Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-06
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.

commodated. our ministers rendering goed
offices toward an understanding.
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.
President Recommends Ratification
of the Hay-PauncefOte Treaty.
The all-important matter of an inter.
oceanic canal has assumed a new phase.
Adhering to its refusal to reopen the guess
tion of the forfeiture of the contract or
the Maritime Canal company, when was
terminated for alleged non-execuuon IN
October, 1899, the government OF Nlc2ra-
qua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cran1in
option void for nonpayment OF Its stlpu-
lated advance. Protests in relation to
these acts have been filed in the state de-
partment and are under consideration.
Deeming itself relieved from existlng en-.
gagements, the Nicaraguan government
shows disposition to deal freely with the
canal question either IN the way OF ne
gotiations with the United States or by
taking measures to promote the waterway.
Oyertures for a convention to effect the
building of canal under the auspices
of the United States are under consIdera-
ton. In the meantime the views OF the
congress upon the general subject, In the
light OF the report of the commission APP
pointed to examine the comparative merits
of the various trans-isthmlan shlp-canal
projects, may be awaited.
l commend to the early attention of the
senate the convention with Great Britain
to facilitate the construction of such
canal and to remove any objection which
might arise out of the convention COM
monty called the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
DeIngoa Bay Award.
The long-standing contention with Por-
Delagoa Bay railway, has been at last
determined by a favorable award of the
tribunal of arbitration at Berne, to which
it was submitted. The amount of the
award, which was deposited in London
awaiting arrangements by the govern
ments OF the United States and Great Brit
ain for its disposal, has recently been paid
over to the two governments.
A lately signed convention of extradition
with Peru as amended by the senate has
been ratified by the Peruvian congress.
Another illustration of the policy of this
government to refer international disputes
to impartial arbitration is seen in the agree
ment reached with Russia to submit the
claims on behalf of American sealing YES
sells seized in Behring sea to determination
by Mr.. 7. M. c. Asser, a distinguished
statesman and jurist of the Netherlands.
government for kindly aid rendered by
its authorities in eastern Siberia to Ameri-
can missionaries fleeing from Manchuria.
New Treaty with Spain.
Satisfactory progress has been made
toward the combustion of a general
treaty of friendship and intercourse with
Spain, in replacement of the old treaty,
which passed into allegiance by reason
of the late war. A new convention of
extradition is approaching completion,
and I should be much pleased were
commercial arrangement to follow. I feel
that we should not suffer to pass any 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
commercial intercourse which is natural
between the two countries.
By the terms of the treaty of peace
the line bounding the coded Philippine
group in the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west of the
,,ir zD6 nc lny. CrnQt Itch
cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan Sulu by
our naval forces elected 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 mis-
understanding respe citing the interpreta-
ton of its third article T directed the
negotiation o. supplementary trCa "
which VIII be forthwith laid before the
senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
claim to the islands named, as wen as to
any and all islands belonging to the Phil
lpplne archipelago. lying outside the
lines ascribed in said third article, and
agrees that all such islands shall be COM
pretended in the cession of the archi-
pelago as fully as if they had been ex-
pressly included within those lines In
consideration of this cession the United
500, 000
A bill is now pending to effect the rec
enumeration made in my last annual
message tn 1T appropriate legislation be
the treaty of peace with Spain by which
the United States assumed the payment
citizens against Spain. 1 ask that action
be taken to fulfill this obligation.
The king of eden and Norway has
accepted the joint invitation of the United
States, Germany and Great Britain to
arb1trate claims growing out of losses
sustained in the Samoan islands in the
course Of military operations made neces.
sary by the disturbances in 1859.
Still Waitiur nm tho SuJfon
We await the fulfllment of the prom
fse of the sultan to make reparation for
the injuries suffered by American cit
liens in Armenia and elsewhere in the
Turkish empire. His majesty's good dis
position in this regard has been evinced
by the Issuance of an trade for rebuild
Ing the American college at Harpoot
The failure of action by the senate at
Its last session upon the commercial con-
Ventlons then submitted for its consider
alton and approval, although caused by
business, has caused much disa ppoint-
ment to the agricultural and industrial
profit by their provisions. The conven-
tional periods for their ratification having
expired, it became necessary to sign adj
ditional articles extending the time for
that purpose. This was requested on our
part, and the other governments inter
ested have concurred. with the exception
OF one convention, in respect to which no
formal reply has been received.
Since my last communication to the
CCHSFeSS Oh lHlS SUBJECT special CONNER
cial agreements under the third section
Of the tariff act have been proclaimed
with Portugal, with Italy and with Ger
many. Commercial conventions under
the general limitations of the fourth sec
ton Of the same act have been concluded
With Nicaragua, with Ecuador, with the
on behalf Of the island of Trinidad and
9th Denmark on behalf of the island OF
St Groix. These will be early communi-
other governments are in progress for the
improvem ent and security Of our COM
mercial relations.
Would Extend Reciprocity.
The policy Of reciprocity so manifestly
equity and has been so reneatedy APP
proved by the people CT 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 relations with all
foreign countries. unmoved by the indus
trial rivalries necessarily developed in the
expansion of international trade. 1t is
be,teve1d d. that the foreign governments
though in some instances there are clam
orous demands upon them for legislation
specifically hostile to American interests.
Should these demands prevail I shall
communicate with the congress with the
view of advising such leefsla ton as may
be necessary TO meet the emergency.
Exposition at Buffalo.
The exposition Of the resources and
products of the western hemisphere to be
held at Buffalo next year promises impor-
tant results not only for the United States
but for the other participa ting countries.
It is gratifying that the LaUin-Annerican
states have evinced the liveliest interest,
enc the fact that an interna tional Ameri-
can congress will be held IN the City Of
Mexico while the exposition is III progress
encourages the hope of larger display at
Buffalo than might otherwise be p1 actic.
able. The work OF preparing an exhibit OF
our national resources is making satISfac-
tory progress under the direction of diff
ferent officials Of the federal government,
and the various states of the union have
Shown a disposition toward the most lib
eral participation IN the enterprise.
The bureau of the American republics