented his
credentials.
Relations with Switzerland.
Immediately upon the outbreak Of the
war with Spain the Swiss government, full
filling the high mission 1t has deservedly
Red Cross. proposed to the United states
and Spain that they should severally REQ
ognize and carry into execution. as q modus
tiles the additional articles proposed by
the International conference at Geneva,
October 20. 1SCS extending tho effects OF
the existing Red Cross convention Of 1854
to the conduct Of naval war. Following
the example set by France and Germany
and in view of the accession of the United
states 20 those additional articles In 1882.
sasithoUgh the exehange Of ratifcations
proposal was promptly and cordially ao-
cepted by US and simultaneously by Spain
This government feels keen satisfaction
IN having thus been able to testify its ad-
herence to the broadest principles of hu-
manity even amidst the clash Of war and
II Is to be hoped that the extension Of the
as we'll as on Land may soon become an ac-
complished fact through the general pro-
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 alli-
ance or American citizens of Swiss origin
has not made hopeful progress toward a
solution, and controversies in this regard
Claims Against Turkey.
The newly accredited envoy of the United
States to the Ottoman porte carries in-
structons looking to the disposal of mat
ters In controversy with Turkey for num-
Der OF years. He is especially charged to
press for just settlement Of our c.aims for
indemnity oy reason of the destruction Of
the property OF American missionaries
resident in that country during the Ar
menian troubles of 1885 as we'll as for the
recognition Of older claims OF equal JUST
ness. He Is also instructed to seek an ad-
1ustment Of the dispute growing out Of the
refusal of Turkey to recognise the acquired
allied in the United States since 1869. With
out prior imperial consent; and In the same
general relation he IS directed to endeavor
to bring about solution OF the question
which has more or less acutely existed
since 1863 concerning the jurisdictional
rights Of the United States in matters of
article ~ of the treaty OF 1880. This latter
dificulty grows out OF a verbal difference,
claimed by Turkey to be essential. between
the original Turkish text and the pro-
mulgated translation. After more than
two years from the appointment Of a consul
of this country to Erzeroum he has re-
ceived his exeQuateur.
Great Britain and Venezuela.
The arbitral tribunal appointed under the
treaty Of February, 1897, between Great
Britain and Venezuela to determine the
boundary line 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 gov
ernment to see the friendly resort of arbi-
tration applied to the settlement of this
not alone because Of the earn
est 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, appropri-
ately testify the continuing interest we feel
In the defnitive adjustment OF the ques-