The age-herald., 1900-12-04

| might arise out of the convention common ly called the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
 The long-standing contention with Por 1 tugal growing out of the seizure of thu Delagoa Bay railway has been at last de. | tdrmined by a favorable award of the tri
 bunal at Berne to which it was submitted l The amount of the award which was de- posted in London awaiting arrangements l by the governments of the United States and Great Britain for its disposal has re- gently been paid over to the two govern | ments
 The lately signed convention of extradi- l ton with Peru as amended by the Senate has been ratified by the Peruvian Con- l gfesss
 Another illustration of the policy of this government to refer international disputes to arbitration is seen by the agreement reached with Russia to submit the claims on behalf of sealing vessels seized in Behr- ing sea to determine by Mir. T. NJ C. As ser distinguished statesman and jurist of the Netherlands.
 Thanks are due to the imperial Russian government for kindly aid rendered by it's authorities in Eastern Siberia to American missionaries fleeing from Manchuria. Relations With spaIn.
 Satisfactory progress has been toward the conclusion of a great friendship and intercourse with Spain in replacement of the old treaty, which passed into abeyance by reason of the late war. A new conven- ton of extradltion is approaching comple- tion and should be much pleased were commercial arrangement to follow I feel that We should not suffer to pass an op- portunity to reaffirm the cordial ties that existed between us and Spain from the time of our earliest independence and to enhance the mutual benefits of that com 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 in the Southwest failed to include several small islands lying west of the Sulus which have always been recognized as under Spanish control.
 The occupation of Sibutu and Caganan, Sulu, by our naval forces elicited a 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 remov- ing all possible ground of future misunder- standing respecting the interpretations of its third article I directed the negotiation of a supplementary treaty, which will be forthwith laid before the Senate, whereby Spain quits all title and claim of title to the islands named, well as to any and all islands belonging to the Philippine archipelago lying outside the lines de- scribed in said third article, and agrees that all such islands shall be comprehend ed in the cession of the archipelago as fully as If they had been expressly included within their lines. In consideration of this eession the United States is to pay Spain $100, 900.
 A bill is now pending to effect the recom- mendation made in my last annual message that the appropriation bill had to carry into execution article VIII of the treaty of peace with Spain by which the United States assumed the payment of certain claims for indemnity of it's citizens against Spain. I ask that action be taken to full fill this obligation.
 The King of Sweden has accepted the joint invitation of the United States, Ger many and Great Britain to arbitrate claims growing out of losses sustained in the Samoan Islands in the course of mill. tary operations made necessary by the dis turbanceS of 1899.
 Our claims upon the government of the Sultan for reparation for injuries suffered by American citizens in Armenia and else where give promise of early and satisfac- tory settlement. His majesty's good dispo- sition in this regard has been evinced by the issuance of an trade for rebuilding the American college at Harpoot.
 Commercial Agreements.
 The failure of action by the Senate at it's last session upon the commercial con vention then submitted for its considera- ton and approval, although caused by the great pressure of other legislative business, has caused disappointment to the agricul- tural and industrial interests Of the coun- try, which hoped to profit by their pro- visions The conventional period for their ratification having expired, it became necessary to sign additional articles ex- tending the time for that purpose. This was requested our part, and the other governments have concurred with the ex ception of one convention, in respect to which no formal reply has been received.
 Since my last communication to Congress
 ,1 al ments under the third section of the tariff act have been proclaimed with Portugal, with Italy and with Germany. Commercial conventions under the general limitations of the fourth section of the same act have been concluded with Nicaragua, with Ecua- dor, with the Dominican Republic, with Great Britain behalf of the Island of Trinidad and with Denmark on behalf of the Island of St. Croix. These will be early communicated to the Senate. Negotiations with other governments are in progress for the improvement and security of our com mercial relations. The policy of reciprocity so manifestly rests upon the principles of international equality and has been so re- peatedly approved by the people of the United States that there ought to be no hesitation in either branch of the Congress in giving to it full effect.
 This government desires to preserve the most just and amicable commercial rela-
  by the industrial rivalries necessarily de- veloped in the expansion of international trade. It is believed that the foreign gov ernments generally entertain the same pur- pose, although in some instances there are clamorous demands upon them for legisla- ton specifically hostile to American inter- ests Should these demands prevail shaai communicate with the Congress with the view of advising such legislation as may be necessary to meet the emergency.
 Pan-American Exposition.
 The exposition of the resources and prod ucts of the Western Hemisphere to be held at Buffalo next year promises inn portant results not only for the United States, but the other participating coun- tries. It is gratifying that the Latin-Amer- ican States have evinced the liveliest ln- terest, and the fact that an international American congress will be held in the City of Mexico while the exposition is in prog ress encourages these people of larger display at Buffalo than might otherwise be practicable. The work of preparing an ex-