Evening star., 1898-12-05

heinous crime. Again, statutory provision
might well be made for what is styled ex-
| tradition by way of transit, whereby
| fugitive surrendered by one foreign gov
ernment to another may be conveyed across
the territory of the United States to the
Jurisdiction of the demanding state. A
| recommendation in this behalf, made in the
Presidents Message of 1856. was not acted
upon The matter Is presented for your
consideration.
| The problem of the Mexican Free Zone
has been often discussed with regard to
| Its Inconvenience as provocative of SNUG
! Cling into the United States along an ex-
| tensive and thinly guarded land border.
| The effort made by the joint resolution of
March 1. 1895. to remedy the abuse charged
| by suspending the privilege Of free trans
portation in bond across the territory of
| the United States to Mexico failed of good
| result. as is stated in Report No. 1o2 of the
| House of Representatives, submitted in the
I last session, March H. 1925 As the cues
| ton is one to be conveniently met by wise
| concurrent legislation of the two countries
| looking to the protection of the revenues
by harmonious measures operating equally
| on either side of the boundary. rather than
by conventional arrangements 1 suggest
| that Congress consider the advisability OF
| authorizing and inviting conference of
! representatives of the Treasury Depart
| ments of the United States and Mexico to
| consider the subject in all its complex bear
| ings, and make report with pertinent
| recommendations to the respective Govern
ments for the information and considera-
| ton of their Congresses
| The Mexican Water Boundary Commits
| sion has adjusted all matters submitted to
l IL to the safiSfact nf hot
save in three important cases; that of the
| "Chamizar' at FL Paso, Texas, where the
| two Commissioners failed to agree and
| wherein, for this case only, this Govern
| ment has proposed to Mexico the addition
or a third member; the proposed elimina-
| ton of what are known "Bancos" small
| isolated Islands formed by the cutting off of
| bends in the Rio Grande, from the opera
| ton of the Treaties of 1884 and 1889, recon-
| mended by the Commissioners and ap-
| proved by this Government, but still under
| consideration by Mexico; and the subject of
! the Equitable Distribution of the Waters
| of the Rio Grande." for which the Commits
| sioners recommended an interna tional dam
| and reservoir. approved by Mexico, but still
| under consideration by this Government
| Pending these questions it is necessary TO
extend the life of the Commission which
| expires December 23d next.
The coronation of the young Queen of the
Netherlands was made the occasion of fit
| ting congra atulations
/ The claim of Victor H. McCord against
| Peru, which for number of years has been
| pressed by this Government and has on
| several occasions attracted the attention of
| the Congress- has been satisfactorily ad-
justed. protocol was signed May II,
| lS.lS. whereby no fap If Iiah hajr
| admitted, the question of the amount to b.
| awarded was submitted to the Chief Justice
| of Canada as sole arbitrator His award
| sets the indemnity due the claimant at S40,-
| 600.
| The Government of Peru has given the
| prescribed notification OF its intention to
abrogate the Treaty Of Friendship, Com
| merce, and Navigation concluded with this
country August 81 1887. AS that treaty
contains many important provisions neces-
| sary to the maintenance of commerce and
| good relations, which could with difficulty
| be replaced by the negotiation of renewed
| provisions within the brief twelve months
| intervening before the treaty terminates L
have invited suggestions by Peru as to the
| particular provisions il is desired TO annul.
| in the hope of reaching an arrangement
| whereby the remaining articles may be pro-
| v;sionally saved.
RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.
| His Majesty the Tsar having announced
| his purpose to raise the Imperial Russian
mission at this Capital to the rank of an
| Embassy L responded under the authority
conferred by the act of March B. 1S.E3, by
| commissioning and accrediting the actual
| representative at St. Petersburg in the ca
| pacity of Ambassador Extraordinary and
| PIenipotentiary. The Russian Ambassador
to this country has since presented his ere
dentials
! The proposal of the Tsar 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 il is
| contemplated to assemble with a 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 involved in
| his exalted proposal and of the readiness of
! the United States to take part in the con-
| ference The active military forces Of the
| United States, Is measured by our popula-
| ton, territorial area, and taxable wealth,
| is, and under any conceivable prospect
| coiluitioNS must continue 10 be, IN time OF
peace so cons spicuously less than that of
| the armed powers to whom the Tsar's ap-
peal is especially addressed that thu aues-
! ton can have for us no practical import
aEce save marking an auspicious 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 nation to lend
countenance and aid to the beneficent pro-
| ject.
| The claims of owners of American sealing
/ vessels for seizure by Russian cruisers in
| Bering Sea are being pressed to a settle
| ment. The equities of the cases justify the
| expectation that a measure of reparation
will eventually be accorded in harmony with
| precedent and in the light of the proven
| facts.
| The recommendation made in my special
| message of April 9th 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 district