The times., 1899-12-06
OUR FOREIGN RELAT1oNs.
Review of Various Matters of In
terest Abrnnd.

terest Abroad.
A review Of our relations with foreign
States is presented with such recommen-
dations as are deemed appropriate.
The long-pending boundary dispute be-
tween the Argentine Republic and Chile
was settled in March last by the award of
an arbitral Commission, on which the
United States Minister al Buenos Ayres
served as umpire.
Progress has been made toward the con
clusion Of a convention of eXtradition with
the Argentine Republic. Having been ad-
vised and consented to by the United
States Senate and ratified by Argentina,
it only awaits the adjustment of some
slight changes in the text before exchange.
In my last Annual Message l adverted
to the claim Of the AusrO- Hungarian
Government for indemnity for the killing
OF certain Austrian and Hungarian sub
iects by the authorities Of the State Of
Pennsylvania, at Lattimer, while suppress
ing an unlawful tumult of miners, Septem-
Der 10, 1897. In view Of the verdict of ac-
quittal rendered by the court before which
the sheriff and his deputies were tried for
murder, and following the established doc
tTine that the Government may not be held
accountable for injuries suffered by indi-
viduals at the hands Of the public au-
thorites while acting in the line OF duty
in suppressing disturbance Of the public
peace. this Government, after due cousid-
Grafton of the claim advanced by The Aus
tro- Hungarian Government, was constrain-
ed TO decline liability 10 indemnify the
sufferers.
It is gratifying TO be able to announce
that the Belgian Government has mitgated
the restrictions on the Importation of cat
tie from the United States, TO which l re-
! ferred in my last Annual Message.
Having been invited by Belgium to par
ticipate in a congress held at Brussels. to
| revise the provisions Of the general act of
July 2, 1880, for the repression OF the
| African slave trade TO which the United
! States was a signatory party, this Govern
ment preferred not TO be represented by
! a plenipotentiary, but reserved the right
/ Of accession TO the result. Notable
! changes were made those especially con-
! cerning this country being in the line of
( the increased restriction Of the deleterious
! trade in spiritUous liquors with the native
tribes. which this Government has from the
! outset urgently advocated The amended
( general act will be laid before the Senate
/ with a view 10 its advice and consent.
Sunth America.
Early IN the year the peace of Bolivia
was disturbed by a successful insurrection.
! The United States minister remained at
| his post. attending to the American in
! terests in that quarter. and using besides
| his good Offices for the protection of the
interests of British subjects in the absence
OF their national representative. On the
| establishment of the new Government ouI
minister was directed to enter into rela-
tions Herewith.
General Pando was elected President oi
| Bolivia on October %.
Our representative has been instructed
| 10 use all permissible friendly endeavoTs
! to induce the Government of Bolivia tC
| amend its marriage laws so as to give legal
status to the non-Catholic and civil mar
| riages of aliens within its jurisdiction
| and strong hopes are entertained that tht
1 Bolivian law in this regard viii be brought
! as was that OF Peru some years ago, into
harmony with the general practice Of
| modern states.
A convention of extradition with Brazil
| signed May IA. 1897, has been ratified by
the Brazilian Legislature.
During the past summer two nationa
| ships Of the United States have visited
! Brazilian ports on a friendly mission anC
| been cordially received. The voyage o
the Wilmington up the Amazon Rive,
gave rise to a passing misunderstanding
| owing to confusion in obtaining perms
sion to visit the interior and make sur
veys in the general interest OF navigation
bat the incident found n ready adjust
ment In harmony with the close relations
of amity which this Government ha
always sedulously sought TO cultivate Will
the commemorative Of The Western Con
tinent
! The claim growing out Of the seizur