The citizen., 1900-12-07

ground OF alleged destination TO enemy 5
country. Appropriate representations on
our part resulted in the British govern
ment agreeing to purchase outright all
such goods shown to be the actual prop
erty of American citizens, thus closing
the incident to the satisfaction of the
Immediately interested parties, although
unfortunately without a broad settlement
of the question of a ncutrals right to
send goods not contraband per Sc to a
neutral port adjacent to a belligerent
area.
boundary Questions.
The work of marking certain provision
al boundary points for convenience of
administration around the head of Lynn
canal. in accordance with the temporary
arrangement of October, 1899. was com
pleted by joint survey in July last. The
modus viyendi has SO far worked without
friction, and the Dominion government
has provided rules aud regulations for
securing to our citizens the benefit of
the reciprocal stipulation that the citi-
zens or subjects of either power found by
that arrangement within the temporary
jurisdiction of the other shall suffer no
elimination of the rights and privileges
they have hitherto enjoyed: but, however
necessary such an eNpcdient may have
been to tide over the grave emergencies
of the situation, il is at best but an un-
satisfactory makcShift. which should not
be suffered to delay the speedy and com
pletc establishment of the frontier line to
which we are entitled under the Russo
American treaty for the ccsSion of Alas
ka.
In this relation | may refer again to
the need uf definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where it follows the one
hundred AMI forty-iirSt meridian. \ con-
VentIun to that end has been before the
senate for some two years. but as no ac-
tion has been taken contemplate ncgo-
uatlnG new convention for Il Joint de-
termination of the meridian 10y tec-
graphic observations. These, it is bclicy-
ed, will give more accurate and uuVucS-
tionahlr results than the ~id2rcal methods
heretofore independently followed, which.
as Is shown, proved discrepant At several
points on the line. although not varying
at amy place more than 1o0 feet
The assassination of King IIumbcrt
called forth sincere expressions of sorrow
from this government and people. and oc-
casion was fifty taken to testify to the
Italian nation the high regard here felt
for the memory of the lamcntcd ruler.
The Isthminn Canal.
The growth of Japan is next referred
to. The president says our commercial
intercourse with Mexico continues to
thrive. The movement for international
arbitration is the subject Of another par
agraph. and the president then turns to
the intcroceanic canal. He says:
2 The all important matter of an inter
oceanic canal has assumed Il now phase.
Adhcring to its refusal to reopen the
question of the forfeiture of the contract
of the Maritime Canal company. which
was terminated for alleged noncXccution
in October, 1899. the government of Nj
caragua has since supplemented that ac-
tion by declaring the 50 STYLED Eyre
Cragin option void for nOnpayncnt of the
stipulated advance. Protests in relation
to these acts have been filed in the state
department and are under consideration.
DecminE itself relieved from existing en-
gagcments. the Nicaraguan government
shows Il 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 W
terway.
Ovcrturcs for convention to effect
the building of Il canal under the auspices
of the United States are under consider
alton. In the meantime the views of the
congress upon the general subject, in
the light of the report of the commission
appointed To examine the comparative
merits of the various tranSsthmian 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.
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
passed into allegiance by reason of the
late war. \ new convention of cXtraGi-
tion is approaching completion, and
should be much pleased were CONNER
cial arrangement to follow. | feel that
we should not suffer to pass any oppOr-
tunity to rcaiiirm the cordial ties that ex-
listed 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.
A hill is now pending to effect the rec
ommcndati0n 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
the United States assumed the payment
of certain claims for indemnify of its cit
izens against Spain. | ask that action
be taken to fulfill this Obligation
We await the fulfllmcnt of the prom
Use of the sultan to make reparaton for
the injuries suffered by American citi-
zens in Armenia and elsewhere in the
Turkish empire. His majcSty's good dis
position in this regard has been cvinccd
by the issuance of an trade for rebuilding
the American college at karput.
The failure of action by the senate at
its last session upon the commercial con
ventiens then submitted for its consider
alton and approval. although caused by
the great pressure of other legislative
business, has caused much disapplint-
ment to the agricultural and industrial
interests of the country. which hoped to
profit by their provisions. The conycn-
tional periods for their ratification hav-
ing expired. it became necessary to sign
additional articles extending the time for
that purpose This was requested on
Dur part ard the other governments in
tercstcd have concurrcd, with the cxcep-
ton of one convention.
The Pnn-Amcrican Fair.
The exposition of the resources and
products of the western hemisphere to
be held at Buffalo next year promises
important results not only for the United
States. but for the other participating
countries. 1t is gratifying that the Latin
American states have evinced the live
lest interest. and the fact that an inter