Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1900-12-13

/ of heutrul' NeNatlous questions arose
through Great Britain's action in re-
spect TO neutral cargoes, not contraband
in their own nature, shipped to Portu-
guese South Africa ON the score of proba-
lie or suspected ultimate destination ~,
the Beer states.
such conslgnments In British ships, py
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 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
Immediately interested parties, although
unfortunately without broad settlement
of the question of a neutral's right to
send goods not contraband per Sc to a
neutral port adjacent to a belligerent
area.
Boundary Questions.
AAC "Ohh Va hluS certain pTONlSlOu-
al 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 vivendi has so far worked without
friction, and the Dominion government
has provided rules and regulations for
securing to our citizens the benefit of
the reciprocal stipulation that the citi-
zens 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 eXpedient may have
been to tide over the grave emergencies
of the situation, it is at best but an I'M
satisfactory makeshift which should not
be suffered to delay the speedy and COM
plete establishment of the frontier line to
which we are entitled under the Russo
American treaty for the cession of Alas
ka.
In this relation | may refer again to
the need of definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where it follows the one
hundred and forty-tirst meridian. A con-
ventiOn to that end has been before the
senate for some two years, but as no &C
ton has been taken l contemplate nego-
tiating a new convention for a joint de-
termination of the meridian by tele-
graphic observations. These, it is believ-
ed, will give more accurate and unques-
ti0nable results than the sidereal methods
heretofore independently followed, which
as is shown, proved discrepant at several
points on the line, although not varying
at any place more than 700 feet.
The assassination of King Humbert
called forth sincere expressions of sorrow
from this government and people, and oc.
| casion was fifty taken to testify to the
Italian nation the high regard here felt
for the memory of the lamented ruler.
The Isthmian Canal.
The growth of Japan is next referred
to. The president says our commercial
intercourse with Mexico continues tc
thrive. The movement for international
arbitration is the subject of another par
agraph, and the president then turns tc
the interoceanic canal. He says:
The all important matter of an inter
oceanic canal has assumed a new phase
| Adhering to it's refusal to reopen the
question of the forfeiture of the contract
Of the Maritime Canal company, which
was terminated for alleged nonexecutior
in October, 1899, the government of Nj
caragua has since supplemented that &C
| ton by declaring the so styled Eyre
; Cragin option void for nonpayment of the
. stipulated advance. Protests in relation
to these acts have been filed in the state
T. department and are under consideration
II Deeming itself relieved from existing en-
L. gagements, the Nicaraguan government
st shows a disposition to deal freely with
Is the canal question either in the way OF
IS negotiations with the United States OF
e by taking measures to promote the wa
a terway.
d Overtures for a convention to effect
I. the building of canal under the auspices
e. Of the United States are under consider
alton. In the meantime the views of the
IS congress upon the general subject, il
T. the light of the report of the commission
re- appointed to examine the comparative
t. merits of the various transisthmian shiI
le canal projects, may be awaited.
s. [ commend to the early attention of the
s. senate the convention with Great Britain
n to facilitate the construction of such {
T. canal and to remove any objection which
n might arise out of the convention com
le monty called the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
g Satisfactory progress has been made
j. toward the conclusion of general treat!
81 Of friendship and intercourse with Spair
l. in replacement of the old treaty, which
"a PASSED into allegiance by. reason of thu
DC late war. A new convention of eXtradl
o. ton is approaching completion, and
,e should be much pleased were CONNER
n cial arrangement to follow. l feel tina
r. we should not suffer to pass any oppor
ID tunity to reaffirm the cordial ties that ex
+. listed between US and Spain from thu
Al time of our earliest independence and t.
=, enhance the mutual benefits of tina
:. commercial intercourse which is natura
between the.two countries.
A hill is now pending to effect the rec
ommcndation made in my last annua
! message that appropriate legislation b'
i. had to carry into execution article o.
u tbe treaty of peace with Spain, by which
Il fine United States assumed the paymen
n of certain claims for indemnity of its cit
; iyals against Spain. / ask that actor
ie no raken to fulfill this obligation.
le We await the fulfillment of the prom
isp Of the sultan to make reparation TO
IL the injuries suffered by American citi
> IONS in Armenia and elsewhere in thu
e n7.,rI-;sh empire. His majesty's good dis