Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-12-03
Eriendly with Great Britain.

Our friendly relations with Great Britain
continue The war In South Africa intro
duced important questions. condition
unusual IN international wars WIS pre-
scented ia that while one belligerent had
control of the seas, the other had no ports,
shipping or direct trade, but was only ac-
cesslble through the territory of neutral
Vexatious questions arose through Great
Britafns action In respect to neutral car
goes, POI contraband In their own nature
shipped 10 Portuguese South Africa, on
the score of probable or suspected ulti-
mate destination to the Boer states.
Such eonsignments In British ships, by
which alone direct trade Is kept mp be-
tween our ports and Southern Africa, We're
seized IN application of Il law prohibiting
British vessels from trading with the enc
my without regard TO any eontraband char
acter of the goods, while eare0es shipped
to Delagoa bay in neutral bottoms were
arrested on the ground of alleged destina-
tion TO enemy's country. Appropriate rep
reservations on our part resulted IN the
British government agreeing to purchase
outright ali such goods shown to be ac-
tual property of American citizens, thus
closing the incident TO the satisfaction Of
the Immediately interested parties, al
though unfortunately without broad set
Element of the question Of a neutral's right
to send goods not eontraband per Sc to
neutral port adjacent TO a belligerant area.
The work Of marking certain provisional
4 boundary points, for convenience of adj
ministration, around the head of Lynn
canal IN accordance with the temporary
arrangement of October, 1899, WAS com
pleted by a joint survey In July last. The
modus yiYendi has so far worked without
friction. ana the dominion government has
provided rules and regulations for securing
to our citizens the benefit of the recipro-
cal stipulation that the citizens or subjects
OF either power found by that arrangement
within the temporary jurisdiction of the
other shall suffer no dminutioD of the
rights and privileges they have hitherto
enjoyed. But, however necessary such an
expedlent may have been to tide over the
grave emergencies of the situation, Ii Is
at best but an unsatisfactory makeshift,
which should not be suffered to delay the
speedy and complete establishment of the
frontier line TO which we are entitled I'M
der the Russo-Ameriean treaty for the ees-
sion of Alaska.
In this relation / may refer to the need
of definitely marking the Alaskan boundary
where it follows the one hundred and
forty-first meridian. 4 convention to that
end has been before the senate for some
two years, but as no action has been taken
/ contemplate negotiating new eonYen-
tion for joint determination of the meridian
by telegraphic observations. These, It Is
believed, Will give more unquestionable re-
Suits as the Sdereal methods heretofore
independently followed, which, as is
known. proved discrepant at several points
on the line, although not varying at any
place more than 700 feet.
Italy.
Respectful reference is made to the as
sassinatien of King Hembert. Renewed
recommendation is made that congress
should confer on federal courts jurisdiction
In international cases, as in the case of
the five Italians lynehed at Tallulah, and
the passage of pending bills to that end
is urged Incidentally, on the subject OF
lynching, the president quotes and reitef-
ates his utterances on the subject In his
inaugural address.
Relations with Japan and Mexico are dis
cussed showing satisfactory conditions.
The Hague Convention.
1t is with satisfaction that | am able to
announce the formal notifications at The
Hague Sept T. of the deposit of ratitiea-
lions of the convention for the pacific set
Element of the international disputes by
10 powers. namely, the United States,
AUSTRIA Belgium, Denmark, England,
France Germany. Italy Persia, Portugal,
Roumania, Russia Siam, Spain, Sweden
and Norway and the Netherlands. Japan
also has since ratified the convention.
The administrative council of the per-
manent court of arbitration has been or
gained, and has adopted rules Of order
and constitution for the international
arbitration bureau. In accordance with
Article XXIII providing for each sigma
tory power in questions of international
..lsft eirt.sa "A
members of this court Hon. Benjamin
Harrison of Indiana, ex-president; Hon.
Melville w. Fuller of Illinois, chief JUS
tice of the United States; Hon. ]. w. Griggs
of New Jersey, attorney general of the
United States, and Hon. George Gray of
Delaware, judge of the circuit court of the
United States.
Nicaraguan Canal.
The all important matter Of an inter-
oceanic canal has assumed new phase.
Adhering to its refusal to reopen the ques-
ton of the forfeiture of the contract of the
Maritime Canal company, which was ter
minated for alleged noneXecution in 0eto-
Der, 1899, the government of Nicaragua
has since supplemented that action by de-
claring the so-styled Eyre-Cra option
void for nonpayment of the stipulated adj
vance Protests in return to these acts
have been filed in the state department
and are under consideration. Deeming it
self relieved from existing engagements,
the Nlcaraguan government shows a dis
position to deal freely with the canal ques-
ton, either In the way of negotiations
with the United States er by taking meas
uFes to promote the waterway.
0yertures for a convention to examine
the building of the canal under the aus
pieces Of the United States are under con
sideration In the meantime the views of
congress upon the subject. in the light Of
the report OF the commission appointed to
examine the comparative merits of the
various transisthmian ship 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.
Attention is given the recent settlement
of the long standing contention with Por-
tugal by the payment Of the Delagoa bay
award. Russia is thanked for aid in ST.
IBERIA to American missionaries fleeing from
Manchura The recent purchase for $780,
900 of TWO islands in the Philippine group
not included in the traty of peace with
Snain will ha euhmjfted m tho Sapafa for