The evening times., 1899-12-05

i Gated
, Efforts to obtain for American life in
surance companies a full hearing as to
| their business operations in Prussia have.
! after several years of patient representa-
tion. happily succeeded. and one OF the
most important American companies has
beel granted a concession to continue busi-
ness in that Kingdom.
am also glad to announce that the Ger
man insurance. companies have been re-
admitted by the superintendent of insur-
ance to do business in the State of New
York. y ~
Subsequent to the exchange of our peace
| treaty with Spain Germany acquired the
Caroline Islands by purchase. paying
therefor $5.00O.000. Assurances have been
received from the German Government that
the rights Of American missionaries and
traders there will be considerably OBJ
served
In my last Annual Message I referred
to the pending negotiations with Great
Britain in respect to the Dominion of
Canada. By means of an executive agree
ment q Joint High Commission had been
created for the purpose Of adjusting ali
unsettled questions between the United
States and Carada embracing twelve sub
jects. among which were the questions OF
the fur seais, the fisheries Of the coast
and contiguous inland waters, the Alaskan
boundary. the transit OF merchandise in
bond, the alien labor laws. mining rights,
reciprocity In trade. revision of the agree
ment respecting nayal vessels in the Great
Lakes. more complete marking of parts
OF the boundary. provision for the convey
ance of criminals, and for wreckins and
salvage.
Much progress had been made by the
Commission toward the adjustment Of
many OF these questions. when 1t became
apparent that an irreconcilable difference
of views was entertained respecting the
delimitation of the Alaskan boundary. In
the failure Of an agreement as to the
meaning Of Articles and 4 OF the treaty
of 1925 between Russia and Great Britain.
which defined the boundary between Alaska
and Canada. the American Commissioners
proposed that the subject of the boundary
be laid aside and that the remain
ing questions of difference be pro-
ceeded with some of which were so
far advanced as to assure the probability
OF settlement. This being declined by
the British Commissioners. an adjournment
was taken until the boundary should be
duluskcu W tut lNO Iue
subject has been receiving the careful at
tention which its Importance demands,
with the result that modus yivendi for
provisional demarcatiOns in the region
about the head OF Lynn Canal has been
agreed upon: and 1t is hoped that the ne
gotiations now in progress between the two
Governments will end in an agreement for
the establishment and delimitation OF a
permanent boundary.
of cur relationship with our northern
ready agreement have marked the discus
sion Of numerous matters arising in the
vast and intimate Intercourse of the United
States with Great Britain.
The Roer War.
This Government has maintained an at
titude of neutrality in the unfortunate con-
test between Great Britain and the Boer
States of Africa. We have remained faith
full to the precept of avoiding entangling
alliances as TO affairs not of our direct
concern Had circumstances suggested that
the parties to the quarrel would have well
coined any kindly expression Of the hope
of the American people that war might be
averted, good Offices would have been
gladly rendered. The United States rep
resentative at Pretoria was early in
structed to see that all neutral American
interests be respected by the combatants
This has been an easy task in view of the
positive declarations of both British and
Boer authorities that the personal and
property rights Of our citizens should be
observed
Upon the withdrawal of the British agent
from Pretoria the United States consul
was authorized upon the request of the
Briiish Government and with the assent
of the South African and Orange Free
State Governments. to exercise the GUS
tomary good offices of neutral for the
care OF British interests. In the discharge
of this function l am happy to say that
abundant opportunity has been afforded to
show the impartiality of this Government
toward both the combatants.
For the fourth time in the present decade
question has arisen with the Government
Of Italy in regard to the lynching of |
Italian subjects. The latest OF these de-
plorable events occurred at Tallulah. La,
whereby five unfortunates of Italian origin |
were taken from jail and hanged
The authorities of the State and a repre- |
sentative Of the Italian Embassy having |
separately investigated the occurrence
with discrepant results. particularly as to |
the alleged citizenship of the victims. and |
1t not appearing that the State had been |
able to discover and punish the violators |
Of the law. an independent investigation |
has been set on foot, through the agency |
OF the Department of State, and is still |
in progress. The result will enable the /
Executive to treat the question with the |
Government of Italy in a spirit OF fairness |
and justice. satisfactory solution will |
doubtless be reached.
The recurrence Of these distressing mani
festations Of blind mob fury directed at |
dependents or natives OF a foreign country
suggests that the contingency has arisen
for action by Congress in the direction of
upon the Federal courts juris-
1iction in this class of international cases
where the ultimate responsibility of the
Federal Government may be involved. The
suggestion is not new In his Annual Mes
sage Of December .. 1891, my predecessor. !
President Harrison, said:
1t would. I believe be entirely competent for |
Congpss 10 make offences against the treaty |
rights Of foreigners dcmiciled in the United |
States cognizable in the Federal courts This has
not. however, been done, and the Federal officers |
and courts have no power in such cases to inter- |
rene either for the protection of foreign citizen
,r for the punishment of his slayers. II seems |
10 me to follow. in this state of the law, that |
lie officers OF the Slate charged with police |
md judicial powers in such cases must in the |
consideration of international questions growing |
Iut OF such incidents. be regarded in such sense |
Is Federal agents as TO make this Government an
werable for their acts in cases where it would
De answerable if the United States had used its
constitutional power TO define and punish crimes
gaina treaty rights.
TIE TREATY RIGHTS OF ALIENS.
/ Strong Appeal for Justice in the