Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-04
IBERIA to American missionaries fleeing
SPAIN AND UNITED STATES.
Progress Toward Treaty of General Friend.
ship and IntercOurse.

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 conven-
tlon OF extradition is approaching COM
p!etion, and l should be much pleased
We're a commercial arrangement to fol-
low. L feel that we should not suffer to
pass any opportunity to reaffirm the
cordial ties that existed between us and
Spain from the time of our earliest in
dependence, and to enhance the mutual
peneftS of that commercial intercourse
which is natural between the two coun-
tries.
By the terms of the treaty Of peace
the line bounding the coded Philippine
group in the southwest failed to in
clude several small Islands lying west
of the Sulus, which have always been
recognized as under Spanish control.
The occupation of Sibutu and Cagayan
Sulu by our naval forces ELECTED a
claim on the part of Spain, the essen
tial equity of which could not be gain
said. In order to cure the defect OF the
treaty by removing all possible ground
or future misunderstanding respecting
the Interpretation of it's third article,
I directed the negotiation of supple
mentary treaty, which will be forth
with laid before the senate. whereby
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
comprehended in the cession of the
archipelago as fully as IL they had been
expressly included within those lines.
In consideration of this cession the
United States is to pay to Spain the
sum of 100000
A Dill is row pending to effect the
recommendation made in my last an
nual message that appropriate leeisla-
ton be had to carry into execution ar
ticle seven of the treaty of peace with
Spain, by which the United States as
for indemnity Of its citizens against
Spain. I ask that action be taken to
fulfill this obligation.
The king of Sweden and Norway has
accepted the Joint invitation of the
United States, Germany, and Great
Britain to arbitrate claims growing out
OF losses sustained in the Samoan ISL
ands in the course Of military opera
lions made necessary by the disturb
ances of 1899.
We await the fulfillment Of the prom
Use of the sultan to make reparation
for the injuries suffered by American
citizens in Armenia and elsewhere in
the Turkish empire. His majestys good
disposition in this regard has been
evinced by the issuance Of an trade for
rebuilding the American college at Har-
poot
The failure of action by the senate at
1tslast session upon the commercial con-
ventions then submitted for it's consid-
Grafton and approval, although caused
by the great pressure Of other legisla-
tive business, has caused much disap-
pointment to the agricultural and in
dustrial interests of the country, which
hoped to profit by their provisions. The
conventional periods for their ratifica-
ton having expired, it became neces-
sary to sign additional articles extend
requested on our part, and the other
governments interested have concurred
with the exception OF one convention in
respect to which no formal reply has
been received