The times., 1898-12-06

mating the San Jose scale insect. This
precautionary measure was justified by
Germany on the score Of the drastic steps
taken in several States of the Union
against the spread Of the pest the eiab-
crate reports Of the Department Of Ag-
riculture being put In evidence to show
the danger to German fruit-growing In
terests should the scale obtain a lodg-
ment in that country. Temporary relief
was afforded In the case of large consign-
ments of fruit then on the way by inspec-'
ton and admission when found non-in-
fected. Later the prohibition was extend
ed to dried fruits of every kind, but was
relaxed so as to apply only to unpeeled
fruit and fruit waste. As was to be ex-
pected. the alarm reached to other coun-
tries, and Switzerland4hzB adopted SIM
liar inhibition. Efforts. are, in progress to
induce the German and Swiss Govern
ments to relax the prohibition In favor OF
dried fruits shown to have been cured
under circumstances rendering the exist
ence of animal life Impossible.
RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND.
Our relations with Great Britain have
continued on the most friendly footing
Asserting to our request. the profession
of Americans and their interests in Span
ish Jurisdiction was assumed by the dip
lomatic and consular representatives of
Great Britain, who fulfilled their deli
cate and arduous trust with tact and
zeal. eicitng high commentator. may
be allowed to make fitting al usion to the
instance of Mr.. Ramsden, Her Maiesty's
consul al Santiago de Cuba, whose un-
timely death after distinguished service
and untiring effort during the siege CT
that city was sincerely lamented.
In the early n anriI last
suant to request made at the instance
of the Secretary of State by the British
ambassador at this Capital, the Canadian
government granted facilities for the
passage of four United States revenue
cutters from the Great Lakes to the At
lantic Coast by way of the Canadian ca
mails and the St. Lawrence River. The
vessels had reached Lake Ontario and
were there awaiting the opening of navi-
CATION when war was declared betw cen
the United States and Spain. Her Ma
jcsty's government thereupon. by a COM
munication OF the latter part of April
stated that the permiss ion granted fore
the outbreak of hostilities would not b,
withdrawn provided the United States
Government gave assurance that the
vessels in question would proceed direct
to a United States port without engaging
in any hostile operation. This Govern
ment promptly agreed to the stipulated
condition. it being understood that the
vessels would not be prohibited from re-
| sisting any hostile attack.
TRADE WITH CANADA.
| 1t will give me especial satisfaction If
shall be authorized to communicate to
| you a favorable conclusion of the pending
negotiations with Great Britain in re-
spect to the Dominion OF Canada 1t s
| the earnest wish of this Government to
/ remove all sources of d.sco-d and irrita-
! tion in our relations with the neighb y ing
! Dominion. The trade between tie tw1
! countries is constantly Increasing. and 1t
/ is important TO both countries that all
reasonable facilities should be granted
| for its development.
| The government OF Greece strongly
| urges the onerousness of the duty here
! imposed upon the currants of that coun-
try, amounting to 100 per cent or more
of their market value. This fruit is stat
, ed to be exclusively Greek product not
coming into competition with any domes-
tic product. The question OF reciprocal
commercial relations with Greece inciud-
Ing the restoration of currants to the free
list. is under consideration.
The long-standing claim of Bernard
tdI4lDfAi lDI hdIudHeS LOT injuries SuS-
tanned from a violent assault committed
against him by military authorities In the
Island of Haiti, has been settled by the
| agreement of that republic to pay him
$4,000 in American gold. OF this sum
S5,CG0 has already been paid 1t is hoped
that other pending claims of American
citizens against that republic may be ami
cably adjusted,
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
Pending the consideration by the Sem
ate of the treaty signed June 16. 1897, by
the plenopotentiaries of the United States
and of the Republic of Hawaii, providing
for the annexation OF the Islands, a Joint
( resolution to accomplish the same pur-
pose by accepting the offered cession and
Incorporating the ceded territory into the
Union was adopted by the Congress and
approved July !. 1885. Il thereupon direct
ed the United States steamship Philadel-
phia to convey Rear Admiral Miller to
Honolulu, and intrusted to his hands this
important legislative act to be delivered
to the President Of the Republic of Ha-
waii, with whom the admiral and the
United States minister were authorized to
make appropriate arrangements for
transferring the sovereignty of the ISL
ands to the United States This was sim
ply but impressively accomplished on the
18th of August last, by the delivery of a
certified copy of the resolution to Presi-
dent Dole, who thereupon yielded I'D tc
the representative of the Government OF
the United States the sovereignty and
public property of the Hawaiian Islands
Pursuant to the terms of the joint reso-
luton and in exercise of the authority
thereby conferred upon me. l directed tha,
the civil. judicial and military powers
heretofore exercised by the officers of the
Government of the Republic of Hawaii
should continue TO be exercised by those
officers until Congress shall provide gov
ernment for the incorporated territory
subject to my power to remove such Of
ficers and to fill vacancies. The President
officers. and troops of tbe Republic there
upon took the oath of allegiance to the
United States. thus providing for the un-
interrupted continuance of all the ad-
ministrative and municipal functions oi
the annexed territory until Congress shall
otherwise enact.
Following the further provision of this
joint resolution. ! appointed the Honor
able Shelby NJ. Cullom, of Illinois; Johr
T. Morgan. of Alabama Robert R. Hit
ofsIllinois; Sanford B. Dole. of Hawaii
and Walter F. Frear. of Hawaii, as com
| missioners to confer and recommend Il
Congress such legislation concerning TIL,
Hawaiian Islands as they should deem
necessary or proper. The Commissioner.
having fulfilled the mission confded t.
them. their report will be laid befor yo,
at an early day. 1t is believed that tiIei
recommendations will have the earnes
consideration due to the magnitude of tn,
responsibility resting upon you to Civ
such shape to the relationship of thos
mid Pacific lands to our home Union al
will benefit both in the highest degree
realizing the aspirations of the communit,
that has cast its lot with us and electe,