Evening star., 1898-12-05

l al iutcFotcdfiC Cdiidi Uy SNiCdi o6 ueihi
route will be laid before you. In the per-
| formance of it's task the Commission re-
| ceived all possible courtesy and assistance
from the Governments Of Nicaragua and
| Costa Rica, which thus testified their ap-
probation of the importance of giving a
| speedy and practical outcome to the great
| project that has for 50 many years en-
/ crossed the attention of the respective
! countries.
| AS the scope Of the recent inquiry EN-
| braced the whole subject with the aim of
| making plans and surveys for a canal by
the most convenient route, 1t necessarily
| included review of the results of previous
| surveys and plans. and in particular those
| adopted by the Maritime Canal Company
| under its existing concessions from Mica
| ragua and Costa Rica. so that to this ex-
| tent those grants necessarily hold as es-
| sential part in the deliberations and con-
| clusions OF the Canal Commission as they
| have held and must needs hold in the dis
! cEssion of the matter by the Congress.
| Under these circumstances and in view of
| overtures made to the Governments of
| Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other parties
| for a new canal concession predicated On
the assumed approaching lapse Of the con-
| tracts of the Maritime Canal Company with
! those States. l have not hesitated to ex-
| press my conviction that considerations of
expediency and International policy as be-
| tween the several governments interested
! In the construction and control Of an inter-
| oceanic canal by this route require the
| maintenance of the status quo until the
| Canal Commission shall have reported and
| the United States Congress shall nave had
| the opportunity to pass finally upon the
l whole matter dnrfnu IA
without prejudice by reason of any change
! in the existing conditions
Nevertheless, 1t appears that the govern
| ment of Nicaragua as one of Its last sover-
eign acts before merging It's powers in those
| of the newly formed United States of Cen
tral America, has granted an optional con-
| cession to another association, to become
effective on the expiration of the present
| grant. 1t does not appear what surveys
| have been made or what route is proposed
| under this contingent grant, so that an ex
! animation of the feasibility of it's plans is
necessarily not embraced in the report of
| the canal commission. All these circum-
! stances suggest the urgency of some def
mite action by the Congress at this session
| If the labors Of the past are to be utilized
| and the linking of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by a practical waterway is to be re-
allied That the construction of such a
maritime highway is now more than ever
| indispensable to that intimate and ready in
| accommodation between our eastern and
western seaboards demanded by the annex
alton of the Hawaiian Islands and the pros
pective expansion of our influence and COM
| merce in the Pacific, and that our national
| policy more imperativey than ever
calls for It's control by this government are
DrODOSitiOnS which I 6nlbf ha
gress will duly appreciate and wisely act
| upon.
| A convention providing for the revival Of
| the late United States and Chilean claims
commission and the consideration Of claims
| which were duly presented to the late COM
| mission but not considered because of the
| expira ton of the time limited for the dura-
| ton of the commission, was signed May 24,
| 1897, and has remained Enacted upon by
| the Senate. The term therein fixed for eff
| fecting the exchange OF ratifirations having
| elapsed, the convention falls unless the tine
| be extended by amendment which / am en-
| deavoring to bring about, with he friendly
| concurrence of the Chilean government.
| The Eastern Question.
The United States has not been an indif-
| ferent spectator of the extraordinary events
| transpiring in the Chinese empire whereby
| portions OF its maritime provinces are pass
| ing under the control of various European
| powers; but the prospect that the vast COM
| merce which the energy of our citizens and
| the necessity of our staple productions for
Chinese has built up In those regions
| may not be prejudiced through any exclu-
| sive treatment by the new occupants has
| obviated the need Of our country becoming
| an actor in the scene. Our position among
| nations having
| constantly expanding direct trade with the
| farther orient, gives us the equitable claim
| to consideration and friendly treatment in
| this regard and 1t will be my aim to SUBJ
| serve our large interests in that quarter by
! all means appropriate to the constant pol
| icy of our government. The territories of
| Ktao-chow of Wel-hai-wai and of Port Ar
| thur and Talienwan. leased to Germany,
| Great Britain and Russia, respectively, for
| terms of years, will, 1t Is announced be
| open to international commerce during such
| alien occupation; and IL no discriminating
| treatment of American citizens and their
| trade be found to exist. or be hereafter de-
| yeloped, 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
| lOF lne expansion IN the normal course of
| trade, l refer to the communication ad-
| dressed to the Speaker of the House of Rep
| rsentatives by the Secretary Of the Treas
| ury on the 18th of last June, with its ac-
| companying letter of the Secretary of State.
| recommending appropriation for COM
| mission to study the commercial and in
| dustrial conditions in the Chinese Empire
| and report as to the opportunities for and
| obstacles TO the enlargement Of markets
| in China for the raw products and man
! ufactures of the United States. Action was
| not taken thereon during the late session.
| / cordially urge that the recommendation
| receive at your hands the consideration
| which its Importance and timeliness merit
| Meanwhile there may be Just ground for
| disquietude in view of the unrest and re-
| viyal of the old sentiment OF opposition and
| prejudice to alien people which pervades
| certain of the Chinese provinces. AS in
| the case of the attacks upon our citizens
| in Szechuan and at Kutien in 1885, the
| United States Minister has been instructed
| to secure the fullest measure of protection
| both local and imperial, for any menaced
| American interests, and to demand in case
/ lgnf Low V1..s-e TT