The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04

Adhering to its refusal to reopen the
question of the forfeiture of the contract
CT the Maritime Canal Company. which
was terminated for alleged nOn-execu-
lien in October, 1899. the Government of
Nicaragua has since supplemented that
action by declaring the so-styled Eyre
Cragin option void for non payment of the
stimulated advance. Protests in rela-
ton TO these acts have been filed in the
State Department and are under consid-
Grafton. Deeming itself relieved from ex-
listing engagements, the Nicaraguan Gov
eminent shows a disposition to deal freely
with the canal question either in the
way of negotiations with the United
States or by taking measures to pro-
mote the waterway.
Overtures for a convention to effect the
building of canal under the auspices OF
the United States are under consideration.
In the meantime. the views of the Con-
gress uron the general subject in the
light of the report of the commission APP
pointed to examine the comparative mer-
it's of the various trans-Isthmian ship
canal projects, may be awaited.
! commend to the early attention OF
the Senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction OF
such canal and to remove any objec-
ton which might arise out of the con-
vention commonly called the Clayton Bull
wer Treaty.
PORTUGAL'S CONTENTION.
The long-standing contention with Por-
tugaI. growing out of the seizure Of the
Delagoa Bay Railway, has been at last
determined by a favorable award of the
tribunal of arbitration at Berne, to which
it 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 beer
paid over to the two governments.
TREATY OF EXTRACTION.
lately signed Convention of Extradi-
| ton with Peru as amended by the Sen
ate has been ratified by the Peruvian Con-
aress.
IMPARTIAL ARBITRATION
Another illustration of the policy OF this
! Government to refer international dis.
| putes to impartial arbitration is seen IL
the agreement reached with Russia t.
| submit the claims on behalf of American
| sealing vessels seized in Boring Sea Il
determination by Mr.. T. NJ. c. Asser
a distinguished statesman and jurist o
| the Netherlands.
AID TO MISSIONARIES.
Thanks are due to the Imperial Russian
| Government for the kindly aid rendered
| by it's authorities in eastern Siberia t.
American missionaries fleeing from Man
| chur:a
| TREATY WITH SPAIN.
Satisfactory progress has been made
| toward the conclusion of a general treat.
| of friendship and intercourse with Spain
| in replacement of the old treaty, which
passed into allegiance by reason OF thu
| late war. A new convention Of extradf
ton is approaching completion, and
/ should be much pleased were CONNER
i cial arrangement to follow. | feel tina
| we should not suffer to pass any oppor
/ tunity to reaffrm the cordial ties tina
1 existed between us and Spain from tn,
| time of our earliest independence, and t.
| enhance the mutual benefits of that com
mercial intercourse which is natural be
tween the two countries.
| MORE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BOUGHT
| BY the terms of the Treaty of Peace
| the line bounding the coded Philippine
| group in the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying westward o
! the Sulus, which have always been recog
| nized as under Spanish control. The oc
| cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan Sulu b,
/ our naval forces elected a claim on tn
| part of Spain. the essential equity o
| which could not be gainsaid. In order t.
1 cure the defect of the treaty by removing
| all possible ground of future misunder
| standing respecting the Interpretation
1 of it's third article. | directed the ne
| gotiation of a supplementary treaty
which will be forthwith laid before thu
! Senate, whereby Spain quits all title AM
/ claim of title TO the islands named a
| we'll as to any and all islands belongin:
to the Philippine Archipelago lying out
| side the lines described in said third arti
| Gle, and agrees that all such islands shall
| be comprehended in the cession of tn
archipelago as fully as if they had beef
expressly included within those lines. Il
consideration of this cession the Unitet
| States is to pay to Spain the sum 0
| 100000.
A bill is now pending to effect tn
1 recommendation made in my last annua
message that appropriate legislation b.
| had to carry into execution Article VI
of the Treaty of Peace with Spain, b.
/ which the United States assumed tn
payment of certain claims for indemnit.
| of its citizens against Spain. / ask tina
acton be taken to fulfill this obligation.
TO ARBITRATE SAMOAN DISPUTE.
! The King of Sweden and Norway ha
| accepted the joint invitation of the Uni
| ted States. Germany, and Great Britain
TO arbitrate claims growing out of losse
| sustained in the Samoan Islands in tn
| course of military operations made neces
! sary ty the disturbances in 1899.
! THE DEMAND ON THE TURKS.
| "Our claims upon the Government o
| the Sultan for reparatiOn for injurie!
suffered by American citizens in Armenit
| and elsewhere give promise of early ant
| satisfactory settlement.
| His Majesty's good disposition in thi
regard has been evinced by the issuanc
| of an trade for rebuilding the American
! college at Harpoot.
| COMMERCIAL CONVENTIONS AND
AGREEMENTS.
The failure of action by the Senate a