The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-04


a canal and to remove any objection
which might arise out of the Convention
commonly called the Ciaytsu-Bulwerl
Treaty.
The Understanding contention with Por-
tugal, growing out of the seizure of the
DeIagoa Bay Railway, has been at last
determined by n favorable award OF the
tribunal Of arbitration at Berne. to which
n was submitted. The amount of the
award. which was deposited in London
awaiting arrangements by the Govern
ments of the United States and Great
Britain for its disposal, has recently been
paid over to the two Governments.
A lately signed Convention of Extrndi-
ton with Peru as amended by the Senate
has been ratified by the Peruvian Con-
gress.
Another illustration of the policy OF
this Government to refer international
disputes to impartial arbitration is seen
in the agreement reached with Russia TO
submit the claims ON behalf of American
sealing vessels seized in Boring Sea to
determination by MIR. I. NJ. G. Asser.
distinguished statesman and jurist of the
Netherlands.
Thanks are due to the Imperial Rus
sian Government for the kindly aid rem
dered by its authorities in eastern 81
IBERIA TO American missionaries fleeing
from Manchuria.
Satisfactory progress has been made
toward the conclusion of general treaty
of friendship and intercourse with SPAN,
in replacement of the old treaty, which
passed into allegiance by reason OF the
late VA. A new convention of extradi-
tion is approaching completion, and
should be much pleased were CONNER
cial arrangement to follow. l feel that
we should not suffer TO pass any oppor'
tunity to reafirm the cordial ties that ex-
listed between us and Spain from the time
of our earliest independence, and to en-
nance 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
sroup in the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying westward of
the Sulus, which have always been rec
ognized as under Spanish control. The
occupation of Sibutu and Cagayan Suiu
by our naval forces elected a claim on
the part of Spain, the essential equity
of which could not be gainsaid. In or
der to cure the defect of the treaty by
removing all possible ground of future
misunderstanding respecting the inter
pretation of its third article, l directed
the negotiation of supplementary
treaty. which will be forthwith laid be-
fore 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
living outside the lines described in said
third article, and agrees that all such
islands shall be comprehended in the ces-
4ha oil full i
they had been expressly included within
those lines In consideration of this ees-
sion the United States is to pay TO Spain
the sum of 100000.
A bill is now pending to effect the
recommendation made in my last An
nual Message that appropriate legisla-
ton be had to carry into execution Arti-
Gle VII Of the Treaty of Peace with
Spain, by which the United States as
sumed the payment of certain claims for
indemnity of its citizens against Spain
/ ask that action be taken to fulfill this
Obligation
The King of Sweden and Norway has
accepted the joint invitation of the Unit
ed States, Germany, and Great Britain
to arbitrate claims growing out of losses
sustained in the Samoan Islands in the
course of military operations made neces-
sary by the disturbances in 1893.
We await the fulfllment of the promise
of the Sultan to make PREPARATION for the
injuries suffered by American citizens in
Armenia and elsewhere in the Turkish
Empire His Majesty's good DISPOSE
ton in this regard has been evinced
by the issuance of an trade for rebuilding
the American college at Harpoot.
The failure of action by the Senate at
its last session upon the commercial con-
ventions then submitted for its consider
alton and approval although caused by
the great pressure of other legislative
business, has caused much disappoint-
ment to the agricultural and industrial
interests of the country, which hoped to
profit by their provisions. The conven-
tional periods for their ratification hav
ing expired, it became necessary to sign
additional articles extending the time for
that purpose. This was requested on!
our part, and the other governments in
terested have concurred with the excep-
ton of one convention, in respect to-
which no formal reply has been received.
Since my last communication to the
Congress ON this subject special CONNER
cial agreements under the third section
of the tariff act have been proclaimed
with Portugal, with Italy, and with Ger
the general limitations of the fourth sec
ton of the same act have been concluded
with Nicaragua, with Ecuador, with the
Dominican Republic, with Great Britain
on behalf of the island of Trinidad, and
with Denmark ON behalf of the island
of st. Croix. These will be early commu
nicated to the Senate. Negotiations with
other governments are in progress for
the improvement and security of our
commercial relations.
The policy of reciprocity so manifestly
rests upon the principles of international
equity and has been so repeatedly APP
proved by the people of the United States
that there ought TO be no hesitation in
either branch of the Congress in giving to
1t full effect.
This Government desires to preserve
the most just and amicable commercial
relations with all foreign countries, I'M
moved by the industrial riyalries neees-