The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1900-12-07

which alone direct trade is kept up be.
tween our ports and southern Africa
were seized in application of a municipal
law prohibiting British vessels from trad
ing with the enemy without regard to
any contraband character of the goods
while cargoes shipped to Delagoa Bay
in neutral bottoms were arrested on the
ground of alleged destination to enemy S
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 broad settlement
of the question of a neutral's 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 vivendi has so far worked without
friction, and the Dominion government
has provided rules and 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
diminution of the rights and privileges
they have hitherto enjoyed; but however
necessary such an eXpedient may have
been to tide over the grave emergencies
of the situation, it is at best but an I'M
satisfactory makeshift, which should not
be suffered to delay the speedy and com
plete establishment of the frontier line to
which we are entitled under the Russo
American treaty for the cession of Alas
ka. -
In this relation l may refer again to
the need of definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where it follows the one
hundred and forty-tirst meridian. A con-
ventiOn to that end has been before the
senate for some two years, but as no ae-
ton has been taken l contemplate nego-
tiating a new convention for a joint de-
termination of the meridian by tele-
graphic observations. These it is believ-
ed, will give more accurate and unques-
tionable results than the sidereal methods
heretofore independently followed, which,
as is shown, proved discrepant at several
points on the line, although not varying
at any place more than 700 feet
The assassination of King Humbert
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 lamented ruler.
The Isthmian 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 interoceanic canal. He says:
The all important matter of an inter
oceanic canal has assumed new phase.
Adhering to it's refusal to reopen the
question of the forfeiture of the contract
of the Maritime Canal company, which
was terminated for alleged nonexecution
in October, 1899, the government of Nj
caragua has since supplemented that ac-
ton by declaring the so styled Eyre
Cragin option void for nonpayment of the |
stipulated advance. Protests in relation
to these acts have been filed in the state !
department and are under consideration.
Deeming itself relieved from existing en-
gagements, the Nicaraguan government
shows a 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 wa
terway.
Overtures for a convention to effect |
the building of a canal under the auspices
of the United States are, under consider
o+i IN, he +hn Vic nF ~ o
congress upon the general subject, in
the light of the report of the commission
appointed to examine the comparative
merits of the various transisthmian 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
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. A new convention of eXtradi
ton is approaching completion, and l
should be much pleased were a CONNER
cial arrangement to follow. l feel that
we should not suffer to pass any oppor
tunity to reaffirm 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 bill is now pending to effect the rec
made in my last annual
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 indemnity of its cit
liens against Spain. l ask that action
be taken to fulfill this obligation.
We await the fulfllment of the prom
Use of the sultan to make reparation for
the injuries suffered by American citi-
zens in Armenia and elsewhere in the
Turkish empire. His majesty's good dis
position in this regard has been evinced
by the issuance of an trade for rebuilding
the American college at Karput.
The failure of action by the senate at
It's last session upon the commercial con-
ventions then submitted for its consider
alton and approval, although caused by
the great pressure of other legislative
catca1 diSannoint- !