The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-12-07
czAR.s PEACE PROPOSAL.
An Assurance Given of Our Readiness
10 Take Part I'm the Convention.

duction of the vast military establishments
that weigh so heavily upon many peoples
In time of peace. was communicated TO this
government, with an earnest invitation TO
be represented in the conference which II
Is contemplated 10 assemble with view
10 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 i'm his exalted proposal, and OF 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.
I'm time of peace so conspicuously less imam
that Of the armed powers 10 whom the
cars appeal is especially addressed, tina
the question can have for us no practicai
Importance save as marking an ausplclous
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 il behooves us as nation 10 lend
countenance and aid TO the benehcent
The claims of owners of American seal
ing vessels for seizure by Russian crulS-
ers in Behring sea are being pressed 10 a
settlement. The equities OF the cases 1usu-
fy the expectation that a measure OF 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 q 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 dis
trict court for the southern district OF
Mississippi. The papers accompanying my
said message make out most meritorious
claim, and justify the urgency with which
it has been presented by the government
of Russia
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
natories of the general act for the re-
Samoan chiefs, they were brought from
Jaluit by German war vessel and land
ed at Apia on September Is last. Whether
the death of Malieta and the return of his
old-time rival Mataafa will add to the
undesirable complications which the eX-
ecution of the tripartite general act has
heretofore developed remains to be seen.
The efforts of this government will as
heretofore be addressed towards a har-
monious and exact fulfiiment OF the terms
of the international engagement TO which
the United States became party in 1889
The Cheek claim against Siam after
some five years of controversy has been
adjusted by arbitration, under an agree
ment signed July 8. 1897, an award of 706,-
721 ticals about $1S7.9SD. with release of the
Cheek estate from mortgage claims, hav-
ing been rendered March Il, 1898, in favor
of the claimant, by the arbitrator. Sir
Nicholas John Hammer, British chief JUS
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 it. has deservedly
assumed as the patron of the international
Red Cross, proposed to the United States
and Spain that they should seVerally rec
ogniZe and carry into execution, as a modus
Vivendi, during the continuance Of hostil-
tiles the additional articles proposed by
the international conference at Geneva,
October 20. 1865 extending the effects of
the existing Red Cross convention of 1864
10 the conduct of naval war. Following
the example set by France and Germany
in 1870 in adopting such a indus vivendi
and in view Of the accession of the United
states to those additional articles in 1882
although the exchange of Publications
thereof still remain Unaffected, the Swiss
proposal was promptly and cordially ac-
copied by us and simultaneously by Spain.
This government feels a keen satisfaction
in having thus been able to testify its adj
herence TO the broadest principles of hui
manly even amidst the clash of war, and
II is TO be hoped that the extension of the
Red Cross compact TO hostilites by sea
as well as on land may soon become an ac-
complshed 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 alli-
ance of American citizens of Swiss origin
has not made hopeful progress toward a
solution, and controversies in this regard
still continue.
Claims Against Turkey.
The newly accredited envoy of the United
States 10 the Ottoman porte carries in
structions looking 10 the disposal of mat
tiers I'm controversy with Turkey for a num-
Der of years. He is especially charged to
press for just settlement of our claims for
indemnity by reason OF the destruction of
the property of American missionaries
resideS in that country during the Ar
menian troubles of 1895 as well as for the
recognition Of older claims Of equal just
ness. He is also instructed to seek an ad-
justment Of the dispute growing out of the
refusal of Turkey to recognize the acquired
citizenship Of Ottonan-b born persons natur-
allied in the United States since 1869. with
out prior imperial consent; and I'm the same
general relation he is directed to endeavor
to bring about a solution of the question
which has more or less acutely existed
since 1869 concerning the jurisdictional
rights Of the United States in matters of
criminal procedure and punishment under
article " of the treaty Of 1880 This latter
difficulty grows out of 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. II is a
source Of much qualification TO this gov
eminent TO see the friendly resort of arbi-
tration applied to the settlement Of this
controversy 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, approDri-
ately testify the continuing interest we feel
in the defnitive adjustment of the ques-
ton according to the strictest rules of JUS
tice. The British members. Lord Herschell
and Sir Richard Collins are turists Of no
less exalted repute, while the fifth MEM
Der and president Of the tribunal, NJ f. De
Martens, has earned worldwide replIta-
ton as an authority upon international
law.
The claim Of Felipe Scandella against
Venezuela for arbitrary expulsion and in
jury to his business has been adjusted by
the revocation of the order Of expulsion
and by the payment OF the sum of $4,000
bureau of American Republics.
I have the satisfaction Of being able To
state that the bureau OF the American. re-
publics, created In 1890 as the organ for