The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04

bbA AAn ultt 4fLEEslNlE tIfDuEI TIE tcfff-
tory Of neutral Vexatious questions
arose through Great Britain's action IN
respect TO neutral eargoes. not cOntrab2nd
In their own nature. shipped 10 Portu-
guese South Africa. on the score Of prob
able OF suspected ultimste destination 10
the Boer States.
Such consignments In British ships, by
which alone direct trade is kept up be-
tween cur ports and Southern Africa,
were seized In application Of municipal
law prohibiting British vessels fron rad
ing with the enemy without regard 10 any
contraband character Of the goods, while
earg0es shipped 70 Delagoa Bay in neutral
bottoms we're arrested on the ground OF
alleged destination TO enemys country
Appropriate representations on our part
resulted In the British government agree
ing to purchase outright all such goods
shown TO be the actual popePty Of Ameri-
can citizens. thus closing the incident to
/ the satisfaction of the Immediately inter
| esged parties. although, unfortunately
without a broad settlement Of the ques-
/ ton OF neutrars right TO send goods
| not eontraband per Sc 10 neutral port
! adjacent TO A belligerent area
The work Of making certain provisional
boundary points for convenience OF ad-
mlulstration. around the head OF Lynn
Canal. in accordance with the temporary
! arrangement OF October. 1889, was csn-
pleted by a Joint survey in July last. The
modus vivendi has 50 far worked without
friction. and the Dominion government
has provided rules and regulations IOr
securing to our citizens the Deneht OF the
reciprocal stipulation that the citizens or
subjects OF either power found oy thal
. ha TER
diction Of the other shall suffer no dlmi-
mutton OF tae rights and privileges they
have hitherto enjoyed. But however nee
essary such an expedient may have been
10 tide over the grave emergencies Of the
situation, II Is at best but an unsatisfae-
tory makeshift, which should not be suf-
( feTed 70 delay the SPEEDY and complete es-
adjustment OF the frontier line 10 which
we are entitled under the Russo-American
treaty for the cession OF Alaska.
In this relation ! may refer again TO the
need OF definitely marking the Alaskan
boundary where il follows the one hun
drsu and forty-first meridian. A conven-
tion to that end has been before the Sem
ate for some two years, but no action has
been taken. ! contemplate negotia ting a
new convention for a joint determination
of the mereidian by telegraphic ohserva-
tiOns. These, IL is believed. Will give more
accurate and unquestionable results than
/ the sidereal methods heretofore indepen-
/ GrutlN IOlONtus WHICH, as is known, prov
ed discrepant al several points on the line,
although not varying at any place more
I than 200 feet.
settlement Of Claims.
The pending claim of r. H. May against
the Guatemalan government has been set
tied by arbitration, Mr. George F. B.
Jenner, British Minister at Guatamala,
who was chosen as sole arbitrator, having
rra rdld ST42 T5O - In tn 4bo oIa
ant
Various American claims against Haiti
have been or are being advanced to the
resort Of arbitration.
4 As the result of negotiations with the
government of Honduras in regard to the
indemnity demanded for the murder of
/ Frank II. Pears. in Honduras. that gov
ernment has paid $4,000 in settlement of
| the claim Of the heirs.
/ The assassination of King Humbert
called forth sincere expressions of sorrow
1 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 Iamented ruler
LynchiDg of Italians in Louisiana
In my last message referred at consid-
cradle length 10 the lynching Of five Ital-
ians at Tallulah. Notwithstanding the eff
forts of the Federal government the pro-
duction of evidence tending to inculnate
the authors of this grevious offense
against our civilization, and the repeated
inquests set on foot by the authorities of
the state or Louisiana, no punishments
| nave followed. Successive grand juries
| nave failed TO indict. The representations
OF the italian government in the face of
THIS miscarriage have been most tenn
perate and just
setting the principle at issue. high above
all consideration of merely pecuniary in
demnlhcatlon, such as this government
made IN the three previous cases. Italy
has solemnly invoked the pledges OF ex
isting treaty and asked that the Justice
to which she is entitled shall be metei In
regard to her unfortunate courtrymen in
our territory with the same fun rneasur
she herself would give to sny American
were his reciprocal treaty rights con-
temned.
L renew the urgent recommendations /
made last year that the Congress appro-
priately confer upon the Federal courts
jurisdiction in this class OF international
cases where the ultimate responsibility
or the Federal government NAV be in
volved, and / invite action upon the bills
10 accomplish this which were introduced
in the Senate and House. II is incurben.
upon US TO remedy the statutory onljs
sion which has led, and may again lead
TO such untoward results l hava noirtej
out the necessity and the precedent for
/ legislation OF this character. IT'S enact
Inent Is a simple measure OF preVisory
justice toward the nations with which We
rs a sovereign equal make treaties re-
I curing reciprocal observance
Mhlie the Italian government naturallv
REGARDS such action as the primary and
lndeeu the most essential element In tht
disposal or the Tallulah incident I aI
wise that, in accordance with breeder.
and IN view of the improbability OF fhaf
particular case being reached by the hill
now pending, Congress make gracious
provision Tor indemnity 10 the Italian
as heretofore F0P'i 'i"'-
In my inaugural address / referred n
the general subject of iynching in thess
words: - ''ie9'
Lynehing must not be tolerated in a Tres, and
CIVILIZED country like the United States: courts no,
MODS must execute the penalties of the law. Tba
preservation Of public order. the right of discus
SION. the integrity Of courts. and the orderly ad
nihstrstlon OF justice must continue forever the
tock Of safety upon which our government securely
tests"
invite the attention of my eOuntrymen 10
TINS reproaeh upon our civilization.
Progress of Japan.
The closing year has witnessed a decid-
ed strengthening of Japan's relations 70
other States. The development of her in
dependent judicial and administrative
functions under the treaties which took
effect July IL, 1859, has proceeded without
international friction, showing the COM
pctenee Of the japanese TO hold a fore
most place among modern peoples.
In the treatment of the difficult Chi
nese problems Japan has acted in har-
monious concert with the other powers.
and her generous cooperation materially
aided in the joint relief of the beleaguer-
el legations in Pekin and In bringing
6 bout an understanding preliminary TO a
settlement OF the issues between the
powers and China. Japan's declarations
in favor OF the integrity OF the Chinese
Empire and the conservation of open
world trade herewith have been frank