The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-06
REPUBLICAN, TUESDAY, DECEMBES
ton to surrender. Other Mexican ques-
tons are discussed. The message then

ton to surrender. Other Mexican ques-
tons are discussed. The message then
says:
=. The Qaer's Proposal.
The proposal Of the czar for . general
reduction Of the vast military estab-
lishments that weigh 30 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 contem-
plated to assemble with view to dis
cussing 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 conference. The active
military force of the United States as
measured by our population. territorial
area and taxable wealth Is, and under
any conceivable prospective conditions
must continue to be, in time Of peace so
conspicuously less than that of the
armed powers to whom the cars ap-
peal is especially addressed that the
question can have for US no practical
Importance save as marking an auspi-
cious step toward the betterment and
good will among them, but In this view
II behooves US as nation to lend coun-
tenance and aid to the benefcent prof.
ect.
The newly accredited envoy Of the
United States to the Ottomon porte car
ries instructions looking to the disposal
of matters in controversy with Turkey
for number Of years. He Is especially
charged to press for just settlement
Of the destruction Of the property OF
American missionaries resident In that
country during the Armenian troubles
of 1895, as well as for the recognition
of older claims Of equal business.
He Is also instructed to seek an ad-
justment of the dispute growing out Of
the refusal of Turkey to recognize the
acquired citizenship of Ottoman born
persons naturalized In the United States
since 1869 without prior imperial con-
sent. and in the same general relation
he is directed to endeavor to bring
about solution of the question which
has more or less acutely existed since
1869 concerning the jurisdictional rights
of the United States In matters of
criminal procedure and punishment I'M
der. article 4 OF the treaty of 1880. This
latter difficulty grows out Of verbal
difference, claimed by Turkey to be es-
sential, between the original Turkish
text and the promulgated translation.
After more than two years from the
of a consul of this coun-.
try to Erzerum he has received his ex-
equatur.
transmitted TO the senate on the
10th of February last Information touch
Ing the prohibition against the importa-
ton of fresh fruits from this country.
which had then recently been decreed
by Germany on the ground Of danger
Of disseminating the San Jose scale In
sect. This precautionary measure was
justified by Germany on the score OF
the drastic steps taken in several states
of the Union against the spread or the
pest, the elaborate reports OF the de-
partment of agriculture being put In
evidence to show the danger to Ger
man fruit growing interests should the
scale obtain lodgment in that coun-
try.
Temporary relief was afforded In the
case of large consignments Of fruit
then on the way by inspection and ad-
mission when found noninfected. Later
the prohibition was extended to dried
fruits Of every kind. but was relaxed 80
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 inhi-
bition. Efforts are In progress to induce
the German and Swiss governments to
relax the prohibition in favor OF dried
fruits shown to have been cured under
circumstances rendering the existence
of animal life impossible.
The government Of Greece strongly
urges the nervousness Of the duty here
imposed upon the currants Of that
country, amounting to 100 per cent OF
more of their market value. This fruit
Is stated to be exclusively q Greek
product, not coming into competition
with any domestic product. The ques-
ton Of reciprocal commercial relations
with Greece, including the restoration
of currants to the free list. ID under
consideration.
The long standing claim Of Bernard
Campbell for damages for injuries sus-
tanned from violent assault committed
against him by military authorities In
the island of Haiti has been settled by
the agreement Of that republic to pay
him $4,000 In American gold. OF this
sum IS. 900 has already been paid. 1t is
hoped that other pending claims OF
American citizens against that republic
may be amicably adjusted.
The arbitral tribunal appointed under
the treaty of Feb. 2, 1897, between Great
Britain and Venezuela to determine the
boundary line between the latter and
the colony of British Guiana is to con-
vene at Paris during the present month
1t is a source Of much qualification to
this government to see the friendly re-
sort of arbitration applied to the Settle
ment of this controversy not alone be-
cause of the earnest part we have had
in bringing about the result, but also
because the two members named on
behalf of Venezuela, Mr.. Chief Justice
Fuller and Mr.. Justice Brewer. chosen
from our highest court, appropriately
testify the continuing interest we feel
in the definitive adjustment Of the ques.
tion according to the strictest rules OF
justice. The British members. Lord
Herschell and Sir Richard Collins. are
jurists Of no less exalted repute, while
the fifth member and president Of the
tribunal M. F. de Martens, has earned
a worldwide reputation as an authority
upon international law.
Private Property In War.
The experiences of the last year bring
forcibly home TO US a sense Of the bur-
dens and the waste of war. We desire,
in common with most civilized nations,
to reduce to the lowest possible point
the damage sustained in time Of war by
peaceful trade and commerce 1t is true
we may suffer In such cases less than
other communities, but all nations are
damaged more or less by the state of
uneasiness and apprehension into which
an outbreak Of hostilities throws the
our object, therefore, to minimize so far
as practicable this inevitable loss and
disturbance. This purpose can proba-
bly, best be accomplished by an inter-
national agreement to regard all pri-
vate property at sea as exempt from
capture or destruction by the forces OF
belligerent powers. The United States
government has for many years advo-
Gated this humane and beneficent prin-