New-York tribune., 1900-12-04
TUESDAY.
DECEMBER 4, 1900.

led and may again lead, to such untOward re-
suits. have pointed out the necessity and the
precedent for legislation Of this character. Its
enactment is a simple measure Of previsory
Jusuee toward the nations with which We as
sovereign equal make treaties requiring recip-
rocal observance.
While the Italian Government naturally re-
saros such action as the primary and indeed
the most essential element In the disposal OF
tne Tallulah incident advise that in accord
ance with precedent. and in view OF the i'm
prooapinty OF that particular case being reached
oy the bill now pending. Congress make gra-
clous provision for indemnity to the Italian
heretofore.
In my inaugural address referred to the
general subject of lynching in these words:
civilized country IKE 1 tne f1itsd = great and
rot mobs. must execute the penalties OF the law
cussion. the integrity Of courts and the order or
the administration OF justice must continue forever
securely rests.
This most urgently reiterate and again invite
the attention OF my countrymen TO this reproaoh
upon our civilization
JAPAN AMONG THE NATIONS.
The closing year has witnessed a decidsd
strengthening Of Japan's relations to other
States. The development of her independent
judicial and administrative functions under tbs
treaties which took effect July II. 1909. has
proceeded without international friction. show
ing the competence of the Japanese TO hold q
foremost place among modern peoples.
In the treatment Of the difficult Chinese prob
lens Japan has acted in harmonious concert with
the other Powers and her generous co-operation
materially aided in the joint relief OK the be-
leaguered legations in Pekiug and IN bringing
about an understanding preliminary to a settle
ment of the issues between the Powers and
China Japan's declarations in favor OF the In
tegrtty of the Chinese Empire and the
servatiOn of open world trade Herewith have
been frank and positive. AS a factor fo= pro-
noting the general interests OF peace, order and
fair commerce in the Far East the influence OF
Japan can hardly be Overestimated.
The valuable aid and kindly courtesies ex-
tended by the Japanese Government and naval
officers to the battleship Oregon are gratefully
Complaint was made last summer OF the dis.
crtrninatory enforcement of a bubOnic quaran-
tine against japanese on the Pacific Coast and
OF interference with their travel In California
and Colorado under the health laws OF those
States. The latter restrictions have been ad-
Judged by a Federal court to be unconstitutional
NO recurrence Of either cause OF complaint ia
apprehended.
relations with our important southern neighbor-
Commercial intercourse with Mexico continues
10 thrive. and the two Governments neglect
opportunity to foster their mutual intsresta In
all practicable ways.
Pursuant to the declaration OF the suprems
Court that the awards of the late Joint ComTnis-
sion in the La Abra and Well claims were OBJ
tanned through fraud, the sum awarded in ths
first case. S4O3 O30 OS has been returned 10 Mex
leo. and the amount OF the Well award win be
returned in like manner.
A convention indefinitely extending the time
International Cwater) Boundary Commission has
been signed.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
1t is with satisfaction that am able 70 an
| nounce the formal notification at The Hague on
| September 4. OF the deposit OF ratihcations OF
the Convention for the Pacific Settlement Of m
ternationaI Disputes by sixteen Powers. namely
| the United States. Austria. Belgium, Denmark.
| England, France. Germany. Italy. Persia, Por-
tugal, Rumania Russia, Siam. Spain, Sweden
and Norway. and the Netherlands. Japan also
has since ratified the convention. -
The Administrative Council OF the Permanent
Court OF Arbitration has been organized and has
adopted rules Of order and constitution for the
International Arbitration Bureau. In accord
ance with Article XIII OF the Convention pro-
viding for the appointment by each signatOry
Power OF persons OF known competency in ques-
tions OF International law as arbitrators. have
appointed as members OF this court the Hon.
Benjamin Harrison. Of Indiana, eX-President OF
the United States: tho Hon Melville W Fuller.
Of Illinois. Chief Justice of the United States;
the Hon John W. Griggs, OF New-Jersey, Attor-
[ General OF the United States, and the Hon.
George Gray Of Delaware. judge of the Circuit
AS an incident OF the brief revolution In the
Mosquito District Of Nicaragua early in 1899
/ the insurgents fOrcibly collected from American
merchants duties upon imports. On the restora-
tiOn Of order the Nicaraguan authorities de-
manded second payment OF such duties on the
ground that they were due to the titular Gov
ernment and that their diversion had aided the
revolt.
InlS position was not accepted DY us. AFTER
prolonged discussion a compromise ef-
fected under which the amount OF the second
payments was deposited with the British Con-
sui at San Juan del NOrte In trust until the
two Governments should determine whether the
first payments had been made under cOmpulsion
to a de factO authority. Agreement as 20 this
was not reached. and the point waived by
the act of the Nicaraguan Government in re-
questing the British Consul TO return the de-
pOsits 10 the merchants
Menacing differences between several of the
Central American States have been accOmmo-
dated Ministers rendering good Offices
toward understanding
IsTHMIAN CANAL PROJECTS.
The all important matter Of an interoceanic
canal has assumed new phase. Adhering TO
it's refusal to reopen the question of the for
feiture OF the contract OF the Maritime Canal
Company which was terminated for alleged
nOn-executiOn in October 1899 the Government
Of Nicaragua has since supplemented that ae-
tion by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cragin op-
tion void tor nOn-payment OF the stipulated ad-
vance Protests in relation to these acts have
been filed in the State Department. and are
under consideration. Deeming itself relieved
from existing engagements. the Nicaraguan
Government shows disposition to deal freely
with the canal question either in the way OF
negotiations with the United States or by TAX
ing measures to promote the waterway.
Overtures for convention to effect the build
ing of canal under the auspices Of the United
time the views of the Congress upon the gen.
eral subject, in the light Of the report of the
commission appointed 10 examine Jne COM
parative merits Of the various trans-Isthmian
ship canal projects. may be awaited
I 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 commonly called the Clay
ton-BulWer Treaty.
The long standing contention with Portugal.
growing out OF the seizure OF the DelagOa Bay
Railway has been az last determined by a
favorable award of the tribunal OF arbitration
at Bsrne. to which 10 was submitted. The
amount Of the award, which deposited In
LOrdon awaiting arrangements by the Govern