The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-03

lllefCSIeQlV anu eHeCtlNOiS SiiNii AiANhu'
AND WITH NEW FoUNDLAND.
A convention with Great Britain has
been concluded. which will be at once
laid before the Senate for ratification,
providing for reciprocal trade arrange
ments between the United States and
Newfoundland on substantially the lines
of the convention formerly negotiated by
the Secretary of State, Mr.. Blaine
believe reciprocal trade relations will be
greatly to the advantage of both coun-
tries.
THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL.
AS civilization grows warfare becomes
less and less the normal condition of
foreign relations. The last century has
seen a marked diminution of wars be-
tween civilized powers; wars with I'M
civilized powers are largely mere matters
of international police duty, essential for
the welfare of the world. Wherever
possible, arbitration or some similar
method should be employed in lieu of
war to settle difficulties between civil
lied nations, although as yet the world
has not progressed sufficiently to render
it possible, or necessarily desirable, to
invoke arbitration in every case. The
formation of the international tribunal
which sits at The Hague is an event of
good omen from which great consequences
for the welfare of all mankind may flow.
1t is far better, where possible, to in
woke such a permanent tribunal than to
create special arbitrators for a given
purpose.
1t is a matter of sincere eongratulation
to our country that the United States
and Mexico should have been the first to
use the good offices of The Hague court.
This was done last summer with most
satisfactory results in the case of
claim at issue between us and our sister
republic. 1t is earnestly to be hoped
that this first case, will serve as a pre-
cedent for others, in which not only the
United States, but foreign nations may
take advantage of the machinery already
in existence at The Hague.
| commend to the favorable cOnSidera-
ton of the Congress the Hawaiian fire
claims. which were the subject of care
full investigation during the last session
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL. y
The Congress has wisely provided that
we shall build at once an isthmian canal
if possible at Panama. The Attorney
General reports that we can undoubtedly
acquire good title from the French Pan
anna Canal Company. Negotiations arc
now pending with Colombia to secure her
assent to our building the canal. This
canal will be one of the greatest en-
gineering feats of the twentieth century;
a greater engineering feat than has yet
been accomplished during the history of
mankind. The work should be carried
out as a continuing policy without regard
10 change of administration and it
should be begun under circumstances
which will make it a matter of pride for
all administrations to continue the policy
The canal will be of great benefit to
America, and of Importance to all the
world. 1t will be of advantage to us in
dustrially and also as improving our
military position 1t will be of advantage
to the countries of tropical America 1t
is earnestly to be hoped that all of these
countries will do as some of them have
already done with signal success and
will invite to their shores commerce and
improve their material conditions by
recognizing that stability and order are
the prerequisites of successful develop
ment. No independent nation in America
need have the slightest fear of agrees
sion from the United States 1t behooves
each one to maintain order within its
own borders and to discharge its just
obligation to foreigners. When this is
done, they can rest assured that, be they
strong or weak, they have nothing to
dread from outside interference. More
and more the increasing interdependence
and 'complexity of international political
and economic relations render it incum-
bent on all civilized and orderly powers
10 insist on the proper policing of the
world.
THE PACIFIC CABLE.
During the fall of 1901 communication
was addressed to the Secretary of State
asking whether permission would be
granted by the President to a corpora
ton to lay a cable from point on the
California coast to the Philippine Islands
by way of Hawaii. A statement of con-
ditiOns or terms upon which such cor
poration would undertake to lay and
operate cable was volunteered
lnasmuch as the Congress was shortly
to convene, and Pacific cable legisla-
titon had been the subject of considera-
ton by the Congress for several years,
it seemed to me wise to defer action
upon the application until the Congress
had first an opportunity to act. The
Congress adjourned without taking any
action, leaving the matter in exactly
the same condition in which it stood
when the Congress convened.
Meanwhile it appears that the CONNER
cial Pacific Cable Company had prompt
ly proceeded with preparations for lay
ing its cable. 1t also made ar, lea
ton to the President for access to and
use of soundings taken by the u. S. S.
Nero, for the purpose of discovering
practicable route for a trans-Pacific
cable, the company urging that with &C
cess to these soundings it could COM
pIete its cable much sooner than if it
were required to take soundings upon its
own account. Pending consideration of
this subject, it appeared important and
desirable to attach certain conditions to
the permission to examine and use the
soundings. if it should be granted
In consequence of this solicitation of
the cable company, certain conditions
wcro formulate uDOn which he preSi-