The Portland daily press., 1900-12-04


the German Empire. An amicable adj
justment OF the long pending question OF
the admission of our life-insurance COM
panies to do business in Prussia has been
reached. One OF the principal companies
has already been readmitted and the way
Is opened for the others to share the priv
ilege.
The settlement Of the Samoan problem,
to which / adverted In my last Message,
/ has accomplished good results. Peace
| and eontentment prevail in the islands,
especially in Tutuila, where a convenient
administration that has won the conf
dence and esteem of the kindly disposed
natives has been organized under the di-
rection OF the commander OF the United
States naval station at Pago-Pago.
An Imperial meat-inspection law has
been enacted for Germany. While it
may simplify the inspections, II prohibits
certain products heretofore admitted.
There is still great uncertainty as to
whether our well-nigh extinguished Ger
man trade In meat products can revive
under its new burdens. Much will de-
pend upon regulations not yet promulgat-
ed, which we confidently hope will be free
from the determinations which attended
the enforcement of the old statutes.
The remaining link in the new lines Of
direct Geographic communication be-
tween the United States and the German
Empire has recently been completed. af-
| fording gratifying occasion for ex-
change of friendly congratulations with
4 the German Emperor.
Our friendly relations with Great Brit
ain continue. The war in Southern AT
RIGA introduced important questions A
condition unusual in international wars
( was presented in that while one belliger-
I ent had control of the seas, the other had
no ports. shipping, or direct trade, but
| was only accessible through the territory
! of a neutral. NexatiOus questions arose
/ through Great Britain's action in respect
/ to neutral cargoes, not contraband in
their own nature. shipped to Portuguese
! South Africa, on the score of probable or
I suspected ultimate destination to the
Boer States.
I Such consignments In British ships, by
which alone direct trade is kept up be-
/ tween our ports and Southern Africa,
I were seized in application of municipal
/ law prohibiting British vessels from trad
ing with the enemy without regard to
/ any contraband character of the goods, !
I while cargoes shipped to Delagoa Bay in
| neutral bottoms were arrested on the
ground of alleged destination to enemy's
&
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 i'm
mediately interested parties although, I'M
fortunately, without a broad settlement
of the question of a neutrars right to
send goods not contraband per Sc to
neutral port adjacent to a belligerent
area.
The work of marking certain provision.
/ al boundary points, for convenience of adj
ministration, around the head Of Lynn
| Canal, in accordance with the temporary
I arrangement of October, 1899, was com.
! pleted by a joint survey in July last.
The modus vivendi has so far worked
without friction. and the Dominion Gov
eminent 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.
1 But however necessary such an expedient
| may have been to tide over the grave
emergencies Of the situation, it Is at best
/ but an unsatisfactory makeshift, which
I should not be suffered to delay the speedy
I and complete establishment Of the from
/ tier line to which we are entitled under
I the Russo American treaty for the ces-
sion Of Alaska.
| In this relation may refer again to tho
I need of definitely marking the Alaskan
/ boundary where it follows the one hun
/ dred and forty first meridian. conven-
( ton to that end has been before the Sen
| ate for some two years, but as no action
! has been taken contemplate negotiating
! new convention for a joint determine
tion of the meridian by telegraphic OBJ
servations. These, it is believed, will
! give more accurate and unquestionable
! results than the sidereal methods hereto
I fore independently followed, which, as is
known, proved discrepant at several
I points on the line, although not varying
at any place more than 700 feet.
| The pending claim of r. II. May
/ against the Guatemalan Government has
/ been settled by arbitration, Mr.. George
| +. B. Jenner, British minister at Guate-
| mala, who was chosen as sole arbitrator,
| having awarded SAB, 1908 in gold to ,
| the claimant.
| Various American claims against Haiti
| have been or are being advanced to the
resort of arbitration.
| As a result of negotiations with the
| Government of Honduras in regard to
| the indemnity demanded for the murder
| of Frank II. Pears in Honduras, that
( Government has paid $4,000 in settle |
ment of the claim to the heirs.
| The assassination of King Humbert |
| called forth sincere expressions Of sorrow I
| 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.
In my last Message l referred at con-
siderable length to the lynching Of five |
Italians at Tallulah. Notwithstanding ,
the efforts Of the Federal Government,
the production of evidence tending to in
culpate the authors OF this grievous Of
! Tense against our civilization, and the re-
/ heated inquests set on foot by the au |
| thorities of the State of Louisiana, no |
nunisbments have followed. Successive |