The herald., 1898-12-06

Wei Hal Wei and of Port Arthur and Ia
| Lien Wan, leased to Germany, Great Brit
| ain and Russia, respectively, for terms OF
years WILL it is announced, add to lnterna-
tional commerce during such occupation;
and if no discriminating treatment of Amer
ican citizens and their trade be found to ex-
ist or be hereafter developed, the desire OF
| this government would appear to be realized.
| In this relation, as showing the volume and
value of our exchanges with China and the
peculiarly favorable conditions which exist
| for their expansion in the normal course OF
| trade, | refer to the communication ad-
dressed to the Speaker Of the House OF Rep
| resentatives by the Secretary of the Treas
ury on the l4th of last June, with its ac-
companying letter of the Secretary OF State,
recommending an appropriation for COM
mission to study the commercial and indus
trial conditions in the Chinese empire and
report as to the opportunities for, and OBJ
stacles to, the enlargement of markets In
China for the raw products and manufac-
lures of the United States. Action was not
taken thereon during the late session. l
cordially urge hat the recommendation re-
ceive at your hands the consideration which
its Importance and tmeliness merit.
| Meanwhile there may be just ground for
disquietude, in view of the unrest and re-
vival of the old sentiment of opposition and
prejudice to alien people which pervades
certain of the Chinese provinces. As in the
|
huan and at Kutien in 1885, the United
| States Minister has been instructed to Sc
cure the fullest measure of protection, both
local and imperial, for any menaced Ameri
can interests, and to demand, in case of
lawless injury to persons or property, in-
stant reparation appropriate to the case.
Warships have been stationed at lien Tsin
for more ready observation of the disorders
which have invaded even the Chinese cap
| ltal so as to be in a position to act, should
need arise, while guard Of marines has
been sent to Peking to afford the Minister
the same measure of authoritative protec-
tion as the representatives of other nations
have been constrained to employ.
| MATTERS ARBITRATED
Following close upon the rendition of the
award of my predecessor as arbitrator of
the claim of the Italian subject Cerrut,
against the republic of Colombia. differences
arose between the parties to the arbitration
in regard to the scope and extension of the
award of which certain articles were con-
tested by Colombia while Italy claimed their
literal fulfilment The award having been
made by the President of the United States
as an act Of friendly consideration and with
| the sole view to an impartial composition of
the matter in dispute. | could not but feel
| concern at such miscarriage, and, while
unable to assent to the Colombia theory that
| |. In my official capacity, possessed a con-
tinuing function as arbitrator, with power to
inerpret or revise the terms of the award,
| my best efforts were lent to bringing the
| parties to harmonious agreement as to the
execution of its provisions.
A naval demonstration by Italy resulted
in an engagement to pay the liabilities
claimed upon their ascertainment, but this
| apparent disposition OF the controversy was
followed by rupture of diplomatic inter
course between Colombia and Italy, which
still continues, although fortunately with
out acute symptoms having supervened. Not
withstanding this. efforts are reported to be
continuing for the ascertainnent of Colom-
bias contingent liability. on account of
Cerrutis debts, under the fifth article OF
the award.
A claim of an American citizen against
the DOMINICAN Republic for a public bridge
over the Ozama river, which has been in
diplomatic controversy for several years;
has been settled by expert arbitration and
an award in favor OF claimant amounting to
about 100000. 1t, however remains un-
paid, despite urgent demands for its settle
ment according to the terms of the com
pact.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION
There is now every prospect that the
participation OF the United States in the
universal exposition to be held in Paris,
in 1900, will be on scale commensurate
with the advanced position held by our
products and industries in the worlds chief
marts.
The preliminary report of Moses P
Handy who, under the act approved July
l9, 1897, was appointed special commissioner
with view OF securing all attainable infor
nation necessary 10 full and complete
understanding by Congress in regard to the
participation of this government in the
Paris exposition, was laid before You by
my me essage of December q, 1897, and showed
the large opportunities to make known oul
national progress in art, science and manu-
features. as well as the urgent need of i'm
mediate and adequate provisions to enable
due advantage thereof to be taken.
| Mr.. Handy's death soon afterwards rend
cred it necessary Tor another to take uT
and complete his unfinished work and on
January IL last, Mr.. Thomas W. Cridler
Third Assistant Secretary of State, was
was laid before you by my message OF June
II, 1898. with the gratifying result Of awak
ening renewed interest in the projected
display. BY provision in the sundry
civil appropriation act OF July |, 1898, 8
sum not to exceed s650.O00 was allotted fol
the organization OF commission to care
for the proper preparation and installation
of American exhibits and for the display o
suitable exhibits by the several executive
departments, particularly by the Depart
ment of Agriculture, the Fish Commis ior
and the Smithsonian Institution, in thu
representation of the government of .th,
United States. Pursuant to that enactment
| appointed Mr.. Ferdinand w. Peck of Chi
cago, Commissioner General, with an As
! sistant Commissioner-General and Secre
| tary Mr.. Peck at once proceeded to Par
where his success in enlarglng the scop,
/ and variety of the United States eXh'b
has been most gratifying. Notwthstan,,
t ing the comparatively limited area oi tn
! exposition site-less than half of tn
5 Wards Fair at Chicago-the space as
, signed to the United States has been in
' creased from the absolute allotment of l57,
403 square feet reported by Mr.. Handy, t,
+ some 202, 900 square feet, with correspond
. ing augmentation OF the field for a trul
, characteristic representation of the variou
6 important branches of our country's de
velopment. Mr.. Peck's report will be lait
before you. In my judgment, its recon-
mendations will call for your early condi
, ton especially as regards an increase of tn
appropriation to at east one million dol
lars in all, so that not only may the assignee
space be fully taken up by the best possibl
u exhibition in every class, but the prepara
r ton and installation be on so perfect seal
as to rank among the first in that unpara
: leled competition of artistic and inventiv
$ production, and thus counterbalance tn
t disadvantages with which we start as CON
u pared with other countries whose appropria
tions are on a more generous scale an
1 whose preparations are III greater STATE
s forwardness than our own.
S Where our artisans have the admitte
l. capacity to excel, where our inventive ger
e ius has initiated many of the grandest dis
l. coveries Of the later days of the centur
!, and where the native resources Of our Ian
J. are as limitless as they are valuable, to sur