The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-04

Apart from the Exposition several oc-
 casions for showing international good
 will occurred. The inauguration in Paris
 of the Lafayette Monument, presented
 by the school children of the United
 States, and the designing of q commem-
 oratiye coin by our Mint and the presen-
 tation of the first piece struck to the
 President of the Republic, were marked
 by appropriate ceremonies, and the
 Fourth of July was especially observed
 in the French capital.
 Good will prevails in our relations with
 the German Empire. An amicable ad-
 jnstment of the long pending question of
 the admission of our life-insurance com
 panies to do business in Prussia has been
 reached One of the principal companies
 has already been readmtted and the way
 is opened for the others to share the priv
 ilege.
 The settlement of the Samoan problem,
 to which l adverted in my last Message,
 has accomplished good results. Peace
 and contentment prevail in the islands,
 especially in Tutuila, where a convenient
 administration that has won the conf
 dence and esteem of the kindly disposed
 natives has been organized under the di-
 rection of the commander of the United
 States naval station at Pago-Pago.
 An Imperial meat-inspection law has
 been enacted for Germany. While It
 may simplify the inspections, it prohibits certain products heretofore admitted. There is still great uncertainty as to whether our well-nigh extinguished Ger man trade in meat products can revive under it's new burdens. Much will de- pend upon regulations not yet promulgat- cd, which we confidently hope will be free from the discriminations which attended the enforcement of the old statutes.
 The remaining link in the new lines of direct telegraphic communication be- tween the United States and the German Empire has recently been completed, af fording q gratifying occasion for ex- change of friendly congratulations with the German Emperor.
 Our friendly relations with Great Brit ain continue. The war in Southern Af- rica introduced important questions A condition unusual i'll international wars was presented in that while one belliger- ent 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 Britain's action in respect to neutral cargoes, not contraband in their own nature, shipped to Portuguese South Africa, on the score of probable or suspected ultimate destination to the Boer States.
 Such consignments in British ships, by which alone direct trade is kept up be- tween our ports and Southern Africa, were seized in application of 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 im- mediately interested parties, although, un- fortunately, without a broad settlement of the question of neutrals right to send goods not contraband per SC to neutral port adjacent to belligerent area
 The work of marking certain provision al boundary points, for convenience of ad- 1 mnistration, 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 Gov ernment has provided rules and reglila- tions for securing to our citizens the benefit of the reciprocal stipulation that | the citizens or subjects of either power found by that arrangement within the temporary jurisdiction of the other shall f 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 of the situation, 1t is at best but an unsatisfactory makeshift, which should not be suffered to delay the speedy and complete establishment of the from tier line to which we are entitled under the Russo-A American treaty for the ces- sion of Alaska.
 In this relation l may refer again to the need of definitely marking the Alaskan where it follows the one hun dred and forty-first meridian. A conven- tion to that end has been before the Sem ate for some two years, but as no action has been taken I contemplate negotiating q new convention for joint determina- tion of the meridian by telegraphic ob- These, it is believed, will give more accurate and unquestionable results than the sidereal methods hereto fore independently followed, which, as is known, proved discrepant at several points on the line, although not varying 1t any place more than 700 feet. The pending claim of k. H. May against the Guatemalan Government has been settled by arbitration MT. George E. B. Jenner, British minister at Guate- ; naa, who was chosen as sole arbitrator, having awarded $143, 750.73 in gold to he claimant. Various American claims against Haiti i nave been or are being advanced to the |, 'esort of arbitration. As result of negotiations with the {, Government of Honduras in regard to , he indemnity demanded for the murder ,f Frank H. Pears in Honduras, that , Government has paid $10000 in settle nent of the claim to the heirs.
 The assassination of King Humbert : aled forth sincere expressions of sorrow . rom this Government and people, and :. occasion was fitly taken to testify to the |. italian nation the high regard here felt !