The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-12-06
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.
President Recommends Ratification
of the Hay-PauncefOte Treaty.


President Recommends Ratification
of the Hay-PauncefOte Treaty.
The all-important matter of an inter-
oceanic canal has assumed new phase.
ton of the forfeiture of the contract or
the Maritime Canal company, which was
terminated for alleged non-execution in
October, 1899, the government of Nicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cramln
option void for nonpayment of its stipu-
lated advance. Protests in relation to
these acts have been filed in the state de-
partment and are under consideration.
Deeming itself relieved from existing 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.
Overtures 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-lsthmian ship-canal
projects, may be awaited ,-'
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 objection which
might arise. out of the convention COM
monty called the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
DeIagon Bay Award.
The long-standing contention with Por-
tugal, growing out of the seizure of the
Delagoa Bay railway, has been at last
determined by favorable award of the
tribunal of arbitration at Berne, to which
IL was submitted. The amount of the
award. which was deposited in London
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 determine ton
by Mr.. 7. M, c. Asser, a 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 Ameri-
| can missionaries fleeing from Manchuria.
New Treaty with Spain.
| Satisfactory progress has been made
treaty of friendship and intercourse with
Spain, in replacement of the old treaty,
which passed into allegiance by reason
OF the late war NEW convention OF
and / should be much pleased We're a
commercial arrangement to follow. feel
po port to reafrm the cordial tesy that
existed between us and Spain from the
time of our earliest Independence, and to
commercial intercourse which Is natural
between 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 recog-
niZed as under Spanish control The oc-
cupation 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 remov-
y ing all possible ground of future mis-
understanding respecting the interpreta-
ton of its third article, l objected the
negotiation of a supplementary treaty,
which will be forthwith laid before the
senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
claim to the islands named, as well az to
any and all islands belonging to the Phil
ippine 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
States is to pay to Spain the sum of
100000.
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 of
the treaty OF peace with Spain, by which
Of certain claims for Indemnity of it's
citizens against Spain. ] ask that action
be taken to fulfill this obligation.
The king of Sweden and Norway has
accepted the joint invitation of the United
states, Germany and Great Britain to
a ars claims growing out Of losses
course Of military operations made neces-
sary by the disturbances in 1899.
/ Still Waiting on the Sultan.
We await the fulfillment of the prom
Use 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
ing the American college at Harpoot.
=, the failure Of action by the senate at
its last session upon the commercial con-
Yentions then submitted for its consider
alton and approval, although caused by
the great pressure Of other legislative
business, has caused much disappoint-
ment to the agricultural and industrial
interests OF the country, which hoped to
profit by their provisions. The conven-
tional periods for their ratification having
ditional articles extending the time for
that purpose. This was requested on our
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
congress on this 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
Dominican republic, with Great Britain
on behalf of the island of Trinidad, and
/ with Denmark on behalf Of the island OF
| st. Croix. These will be early commune
| Gated to the senate Negotiations with
! other governments are in progress for the
/ improvement and security of our COM
mercial relations.
Would Extend Reciprocity.
! The policy of reciprocity so manifestly
rests upon the principles of international
| equity and has been so repeatedly APP
( proved by the people of the United States,
I that there ought to be no hesitation in
| either branch Of the congress in giving
| to 1t full effect.
| This government desires to preserve the
most just and amicable relations with all
| trial rivalries necessarily developed in the
! expansion of international trade. II is
| believed that the foreign governments
| generally entertain the same purpose, al
though in some instances there are clam
orous demands upon them for legislation
| specifically hostile TO American interests
| Should these demands prevail / shall
I communicate with the congress with the
| view of advising such legislation 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 st Ruffalo next year promises impor-
F, tant results not only for the United States
but for the other participating countriea