Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-07

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 juris-
diction Of the other shall suffer no d.
mlnution OF lights and privileges they
have hitherto enjoyed. But. however
necessary such an expedient may have
been to tide over the grave emergencies
Of the situation, 1t IS at best but an
unsatisfactory makeshft. which should
not be suffered to delay the speedy and
complete establishment of the frontier
line to which We are entitled under the
Russo-American treaty for the cession OF
Alaska.
In this relation, I may refer again to
the need OF definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where 1t follows the Hist
meridian. convention to that end has
! been before the Senate for some tive
years. but as no action has been taken, I
contemplate negotiating a new convention
i for joint determination of the meridian
by heliocentris observations. These, asst
! is believed will give more accurate and
/ unquestionable results than the sidereai
methods heretofore independently fol-
lowed, which. as is known, proved dis
crepant at several points on the line. al
though not varying at any place more
! than 700 feet.
The pending claim OF r. H. May against
the Guatemalan Government has been
settled by arbitration. George +. Is. Jen-
/ ner. British Minister at Guatemala, who
was chosen as sole arbitrator having
awarded $1i3.750 70 in gold to the claim
ant.
/ Various American claims against Hayti
have beeen or are being advanced to the
resort of arbitration.
AS the result of negotiations with the
Government of Honduras in regard to the
indemnity demanded for the murder OF
Frank H. Pears. in Honduras. that gov
eminent has paid $4,000 in settlement of
the claim OF the heirs.
The assassination OF King Humbert
called forth sincere expressions of sup-
row from this Government and people.
and occasion was fifty taken to testify
to the Italian Nation the high regard here
felt for the memory of the lamented
ruler.
Money Returned to Mexico.
No noteworthy incident has occurred IN
our .elations with our important south
ern ueighbors. Commercial intercourse
with Mexico continues to thrive, and the
two governments neglect no opportunity
to foster their mutual interests in all
practicable ways.
/ Pursuant to the declaration Of the SUI
preme Court that the awards OF the late
joint commission in the La Abra and
1 We'll claims were obtained through fraud,
the sum awarded in the first case, si03
csc OS. has been returned to Mexico. ana
the amount OF the We'll award will be re-
turned in like manner
convention indefinitely extending the
time for the labors for the United States
nrI To-
airy commission has been signed.
International Arbitration.
1t is with satisfaction that 1 am able
to announce the formal notification at
The Hague. on September g. OF the depos-
IT of ratifications Of the convention for
the pacific settlement of the international
disputes by l6 powers. namely. the United
States. Austria. Belgium. Denmark. Eng
land. France. Germany. Italy, Persia.
Portugal. Roumania. Russia, Siam. Spain,
Sweden and Norway and The Neither
lands Japan also has since ratified the
convention. The administrative council
of the permanent court of arbitration has
been organized. and II has adopted rules
or order and a constitution for the In
ternational Arbitration Bureau. In ac-
| cordance with article % OF the convention
providing for the appointment by each
/ sgnatory power Of persons OF known
law as arbitrators ! have appointed Us
members OF this court. Hon. Benjamin
Harrison. of Indiana, exPresident of the
United States: Hon. Melville w. Fuller.
of Illinois. Chief Justice of the United
States: John w. Griggs. of New Jersey.
Attorney-General of the United States.
and Hon. George Gray. of Delaware. n
Judge OF the Circuit Court of the United
States
The Nicaragua Canal.
The important matter OF an interoceanic
canal has assumed a new phase. Ad-
herring to its refusal to reopen the question
of the forfeiture of the contract OF the
Maritime Canal Company. which was
terminated for alleged nonexecution in
October. 1899. the Government of Nicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styied Eyre-Cragin
option void for nonpayment of the stipu-
lated advance. Protests in relation to
these acts have been filed in the State
Department. and are under consideration.
Deeming itself relieved from existing en-
gagements. the Nicaragua Government
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 promote the water
way. Overtures for a convention to effect
the building of a canal under the auspices
/ of the United States are under considera-
ton. In the meantime. the views of Con-
gress upon the subject In the light OF
eyam,ns Tho comnarativs merits NJ the
varjous trans>,sthmian shin canal nroi-
ects NAV he awaited.
7 commend "a the sarIv attention NJ
the Senate the convention with Great
britain "a facilitate the construction of
such a canal. and to remove any objec-
tion commoriy called the CLAYTON RuI-
wer treaty
u.,.., vv,.n xr.,r
satisfactory progress mas oeen maze
TOWARD the conclusion OF geheral treaty
OF iriehoship ana intercourse WIN SPAN