Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-12-05

ton and to take such other steps for the
purpose of facilitating foreign trade as
the foreign powers may decide to be
needed.
The Chinese government has agreed to
participate financially in the work of bet
tering the water approaches to Shanghai
and to Tientsin, the centers of foreign
trade in central and northern China, and
an international conservancy board, in
which the Chinese government is largely
represented, has been provided for the
improvement of the Shanghai river and
the control of its navigation. In the same
line of commercial advantages a revision
of the present tariff on imports has been
assented to for the purpose of substitute
ing specific for ad valorem duties and an
expert has been sent abroad on the part
of the United States to assist in this
work A list Of articles to remain free of
duty, including -four. cereals and rice
gold and silver coin and bullion, has also
been agreed upon in the settlement
During these troubles our government
has unswervingly advocated moderation
and has materially aided in bringing
about an adjustment which tends to en-
nance the welfare of China and to lead
to more beneficial intercourse between
the empire and the modern world, while
in the critical period Of revolt and mas
sacre we did our full share in safeguard
ing life and property, restoring order and
indicating the national interest and hon
or. 1t behooves us to continue in these
paths, doing what lies in our power to
foster feelings of good will and leaving no
effort untried to work cut the great policy
of full and fair intercourse between China
and the nations on footing of equal
rights and advantages to ALL We adVo-
cate the open door with all that it i'm
plies; not merely the procurement Of en-
larged commercial opportunities on the
coasts. but access to the interior by the
waterways with which China has been so
extraordinarily favored. Only by bringing
the people of China into peaceful and
friendly community of trade with all the
peoples Of the earth can the work now
auspiciously begun be carried to fruition.
In the attainment of this purpose we nee
essarily claim parity of treatmen under
the conventions throughout the empire for
our trade and our citizens with those of
all other powers
We view with lively interest and keen
hopes of beneficial results the pl oceedings
Of the pan-American congress convoked
at the invitation of Mexico and now sit
ting at the Mexican capital. The dele
gates Of the United States are under the
most liberal instructions to cooperate
with their colleagues in all matters prom
Using advantage to the great family of
American commemorative, as well in
their relations among themselves as in
their domestic advancement and in their
intercourse with the world at large.
My predecessor communicated to the
congress the fact that the We'll and La
Abra awards against Mexico have been
adjudged by the highest courts of our
country to have been obtained through
fraud and perjury on the part of the
claimants and that in accordance with
the acts of the congress the money re-
manning in the hands of the secretary of
state on these awards has been returned
to Mexico. A considerable portion of the
money received from Mexico on these
awards had been paid by this government
to the claimants before the decision of
the courts was rendered. My Judgment is
that the congress should return to Mexico
an amount equal to the sums thus already
paid to the claimants.
The death of Queen Victoria caused the
people of the United States deep and
heartfelt sorrow, to which the government
gave full expression. When President Nc
Kinley died, our nation in turn received
from every quarter of the British empire
expressions of grief and sympathy no
less sincere The death of the Empress
Dowager Frederick of Germany also
aroused the genuine sympathy of the
American people, and this sympathy was
cordially reciprocated by Germany when
the president was assassinated. Indeed
from every quarter of the civilized world
we received at the time of the presidents
death, assurances of such grief and re-
gard as to touch the hearts of our people.
In the midst of our affiiction we reverent-
ly thank the Almighty that we are at
peace with the nations of mankind, and
we firmly intend that our policy shall be
such as to continue unbroken these inter-
national relations of mutual respect and
good will THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House. Dec. 3. 1901.