Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-12-13

not bs suffered to delay the speedy am
complete establishment Of the frontier
line to which We are entitled under the
Russo.American treaty for the cession Of
Alaska.
In this relation, I may refer again te
the need OF definitely marking the Alas.
kan boundary where 1t follows the 14lsi
meridian. A convention to that end has
been before the Senate for some two
years, but as no action has been taken.
contemplate negotiating a new convention
for b JOINT determination of the meridian
by heliocentris observations. These, ASH
Is believed, will give more accurate and
unquestionable results than the siderea
methods heretofore independently fol-
lowed. which. as Is known, proved dis
crepant at several points on the line. al
though not varying at any place more
than 100 feet.
International Arbitration.
It Is with satisfaction that I am able
to announce the formal notification al
The Hague. on September 4, Of the depos-
1t of Publications OF the convention for
the pacific settlement Of the international
disputes by 16 powers. namely. the United
States, Austria, Belgium, Denmark. Eng
land. France. Germany, Italy, Persia,
Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Siam. Spain,
lands. Japan also has since ratified the
convention. The administrative council
OF the permanent court OF arbitration has
been organized, and 1t has adopted rules
or order and a constitution for the In
ternational Arbitration Bureau. In ac-
cordance with article % of the convention
providing for the appointment by each
signatory power Of persons Of known
competency in questions of information
law as arbitrator I have appointed as
members of this court, Hon. Benjamin
Harrison, of Indiana. ex-President of the
United States; Hon. Melville w. Fuller,
of Illinois. Chief Justice of the United
States: John w. Griggs, Of New Jersey.
Attorney General Of the United States,
Judge Of the Circuit Court Of the United
States.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The important matter Of an interoceanic
canal has assumed a new phase. Adj
herring to It's refusal to reopen the question
Of the forfeiture Of the contract Of the
Maritime Canal Company, which was
terminated for alleged nonexecution in
October. 1899, the Government Of Nicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cragin
option void for nonpayment of the stipu-
lated advance. Protests In relation to
these acts have been filed In the State
Department. and are under considera ton.
Deeming itself relieved from existing en-
gagements, the Nicaragua Government
shows a disposition to deal freely with
the canal question. either in the way OF
negotiations with the United States or by
taking measures to promote the water
way. Overtures for convention to effect
the building Of canal under the auspices
of the United States are under considera-
ton. In the meantime. the Views of Con-
gress upon the subject in the light OF
the report OF the committee appointed to
examine the comparative merits OF the
various trans-isthmian ship canal prof.
ects may be awaited.
l commend to the early attention Of
the Senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction OF
such a canal. and to remove any objec-
ton whi-h might arise out OF the conven-
ton commonly called the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty.
Relations with Spain.
Satisfactory progress has been made
toward the conclusion Of a general treaty
Of friendship and intercourse with Spain
in replacement Of the old treaty. which
late war. A new convention of extradis
ton is approaching completion. and l
would be much pleased were CONNER
cial arrangement to follow. feel that
we should not suffer to pass an oppor-
tunity to reafflrm the cordial ties that
existed between us and Spain from the
tiAs ri oHE g saEAiassf blneaeRsgdsnes epd to
mercial intercourse which Is natural be-
tween the two countries.
BY the terms of the treaty Of peace.
the line bounding the ceded Philippine
group on the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west OF the
Sulus, which have always been recog-
nized as under Spanish control. The oc-
clpa ton of Sibutu and Cagayan. Sulu,
by our naval forces elected claim on
the part of Spain the essential equity
of which could not be gainsaid. In order
to cure the defect of the treaty by re-
moving all possible ground OF future mis-
understanding respecting the interpreted
ton of it's third article, / directed the
negotiation of supplementary treaty,
which will be forthwith laid before the
Senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
claim OF title to the islands named. as
we'll as to any and all Islands belonging
to the Philippine Archipelago lying out
side the lines described in said third ar
ticle, and agrees that all such Islands
shall be comprehended In the cession OF
the archipelago as fully as II they had
been expressly included within those lines.
In consideration of this cession the United
States Is to pay Spain the sum OF $lOOCO.
A bill Is now pending to effect the rec
ommendation made In my last annual
message, that appropriate legislation be
had to carry into execution article y
of the treaty of peace with Spain. by
which the United States assumed the
payment Of certain claims for indem-
nifty Of it's citizens against Spain. ask
that action be taken to fulfill this obli-
cation.
CONDITIONS IN PHILIPPINES.
concentrations for . Civil Gov
eminent for the Islands.
In my last annual message I dwelt at
some length upon the condition OF at