The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
Our Friendly Relations With Greai
Britain Undisturbed.

Britain UEdisfurbed.
Our friendly relations with Great
Britain continue. The war in Southern
Africa introduced important questions
! A condition unusual in International v a7s
was presented in that while enc teIliger-
ent had control of the seas, the other had
no ports, shipping, OF direct trade. but
was only accessible through the territory
/ of a neutral. Vexatious questions arose
/ through Great Britain's action in respect
/ to neutral cargoes, nCt contraban IN
: their own nature. shipped to Portuguese
/ SCUM Africa, on the score Of proba bic or
suspected ultimate destination 10 the
/ Boer States
Such co1sig1ments in British ships. by
! which alone direct trade is kept up be-
tween our ports and Southern Africa were
! seized in application of a municipal law
/ prohibiting British vessels from trading
With the enemy without regard 10 any
contraband character of the goods. while
+ cargoes shipped to DeIagoa Bay in neu-
I trail bottoms were arrested on the ground
! of alleged destination to enemy's country
/ Appropriate representations on our part
/ resulted in the British Government agree
| ing to purchase outright all such goods
shown to be the actual property Of Ameri-
can citizens. thus closing the incident TO
/ the satisfaction of the Immediately in
/ terested parties, although, unfortunately
without broad settlement of the cues
ton of neutrals right to send goods rot
eontraband per Sc TO a neutral port ad
| jacent to a belligerent area.
: The work of marking certain provis-
/ ionaI boundary points, for convenience of
administration, 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 viyendi has so far worked
! without friction, and the Dominion Gov
/ ernment has provided rules and regula-
! tons 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
suffer no diminution OF the rights and
| privileges they have hitherto enjoyed.
| But, however necessary such an expedi-
| ent may have been to tide over the grave
| emergencies of the situation 1t is ut best
but an unsatisfactory makeshift, which
should not be suffered 10 delay the speedy
and complete establishment of the from
the Russo-American treaty for the ces-
sion of Alaska
The Alaskan Boundary.
In this relation may refer again to the
need of definitely marking The Alaskan
ridian. A convention to that end has
been before the Senate for some two
years, but as no action has been taken
contemplate negotiating a new cOnven--
ton for joint determination Of the meri-
dian by Geographic observations these.
it is believed, will give more accurate
and unquestionable results than the side
real methods heretofore independently
followed, which, as is known, proved dis
I ~ -1N +Fa l
though not varying AT any place more
than 200 feet
The pending claim of R. H May against
the Guatemaiaa Government has been set
tied by arbitration, Mr. George t. 3.
Jenner, British Minister at Guatemala
who was chosen as sole arbitrator. hay
ing awarded S143. 759-Z3 II gold TO the
claimant
Various American claims against Haiti
have been OF are being advanced 10 the
resort Of arbitration
As the result Of negotiations with the
Government of Honduras in regard 10 the
indemnity demanded for the murder Of
Frank II. Pears, in Honduras, that Gov
eminent has paid $4,000 IN settlement o.
the claim Of the heirs.
The assassination Of King Humbort called
forth sincere expressions OF sorrow from
this Government and people, and occasion
was fifty taken 10 testify TO the Italian
memory OF the lamented ruler
In my last message referred at con-
siderable length TO the lynehing OF i've
Italians at TalIulah. Notwithstanding the
efforts of the Federal Government, the
production of evidence tending TO incui-
pate the authors OF this gTievous offence
against our civilization, and the repeated
inquests set on foot by the authorities OF
tie State of Louisiana. no punishmeats
have followed. Successive grand juries
have failed to indiet- The representations
OF the Italian Government in the face Of
this miscarriage have been most temper
ate and just
Setting the principle at issue high above
all consideration OF merely pecuniary in
Identification. such as this Government
made in the three previous cases, Italy
has solemnIy invoked the pledges of exist
Ing treaty and asked that the justice TO
which she is entitled shall be meted N
regard to her unfortunate coUntrymen in
cur territory and the same full measure
she herself would give to any American
were his reciprocal treaty rights con
temned.
The Italian LynchinS Claims.
I renew the urgent recommendations
made last year that the Congress appro-
priately confer upon the Federal courts
Jurisdiction in this class of international
eases where the ultimate responsibility OF
the Federal Government may be involved,
and / invite action upon the bills to &C
complish this which were introduced in
the Senate and House. It is incumbent
upon US 70 remedy the statutory omission
which has led, and may again lead, to such
untoward results I have pointed out the
necessity and the precedent for legisla-
ton of this character. Its enactment is a
simple measure of previsoTy justice toward
the nations with which we as a sovereign
equal make treaties requiring reciprocal
observance
While the Italian Government naturally
regards such action as the primary, and,
indeed. the. most essential element in the
disposal of the Tallulah incident. 1 advise
that. in accordance with precedent, and
in view Of the improbability OF that par
tieular case being reached by the bill now
pending. Congress make gracious provision
for Indemnity to the Italian sufferers in
the same form and proportion as hereto
fore
In ny inaugural address I referred to
the general subject of lynching III these
words:
''Lynching must not be tolerated IN a
great and civilized country like the
United States; courts, not mobs, must ex-
ecute the penalties Of the law The
preservation Of public order, the right Of