The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-12-07
THE SAMOAN PROBLEM.
Its Settlement Has Accomplished Very
Good Results.

Good will prevails in our relations
with the German empire. An amicable
adjustment of the long pending ques-
ton of the admission of our life in
surance companies to do business in
Prussia has been reached. One of the
principal companies has already been
re-admitted and the way is open for
the others to share the privilege.
The settlement Of the Samoan prob
lem, to which I adverted in my last
message, has accomplished good results.
Peace and contentment prevails in the
islands, especially in Tutuila, where
q convenient administration that has
won the confidence and esteem of the
kindly disposed natives has been or
ganiZed under the direction of the COM
mander of the United States naval sta
ton at Pago-Pago.
An imperial meat inspection law has
been enacted for Germany. While it
may simplify the inspections, it pro-
hibits certain products heretofore adj
mitted. There is still great uncertain
ty as to whether our well-nigh extin-
guished German trade in meat prod
ucts can revive under its new burdens.
Much will depend upon regulations not
yet promulgated, which we confidently
hope will be free from the discrimina-
tons which attended the enforcement
of the old statutes.
The remaining link in the new lines
.
tween the United States and the Ger
man empire has recently been complet-
ed, affording a gratifying occasion for
exchange of friendly congratulations
with the German emperor.
Our friendly relations with Great
Britain continue. The war in southern
Africa introduced important questions.
A condition unusual in international
wars was presented, in that while one
belligerent had control of the seas, the
other had no ports, shipping, or direct
trade, but was only accessible through
the territory of neutral. Vexatious
questions arose through Great Brit
aims action in respect to neutral car
goes, not contraband in their own ma
ture, shipped to Portuguese South ART
ca, on the score of probable or suspect
ed ultimate destination to the Boer
states.
Such consignments in British ships,
by which alone direct trade is kept up
between our ports and southern Afri-
ca, were seized in application of mlr-
nicipal law prohibiting British vessels
from trading 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 des-
tination to enemy's country. Appropri-
ate representations on our part result
ed in the British government agreeing
shown to be the property of American
citizens, thus closing the incident to the
satisfaction of the Immediately inter
ested parties, although, unfortunately,
without broad settlement of the ques-
ton Of a neutrars right to send goods
not contraband per Sc to neutral port
adjacent to a belligerent area
The work of marking certain provi-
sional boundary points, for convenience
Of administration, around the head of
Lynn canal in accordance with the
temporary arrangement of October,
1899, was completed 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 beneflt of the recipro-
cal stipulation that the citizens or sub
jects Of either power found by that
arrangement within the temporary jur-
isdiction Of the other shall suffer no
diminution of the rights and privileges
they have hitherto enjoyed. But how
ever necessary such an expedient may
have been to tide over the grave emer-
gencies OF the situation, 1t is at best but
an unsatisfactory nakeshift, which
should not be suffered to delay
the speedy and complete establishment
of the frontier line to which we are en-
titled under the Russo-American treaty
for the cession Of Alaska.
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY.