Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1900-12-13


not be suffered TO delay the speedy and
complete establishment Of tho frontier
line TO which we are entitled under the
Russo-American treaty for the cession Of
Alaska.
In this relation, / may refer again to
the need OF definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where It follows the 14lst
meridian. A convention to that end has
been before the Senate for some two
years, but as no action has been taken, ]
contemplate negotiating new convention
for q 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 al any place more
than 700 feet.
international Arbitration.
II IL with satisfaction that I am able
to announce the formal notification at
The Hague, on September 4, OF the depos-
II Of ratifications Of the convention for
the pacific settlement OF the international
disputes by 10 powers, namely, the United
States, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eng
land. France, Germany Italy, Persia,
Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slam, 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
signatory power OF persons OF known
competency in questions Of International
law as arbitrators have appointed ss
members OF this court, Hon. Benjamin
Harrison, OF Indiana, ex-President 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. a
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 Hicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
\ by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cra gin
/ 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
Z 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
! the report OF the committee appointed to
examine the comparative merits Of the
various trans-isthmian ship canal prof.
ects may be awaited.
/ commend to the early attention OF
the Senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction OF
| such a canal, and to remove any objec-
| ton whi.h might arise out OF the conven-
tion commonly called the Clayton-Bu
| wer treaty.
Relations with spain.
Satisfactory progress has been made
toward the conclusion OF general treaty
OF friendship and intercourse with Spain
in replacement OF the old treaty. which
passed into abcyance by reason Of the
| late war. new convention OF extradi'
ton is approaching completion, and
would be much pleased were CONNER
ciai arrangement to follow. / feel that
we should not suffer to pass an oppor-
tunlty TO reafirm the cordial ties that
existed between US and Spain from the
time OF our earliest Independence. and to
enhance the mutual benefits OF that com
mercial intercourse which is natural be
tween the two countries.
BY the terms OF the treaty OF peace
the line bounding the ceded Philippine
group on the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west OF this
Sulus, which have always been recog'
nized as under Spanish control. The oc-
cupation Of Sibutu and Cagayan, Sulu
by our naval forces ELECTED claim or
the part Of Spain. the essential equity
of which could not be gainsaid. In order
TO cure the defect of the treaty by re-
moving all possible ground Of future mis-.
understanding respecting the interpreta.
ton of its third article, i directed thu
negotiation OF a supplementary treaty
which will be forthwith laid before tbs
Senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
claim OF title to the islands named. as
well as to any and all islands belonging
to the Philippine Archipelago lying out
side the lines described in said thitd ar.
ticle, and agrees that all such islands
shall be comprehended in the cession oi
the archipelago as fully as II they ha(
been expressly included within those lines
In considerations OF this cession the United
States is to pay Spain the sum Of 800, 900
A bill is now pending to effect the rec
ommendation made in my last annua
message. that appropriate legislation b'
had to carry into execution article
OF the treaty of peace with Spain. by
which the United States assumed tbs
payment of certain claims for indem
nifty of Its citizens against Spain. ash
that action be taken to fulfill this obli