The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-06


on the island have until April IL. 1900, to
elect whether they will remain citizens Of
| Spain or become citizens of Cuba. Until
| then it cannot be definitely aseertained
who shall be entitled to participate in the
| formation Of the government of Cuba. BY
| that time the results of the census will
have been tabulated and we shall proceed
to provide for elections which will commit
! the municipal governments of the island to
the officers elected by the people.
The experience thus acquired, shall prove
| of great value in the formation of repre-
sentative convention of the people to draft
constitution and establish general sys-
| TEN of Independent government for the is
| land. In the mean time and so long as
we exercise control over the island the
! products of Cuba should have market in
the United States on as good terms, a 5
favorable rates of duty as are given to the
| West Indian islands under the treaties OF
reciprocity which shall be made.
For the relief of the distressed in the
! island of Cuba the war department has
| issued supplies to destitute persons through
the officers of the army, which have
amounted to $4,000 rations, at a cost OF
| $1,417, 554S7.
The Cuban Army
To promote the disarmament of the Gu
! ban volunteer army and in the interest OF
! public peace and the welfare of the people,
! the sum of $40 was paid to each Cuban sol
! der borne upon the authenticated rolls
on condition that he should deposit his
arms with the authorities designated by
| the United States The sum thus disbursed
aggregated $2,547 $50, which was paid from
the emergency fund provided by the act
! of January ., 1899, for that purpose
| Out of the Cuban island revenues during
the six months ending June 30, 1899, 81, 49,
014.2O was expended for sanitation, $293'
| S61.70 for charities and hospitals and $780,
| 9i4.03 for aid to the destitute.
Following the exchange of the ratifica-
tons of the treaty of peace, the two gov
| ernments accredited ministers to each oth-
er, Spain sending to Washington the Duke
of Areos an eminent diplomatist, previous
| ly stationed in Mexico, while the united
| States transferred to Madrid Hon. Bellamy
| Storer its minister at Brussels. inns was
| followed by the respective appointment OF
| conjuls thereby fully resuming the rela-
| tions interrupted by the war
In addition to its consular representa-
| ton in the United States the Spanish gov
| eminent has appointed consuls LOT Cupa;
| who have been Professionally recognlzeu
| during the military administration OF the
| affairs of that island. Intercourse between
! the courts of Cuba and Porto Rico ana OF
| Spain has been established, as provided by
| the treaty of peace. The CUBAN pohtlcal
| prisoners in Spanish penal stations nave
! been and are being released ana returned
| to their homes in accordance with article
| VI. of that treaty.
| Negotiations are about to be had for de-
| filming the conventional relations between
the two countries, which fall into apey-
ance by reason of the war. 1 trust that
those will include a favorable arrange
ment for commercial reciprocity under the
terms of sections and 4 of the recent tar
iff act. In this; as in all matters OF inter-
national concern, no effort VIII De spared
to respond to the good disposition OF Spain'
and to cultivate in all practicable ways the
intimacy which should prevail between two
nations whose past history has so often
and in so many ways been marked by SIN
| cere friendship and by community OF IN
terests
| 1 would recommend appropriate legisla-
| ton in order to carry into execution ar
| tirle VII. of the treaty of peace with Spain
! by which the United States assured the
payment of certain claims for indemnity
of its citizens against Spain.
The Ottoman Empire
The United States minister to Turkey
! continues under instructions to press for a
| money payment in satisfaction of the just
/ claims for injuries suffered by American
/ citizens in the disorders OF several years
| ago, and for wrongs done to them by the
| Ottoman authorities. Some of these claims
are of many years standing. This govern
ment is hopeful of a general agreement in
| this regard.
In the Turkish empire the situation of
! our citizens remains unsatisfactory. Our
efforts during nearly forty years to bring
/ about a convention of naturalization seem
! to be on the brink of final failure, through
| the announced policy of the Ottoman ports
to refuse recognition of the alien statutes
| of native Turkish subjects naturazed
| abroad since 1867. Our statutes do not al
| low this government to admit any distinc-
| ton between the treatment of native and
| naturalized Americans abroad, so that
| ceaseless controversy arises in cases where
| nvxrip in the of international
| law dual allegiance can be prevented from
| entering Turkey and are expelled after en-
| trance. Our law in this regard contrasts
| with that of the European states The
| British act for instance does not claim
| effect for the naturalization of an alien in
| the event of his return to his native coun-
| try unless the change be recognized by
! the law of that country, or stipulated ny
| treaty between it, and the naturalizing
| state.
The arbitrary treatment, in some III
| stances of American productions in Turkey
has attracted attention of late, notably in
regard to our -four. Large shipments 10y
| the recently opened direct steamship line
| to Turkish ports have been denied entrance
| on the score that, although of standard
composition and unquestioned purity, the
| flour was dangerous to health because of
| elasticity.
The international commission of arbitra-
| ton appointed under the Venezuelan treaty
| OF 1871 rendered an award on OGlODeT d
| last, whereby the boundary line Between
| Venezuela and British Guiana is deter
! mined, thus ending a controversy which
| has existed for the greater part of the CEN
| fury. The award, to what arbitrator
! were unanimous, while not meeting the eX
| treme contention of either party, gives to
| Great Britain a large share of the interior
| territory in dispute and to Venezuela the
! entire mouth of the Orinoco including
| Barima point and the Caribbean literal
| for some distance to the eastward. The de-
| cision appears to be equally satisfactory
! to both parties,
| Venezuelan Revolution
| Venezuela has once more undergone
revolution. The insurgents under General
| Castro, after a sanguinary engagement in
which they suffered much loss, rallied in
the mountainous interior and advanced to-
ward the capital. The bulk of the army
having sided with the movement, President
! Andrade quilted Caracas, where General
| Castro set up a provisional government
| with ministry and representatives of 9TH
| er powers entering into diplomatic rela-
lions on the goth of November, 1899.