The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06

of this government TO remove all source of
discord and irritation in our relations with
the neighboring dominion. The trade be-
tween the two countries is constantly in
creasing, and it is important that both couu-
tries that all reasonable facilities should be
granted for its development.
THE CARS PROPOSITION.
The proposal of the Gar for a general re-
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 1t is
contemplated to assemble with view to dis
cussng the means of accomplishing so de-
sirable a result. His Majesty was at once
informed of the cordial sympathy Of this
government with the principle involved in
his exalted proposal, and of the readiness
of the United States TO take part IN the con-
terence. The active military force OF the
United States. as measured by our popula-
ton, territorial area and taxable wealth,
lS, ana under any conceivable prospective
conditions, must continue to be, IN time OF
peace, so conspicuOusly less than that or
the armed powers to whom the Car appear
is especially addressed, that the question
can have for US no practical Importance
save as marking an suspicious step toward
the betterment of the condition OF the mod
ern peoples and the cultivation OF peace ana
good will among them; but in this view 1t
behooves US as a nation to lend countenance
and aid to the benehcent PROJECT. .
The claims of owners of American sealing
vessels for seizure by Russian cruisers in
Berng sea are being pressed TO settlement.
The equities of the case justify the expecta-
ton that a measure of PREPARATION VIII
eventually be accorded in harmony with
facts
The recommendation made in my special
message of April n last is renewed: that APP
preparation be made to reimburse the mas
ter and owners of the Russian bark hans
for wrongful arrest of the master and de-
officers Of the United States District. Court
for the Southern district of MISSISSIPPI. me
papers accompanying my said message make
out most meritoriouS claim, and JUSTIFY the
urgency with which 1t has been presented Dy
the government of Russia.
His Majesty, the. Gar, having announced
his purpose to raise the imperial Russian
mission at this capital to the rank OF an en-
basSy. / responded under the authority con-
ferred by the act of March 3. 1873, py COM
missioning and accrediting the actual repre-
sentative at st. Petersburg in the capacity
of ambassador extraordinary ana plenpo-
tertiary. The Russian ambassador TO inns
country has since presented his credentials.
The government of Greece strongly urges
the onerousness of the duty here imposed
upon the currants of that country, amount
ing to 100 per cent or more or their marker
value This fruit is stated to be exclusively
Greek product, not coming into compeu-
ton with any domestic product. The ques-
ton of reciprocal commercial relations with
Greece, including the restoration of cur
rants to the free list, is under consideration
The. long-standing claim of Berand Camp
bell for damages for injuries sustained from
violent assault committed against MN by py
military authorities in the Island OF Haiti
has been settled by the agreement or that
republic to pay him $4,000 in American gold.
OF this sum 5000 has already been paid. 1t
is hoped that other pending claims of Amer
lean citizens against that republic may De
amicably adjusted.
COMMERCIAL TREATIES.
The commercial arrangements made with
France on May %. 1898, under the provf-
sions of Section of the tariff act of 1897.
went into effect on June J. following. 1t
has relieved a portion of our export trade
from serious embarrassment Further ne
gotiations are now pending under Section
of the same act, with the view of an In
crease of trade between the two countries
to their mutual advantage. Negotiations
with other governments, in part interrupted
by the war with Spain. are in progress UNI
der both sections of the tariff act L nope
to be able to announce some OF the results
of these negotiations during the present SEES
sion of Congress.
Negotiations to the same end with Ger
many have been set on foot. Meanwhile no
effort has been relaxed to convince the I'M
perial government of the thoroughness OF
our inspection Of pork products FOR eXpor-
tation and it is trusted that the efficient
administration of this measure by the De-
partment of Agriculture will be recognized
as a guarantee of the healthfulness OF the
food staples we send abroad to countries
where their use is large and necessary.
/ transmitted to the Senate on Feb. 10
last information touching the pr0hlDltlon
against the importation of fresh fruits from
this country. which had then recently been
decreed by Germany on the ground or dan
ger of disseminating the San Jose scale in
sect. This precautionary measure was JUS
titled by Germany on the score of the
drastic steps taken in several States of the
Union against the spread of the pest, the
elaborate reports of the department being
put in evidence as showing the danger to
German fruit-growing interests, should the
insects gain foothOld in that country.
fTpmpOT9rV 9ffOr0e0 large con-
signment of fruits then on the way by in
spection and admission when found nom
infected. Later the prohibition was extended
to dried fruits of every kind, but was re-
Taxed so as to apply only to unpeeled fruit
and fruit waste. AS was to be expected,
the alarm reached to other countries, and
Switzerland has adopted similar inhibi-
ton.
Efforts are in progress to induce the Ger
man and Swiss governments to relax the
prohibition in favor of dried fruits shown
to have been cured under circumstances
rendering the existing of animal life inn
possible.
I trust the Belgian restriction on the i'm
portatiOns Of cattle from the United States,
originally adopted as a sanitary precautton,
will at an early date be satisfied as to the
present and future hardship and discrimina-
ton so as to admit live cattle under due
regula ton of their slaughter after landing.
] am hopeful, too, of a favorable change Of
the Belgian treatment of our preserved and
salted meats. The growth of direct trade
between the two countries, not alone for
Belgian consumption and Belgian products,
but by way of transit from and to other
continental states, has been both encour-
aging and beneficial. No effort will be spared
to enlarge it's advantages by seeking the re-
mOval of needless lmpedimentS and by ar
rangements for increased commercial ex-
changes.
The important question of the claim OF
Switzerland to the perpetual cantonal al
legiance of American citizens of Swiss or
igin has not made hopeful progress toward
a solution, and controversies in this regard
still continue.
The coronation of the young Queen of
the Netherlands was made the occasion
of fitting congratulations.
THE RED CROSS
Upon the outbreak of the war with Spain
the Swiss government, fulfilling the high
mission it has deservedly assumed as the
patron Of the international Red Cross, pro-
posed to the United States and Spain that
they should severally recognize and carry
into execution as a modus vivendi during
the continuance of histilities the additional
articles proposed by the international con-
ference Of Geneva, Oct. 90 1858, extending
the effects of the existing Red Cross conven-
ton Of 1864 to the conduct of naval war;
Following the example set by France anG
Germany in 1870 in adopting such a modus
Vivendi and In view of the accession of the
in 1882, although the exchange Of ratifica-
lions thereof still remained Unaffected, the
Swiss proposal was promptly and cordially
accepted by US and simultaneously by Spain.
This government feels a keen satisfac-
tion in having thus been enabled to testi-
pies of humanity, even amidst the clash
of war and it is to be hoped that the