The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-06

provision for the conveyance Of criminals,
ana Tor Wrecking and salvage. Much
progress had been made by the commits
SION toward the adjustment of many OF
tnese questions, where it became apparent
Inat an 1rreconcilable difference of views
was entertained respecting the GeIiIni+a-
ton Of the Alaskan boundary. In the
IalIure OF an agreement as to the mean
ing or articles 3 and of the treaty of
1 1SS, between Russia and Great Britain.
which defined the boundary between
Alaska and Canada, the American com
mlSs1oners proposed that the subject OF
the boundary be laid aside. and that the
remaining questions Of difference be pro-
ceeded with, some Of which were so far
advanced as to assure the probability of
4 settlement. This being declined by the
brltlsn commissioners, an adjournment
was taken until the boundary should be
ADJUSTED by the two governments. The
SUBJECT has been receiving the careful
ATTENTION which Its Importance demands,
with the result that a modus Yivendt for
provisional demarcations in the region
about the head Of Lynn canal has been
agreed upon; and 1t Is hoped that the
negotiations now in progress between the
TWO governments will end in an agree
ment for the establishment and delimita-
ton Of permanent boundary
Apart from these questions growing out
OF our relationship with our northern
nelghbor, the most friendly disposition
and ready agreement have marked the
discussion OF numerous matters arising In
the vast and Intimate intercourse of the
United States with Great Britain This
government has maintained an attitude
OF neutrality in the unfortunate contest
oeWeen Great Britain and the Boer states
or Africa. We have remained faithful to
the precept of avoiding entangling al
nances as to affairs not of our direct con-
Germ. Had circumstances suggested that
the parties to the quarrel would have
welcomed 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
representative at Pretoria was early in
structed to see that all neutral American
interests be respected by the combatants
rms mas 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
De observed. Upon the withdrawal of the
British agent from Pretoria the United
states consul was authorized, upon the
request of the British government and
with the consent of the South African
and Orange Free State governments. to
exercise the customary good offices of a
neutral for the care of British interests
In the discharge of this function I am
happy to say that abundant opportunity
has been afforded to show the impartial
ity Of this government toward both the
combatants.
For the fourth time in the present dec
ade question has arisen with the gov
,.,., eminent of Italy in
Lyhcnings regard to the lynch
Are ing Of Italian sub
JectS. The latest of
DeP'Ored. h e deplorable
a
Tallulah. La, whereby five unfortunates,
Of italian origin. were taken from iaii
and hanged. The authorities of the state
and representative of the Italian en-
bassy having separately investigated the
occurrence. with discrepant results, par
ticularly as to the alleged citizenship of
the victims, and 1t not appearing that
the state had been able to discover and
punish the vfolators of the law an fnda-
pendent investigation has been set on
foot through the agency Of the depart
ment 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 ius-
ttce. A satisfactory solution will doubt
less be reached. The recurrence of these
distressing manifestations of blind r1ob
fury directed at dependents or natives of
a foreign country suggests that the con
ungency has arisen for action bv CON
gress In the direction of comforting upon
the federal courts Jurisdiction In this
class of International cases where fho
ultimate responsibility of the federal
government may be involved. The sug-
gestion ls not new. In his annual mes
sage of Dec. 8, 1891. my predecessor. Pres
fdent Harrison. said:
1T would, l believe, be entirely com
petent for congress to make offenses
against the treaty rights of foreigners
domictled in the United States cognfzabie
In the federal courts. This has not, how
ever. been done, and the federal officers
and courts have no power In such cases
to intervene either for the protection Of q
foreign citizen or for the punishment OF
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