Evening star., 1899-12-05

! payment of the debt to the de facto regent
| of the territory. An arrangement was
! effected in April last by the United States
| minister and the foreign secretary of Mic
| aragua whereby the amounts of the dupli-
| cate payments we're deposited with the
| British consul pending an adjustment of
| the matter by direct agreement between
! the Governments of the United States and
Nicaragua. The controversy is still unset
tied.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The contract of the Maritime Canal Com
pany of Nicaragua was declared forfeited
by the Nicaraguan Government on the 10th
of October. on the ground of nonfulillment
within the ten years term stipulated in the
contract The Maritime Canal Company
has lodged protest against this action.
alleging rights in the premises which ap
pear worthy of consideration This Gov
| ernment expects that Nicaragua will afford
the protestants full and fair hearing up
on the merits of the case
The Nicaragua Canal Commission, which
mad been engaged upon the work of ex-
animation and survey for ship-canal route
across Nicaragua, having completed its la
| borS and made its report. was dissolved on
May 81. and on June 10 a commission,
known as the Isthmian Canal Commission,
was organized under the terms of the act
approved March 3, 1899, for the purpose of
examining the American Isthmus with
view to determining the most practicable
and feasible route for a ship canal across
that Isthnus, with it's probable cost, and
other essential details
This Commission, under the presidency of
Rear-Admiral John G.. Walker, L. S. N
GetredD, entered promptly upon the work
intrustcd 20 it, and is now carrying on ex-
aminatiOns in Nicaragua along the route of
the Panama Canal, and in Daren from the
Atlantic, in the neighborhood of the Atrato
River, to the Bay of Panama, on the Pa
cific side. Coed progress has been made
but under the law a comprehensive and
complete investigation is called for. which
Will require much labor and considera BILE
time for its accomplishment. The work
Will be prosecuted as expeditiously as pos
sib!e and a report made at the earliest
practicable date.
The great Importance of this work can
not be too often too strongly pressed
upon the attention of the Congress. In my
Message of a year ago L expressed my
views of the necessity of a canal which
would link the two great oceans to which
l again invite your consideration. The rea-
sens then presented for early action are
even stronger now.
a pleasing incident in the relations of this
Government with that of Chile occurred in
the generous Ssstance given to the war
ship Newark when in distress in Chilean
waters. Not alone in tbs way has the
friendly disposition of Chile found express
son. Tha- country has acceded to the con-
venticn for the establishment of the Bureau
OF the American Republics. in which or
ganization every Independent State of the
continent now shares.
The exchange Of Publications of con-
vent.on for the revival of the United States
and Ch. can Claims Commission and for the
adjudication OF claims heretofore presented
but not de eerm ned during the life of the
previous Commission has been delayed by
reason Of the necessity for fresh action by
the Chilean Senate upon the amendments
attached 10 the ratification of the treaty by
The United States Senate. This formality IS
soon to be accomplished.
Americnu Citizens in China.
In view OF dis -'urhance- in the populous
Provinces Of northern China where are
many Of our citizens. and Of the .mmineuee
of disorder near the capital AMI toward the
seaboard q guard of marines was landed
from the Boston and stationed during the
Iast winter in the legation compound at
Peking. With the restoration Of order this
pro tttipu was NllnaIaWn.
The interests Of our citizens IN that vast
Empire have not been negIcc. ed dur ng the
past year. Adequate protection has been
secured for our missionaries and some in
juries to heir property have beenredresscd.
American capital has sought and found
various opportunities Of competing to carry
out the internal Improvements which the
Imperial Government is wisely encourag-
ing, and to develop the natural resources
Of thc Empire. our trade with China has
continued to grow, and our commercial!
rights under existing treaties have been
everywhere maintained during the past
year, a they will be in the future.
The extension of the area open 10 inter-
rational foreign settlement at Shanghai
and the opening OF the ports Of Nanking,
Tsing-tao (kiaO chao). and Ta-lien-wan to
foreign trade and settlement will doubl less
afford American enterprise additional faclli-
| ties and new fields of which it will not
be slow to take advantage.
In my Message to Congress of December
). 1888, l urged that the recommendation
which had been made to the Speaker of the
House Of Representatives by the Secretary
| of the Treasury the 14th of June 1883
| for an appropriation for a commission to
study the commercial and industrial con-
| dttions III the Chinese Empire and report
| as to the opportunities for, and obstacles
! to. the enlargement of markets in China
| for the raw products and manufactures of
| the United States. should receive at your
| hands the consideration which its irnp0r-
| tance and timeliness merited, but the Con-
| gress failed to take action.
! l now renew this recommendation. as the
| Importance of the subject has steadily
| grown since it was first submitted to YOU
| and no time should be lost in studying for
| ourselves the resources of this great field
| for American trade and enterprise.
| Paris Exposition.
| The death of President Fanre in February
! last called forth those sincere expressions
| of sympathy which hefit the relations of
| two Republics closely allied by unbrolien
| historic ties the United States and
France.
| Preparations for the representation of the
| industries, arts, and products of the United
| States at the Worlds Exposition to be held
| in Paris next year continue on an elaborate
| and IDmnTpbppSiyG .ba