Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-12-07

not be suffered to delay the speedy and
complete establishment Of the frontier
line to 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 Alas
kan boundary where it follows the 141st
meridian. A convention to that end has
been before the Senate for some two
years, but as no action has been taken,
contemplate negotiating new convention
for a JOINT determination of the meridian
by heliocentris observations. These, asst
is believed, will give more accurate and
unquestionable results than the sidereal
methods heretofore Independently fol-
lowed, which, as is known, proved dis
crepant at several points on the line, al
though not varying at any place more
than 700 feet
International Arbitration.
It is with satisfaction that am able
to announce the formal notification at
The Hague, on September T. of the depos-
1t of ratif1cations of the convention for
the pacific settlement of the international
disputes by 16 powers, namely, the United
States. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eng
land, France, Germany, Italy, Persia,
Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Siam, Spain,
Sweden and Norway and The Neither
lands. Japan also has since ratified the
convention. The administrative council
of the permanent court of arbitration has
been organized, and it has adopted rules
or order and a constitution for the In
ternational Arbitration Bureau. In ac-
cordance with article % of the convention
providing for the appointment by each
signatory power of persons of known
competency in questions of International
law as arbitrators I have appointed as
members of this court, Hon. Benjamin
Harrison, of Indiana, ex-President of the
United States; Hon. Melville w. Fuller,
of Illinois, Chief Justice of the United
States; John w. Griggs, of New Jersey,
Attorney-Genera1 of the United States,
and Hon. George Gray, of Delaware, a
Judge of the Circuit Court of the United
States.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The important matter of an interoceanic
canal has assumed a new phase. Ad-
herring to its 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 Nicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cragin
option void for nonpayment of the stipu-
lated 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 Nicaragua Government
shows 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 water
way. Overtures for convention to effect
the building of a canal under the auspices
of the United States are under considera-
ton. In the meantime, the views of Con-
gress upon the subject in the light OF
the report of the committee appointed to
examine the comparative merits Of the
arjonS franS-iSfhmian shin canal DrOj-
ects may be awaited.
I commend to the early attention OF
the Senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction Of
such a canal, and to remove any objec-
ton whioh might arise out of the conven-
ton commonly called the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty.
Relations With Spain.
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 abeyance by reason of the
late war. A new convention of extradi.
tion is approaching completion, and l
would be much pleased were a CONNER
cial arrangement to follow. I feel that
we should not suffer to pass an oppor-
tunity to reaffirm the cordial ties that
existed between us and Spain from the
time of our earliest independence, and to
enhance the mutual benefits of that COM
mercial intercourse which is natural be-
tween the two countries.
By the terms of the treaty of peace.
the line bounding the ceded Philippine
group on the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west of the
Sulus, which have always been recog-
nized as under Spanish control. The oc-
cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan, Sulu.
by our naval forces elected claim on
the part of Spain, the essential equity
of which could not be gainSaid. In order
to cure the defect of the treaty by re-
moving all possible ground of future mis-
understanding respecting the interpreta-
ton of its third article, I directed the
negotiation of supplementary treaty.
which will be forthwith 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 Philippine Archipelago lying out
side the lines described in said third ar
ticle, and agrees that all such islands
shall be comprehended in the cession of
the archipelago as fully as if they had
been expressly included within those lines.
In consideration of this cession the United
States is to pay Spain the sum of 500. 900.
A bill Is now pending to effect the rec
ommendation made in my last annual
message, that appropriate legislation be
had to carry into execution article 8
of the treaty of peace with Spain by
which the United States assumed the
payment of certain claims for indem-
nifty of its citizens against Spain. I ask
that action be taken to fulfill this obli-
cation