Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-04

>uit NouIt vi the lulteu states.
las an incident of the brief revolution
In the Mosquito district Of Nicaragua
early in 1899, the insurgents forcibly col
iected from American p,archants duties
upon imports. On the restoration of or
der the Nicaraguan authorities demand
ed second payment OF such duties on
the ground that they We're due to the
titular government and that their di-
version had aided the revolt.
This position was not accepted by us.
After prolonged discussion. a compro-
mise was effected. under which the
amount of the second payments was
deposited with the British consul at San
Juan del Norte in trust until the two
governments should determine whether
the first payments had been made under
co1npulsion of a de facto authority.
Agreement as to this was not reached d
and the point was waived in the action
of the Nicaraguan government in reQues-
ing the return of the deposits to the
merchants.
Menacing differences between several of
the Central American states have been
accommodated, our ministers rendering
good offices toward an understanding.
An important matter Of an inter- oceanic
canal has assumed a new phase. ADJ
herring to its refusal to reopen the ques-
ton of forfeiture of the contract of the
Maritime Canal company, which was
terminated for alleged non-executon in
October, 1899. the government of Nicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-C -Cragin
option void for non-payment of the stip-
uiated advance. Protests in relation to
these acts have been filed in the state
department. and are under considera-
ton. Deeming itself relieved from exist
ing engagements, the Nicaraguan gov
ernment shows disposition 20 deal free
ly with the canal question, either in the
way of negotiations with the United
States or by taking measures to promote
the waterway.
THE CONSUL QUESTION.
Overtures for convention to effect
the building of canal under the auspi-
ces 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 appoint
ed to examine the comparative merits of
the various trans-isthmian ship canal
projects, may be awaited. l commend to
the early attention of the senate the con-
vention with Great Britain to facilitate
the constructor of such a canal and to
remove any objection which might arise
out of the convention called the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
The long standing contention with
Portugal, growing out of the seizure of
the Delagoa Bay railway, has been at
last determined by a favorbale award of
the tribunal of arbitration at Berne. to
which it was submitted. The amount of
the award which was deposited in Lon
don awaiting arrangements by the gov
ernment of the United States and Great
Britain for its disposal has been re-
Gently 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 arbitra ton, is seen
III the agreement reached with Russia to
submit the claims on behalf Of American
sealing vessels seized in the Bering Sea
to determination by Mr.. T. NJ. c. As,ser,
a distinguished statesman and jurist Of
the Netherlands
Thanks are due to the imperial Rus
sian government for kindly aid rendered
by it's authorities in Eastern Siberia to
churia.
Satisfactory progress has been made
toward the conclusion of 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 eXtradi-
ton is approaching completion and
would be much pleased were a CONNER
cial arrangement to follow. l feel that
We should not suffer to pass an oppor-
tunity 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 Canayan Sulu by our ma
val forces ELECTED a claim on the part of
Spain, the essential equity of which could
not be gainsaid. In order TO cure the de-
feet of the treaty by removing all possi-
BILE ground of future misunderstanding
respecting the Interpretation of its third
article, L directed the negotiation OF
supplementary treaty which will be
| forthwith laid before the senate, where
by Spain quits all title and claim of title
| to the islands named as well as to any
and all islands belonging to the Philip
pine archipelago lying outside the lines
described in said third article and agrees
| that all such islands shall be compre-
| hended in the cessation of the archi-
! pelago as if they had been expressly in
| cluded within those lines. In considera
| tion of this cession the United States i:
to pay the sum of 100000
A bill is now pending to effect th
recommendation made in my last an
nual message that appropriate legisla
! tion be had to carry into execution
! article VIII of the treaty of peace Will
| Spain, by which the United States as
sumed the payment of certain claim