The true northerner., 1898-12-07
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Aside from the War with Spain They
Are Very Cordial.

With the exception of the rupture with
Spain the intercourse Of the United States
with the great family Of nations has been
marked with cordiality and the close of the
eventful year finds most of the issues that
necessarily arise ia the complex relations
of sovereign states adjusted or presenting
no serious obstacle TO ajust and honorable
solution by amicable agreement
long unsettled dispute as TO the ex-
tended boundary between the Argentine
Republic and Chilli, stretching along the
Andean crests from the southern border Of
the Atacama desert to Magellan straits,
nearly a third Of the length Of the South
American continent, assumed an acute
stage in the early part of the year and af-
forded TO this government occasion to ex-
press the hope that the resort to arbitra-
ton, already contemplated by existing con-
ventions between the parties, might prevail
despite the grave difficulties arising in it's
application. l am happy to say that ar
rangements to this end have been perfect
ed the questions OF fact, upon which the
respective commissioners were unable to
agree, being in course OF reference to her
Britannia majesty for determination. A
residual difference touching the northern
boundary line across the Atacama desert,
for which existing treaties provided no
adequate adjustment bids fair to be set
tied in like manner by joint commission,
upon which the United States minister at
Buenos Ayres has been invited to serve as
umpire In the last resort.
/ have found occasion to approach the
Argentine government with view to re-
moving differences OF rate charges i'm
posed upon the cables Of ar American cor
poration in the transmission between
Buenos Ayres and the cities Of Uruguay
and Brazil Of through messages passing
from and TO the United States Although
the matter is complicated by exclusive con-
d cessions by Uruguay and Brazil 20 foreign
companies. there is strong hope that good
understanding will be reached and that the
important channels of commercial commu-
picatiop between the United States and the
ttlantic cities of South America may be
feed from an almost prohibitory dscrim-
ination.
In this relation may be permitted to ex-
press my sense of the fitness OF an in:
ternational agreement whereby the inter
change of messages over connecting cables
may be regulated on fair basis of uni
formity. The world has seen the postal
system developed from a congeries inde-
pendent and exclusive service into a we'll
ordered union, of which all countries found
the manifold benefits. 1t would be strange
were the nations not in time brought to
realize that modern civilization, which
owes so much of its progress TO the ami
hilation of space by the electric force, de-
mands that this all-important means of
communication, a heritage OF all peoples
TO be administered and regulated In their
common behoof. A step in this direction
nss taken when the international conven-
'rfne cables was signed, and the day is, l
trust, not far distant when this medium for
the transmission OF thought from land to
land may be brought within the domain
of international concert as completely as
Is the material carriage of commerce and
correspondence upon the face of the waters
that divide them.
The claim of Thomas Jefferson Page
against Argentina, which has been pend
ing many years, has been adjusted. The
sum awarded by the congress of Argen-
tina was s,242.35.
Austria-HunEary.
The sympathy of the American people
has Justly been offered to the ruler and
the people Of Austria-Hungary by reason
Of the affiiction that has lately befallen
them I'm the assassination of the empress
queen OF that historic realm. ----