The record-union., 1899-12-06


the validity of the original payment OF
the debt to the de facto Regent of the
Territory An arrangement was eff
fected in April last by the United
States Minister and the Foreign Min
lister of Nicaragua, whereby the
am cunts of the duplicate payments
were deposited with the British Con-
sui, pending an adjustment of the mat
ter by direct agreement between the
Governments of the United States and
Nicaragua The controversy is still un-
determined.
ISTHMIAN CANAL.
The contract of the Maritime Canal
Company of Nicaragua was declared
forfeited by the Nicaraguan Govern
ment on the 10th of October, on the
ground of -fulfillment within the
ten years term stipulated in the con-
tract. The Maritime Canal Company
has lodged protest against this action.
alleging rights in the premises which
appear worthy of consideration. This
Government expects that Nicaragua
will afford the protestants full and
fair hearing upon the merits of the
case
The Nicaragua Canal Commission,
which had been engaged upon the work
of examination and survey for ship
canal route across Nicaragua. having
completed it's labors and made its re-
port, was dissolved on May o1st, and
on June 10th a new 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 a view to determining the
most practicable and feasible route for
ship canal across that isthmus, with
its probable cost and other essential
details.
This commission, under the Presi-
dency of Rear Admiral John G. Walker,
U. S. N. retired), entered promptly
upon the work intrusted to it, and is
now carrying on examinations in Mic
aragua along the route of the Panama
Canal, and in Darien. from the At
lantic, in the neighborhood of Atrati
River, to the bay of Panama, on the
Pacific side Good progress has been
made but under the law comprehen-
sive and complete investigation is
called for which will require much
labor and considerable time for it's ac-
cuted as expeditiously as possible and
a report made at the earliest practicaoie
date.
The great Importance of this WORK
cannot be too often or too strongly
pressed upon the attention of the Con-
gress. In my message of year ago
1 expressed my views of the necessity
of a canal which would link the TWO
great oceans, to which I again invite
your consideration. The reasons pre-
scented for early action are even
stronger now.
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH
CHILE.
A pleasing incident in the relations
of this Government with that OF Chile
occurred in the generous assistance
given to the warship Newark when in
distress in Chilean waters. Not alone in
this way has the friendly disposition
of Chile found expression. That coun-
try has acceded to the convention foi
the establishment of the Bureau OF
American Republics, in which organ
ization every independent State of the
Continent now shares.
The exchange of notifications Of a
convention for the revival of the United
States and Chilean Claims Commission,
and for the adjudication of the claims
heretofore presented, but not deter
mined, during the lift of the previous
commission, has been delayed by rea-
son of the necessity for fresh action By
the Chilean Senate upon the amend
ments attached to the ratification o:
the treaty by the United States Senate
This formality is soon to be accom-
plished.
OUR INTERESTS IN CHINA.
In view of disturbances in the pop
ulous provinces of Northern China
where are many of our citizens, and
of the imminence of disorder near the
capital and toward the seaboard. q
guard of marines was landed from the
Boston and stationed during last winter
in the legation compound at Pekin
With the restoration of order this pro-
lection was withdrawn.
The interests of our citizens in that
vast empire have not been neglected
during the past year. Adequate protec-
ton has been secured for our mission
aries, and some injuries to their prop
erty have been redressed.
American capital has sought and
found various opportunities of COM
peting to carry out the internal i'm
provements which the American Gov
eminent is wisely encouraging and to
develop the natural resources of the en-
pire.
Our trade with China has continued ia
grow, and our commercial rights under
existing treaties have been everywhere
maintained during the past year, as
they will be in the future The extern
sion of the area opened to international
foreign settlement at Shanghai and the
opening of the ports of Nan King
Using Tao CKiao Chao) and Ia Lien
Wan to foreign trade and settlement
will doubtless afford American enter
prise additional facilities and new
fields, of which it will not be slow to
take advantage.
In my message to Congress of De-
cember ), 1898, 1 urged that the recon-
mendation which had been made to the
Speaker of the House of Represents
tives by the Secretary of the Treasury
on the 18th of June 1898, for an APP
preparation for commission to study
the commercial and industrial condi
lions in the Chinese empire, and report
as to the opportunities for and obsta-
cles to the enlargement of markets in
China for the raw products and manu-
features of the United States should
receive at your hands the consideration
which its Importance and timeliness
merited, but the Congress failed to ACT
,on. I now renew this recommendation
as the importance of the subject has