River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-10

tribunal met in London on September 8.
under the presidency of Lord AlverStone.
The, proceedings were expeditions. and
marked by friendly and conscientious
spirit. The respective cases, counter cases
and arguments presented the issues clear
ly and fully. On the 10th c. October ma
jority of the tribunal reached and signed
an agreement on all the questions submit
ted by the terms of the convention. By
this award the right of the United States
to the control of a continuous strip or Dor
der of the mainland shore, skirting all the
Underwater inlets and sinuosities of the
coast, is confirmed; the entrance to Port
land canal Concerning which legitimate
doubt appeared) is defined as passing by
Tongass inlet and to the northwestward of
Wales and Pearse islands; line is drawn
from the head of Portland canal to the
fifty-sixth degree of north latitude; and
the interior border line of the strip is fixed
by lines connecting certain mountain sum-
mits lying between Portland canal and
Mount ST Elias, and running along the
crest of the divide separating the coast
slope from the inland watershed at the
only part of the frontier where the drain
age ridge approaches the coast within the
distance of ten marine leagues stipulated
by the treaty as the extreme width of the
strip around the heads of Lynn canal and
it's branches.
While the line so traced follows the pro-
visional Gemarcation of 1878 at the crossing
of the Stikine river, and that of 1899 at the
SUBMITS of the White and ChHkoot passes,
it runs much farther inland from the Kle-
hini than the temporary line of the later
modus vivendi, and leaves the entire min
ing district of the Porcupine river and
Glacier creek within the jurisdiction of the
The award is self-executi1ig on the vital
points. To make it effective as regards
the others it only remains for the two
behalf, one or more scientific experts,
who shall, with all convenient speed, pro-
coed together to lay down the boundary
line in accordance with the decision of
the majority of the tribunal. l recon-
mend that the congress make adequate.
provision for the appointment, compen-
serve on this joint boundary commits
sion on the part of the United States.
Claims Against Venezuela.
1t will be remembered that during the
second session of the last congress Great
Britain, Germany and Italy formed an
the ports of Venezuela and using such
other means of pressure as would secure
a settlement of claims due, as they al
legged, to certain of their subjects Their
employment of force for the collection of
these claims was terminated by an agree
ment brought about through the offices
of the diplomatic representatives of the
United States at Caracas and the gov
eminent at Washington, thereby ending
situation which was bound to cause
increasing friction, and which jeoparded
the peace of the continent. Under this
agreement Venezuela agreed to set apart
a certain percentage of the customs re-
to the payment of whatever obligations
might be ascertained by mixed commits
sions appointed for that purpose to be
due from her, not only to the three pow
ers already mentioned whose proceed
ings against her had resulted in state of
war but also to the United States, France,
Spafn, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden
and Norway, and Mexico, who had not
employed force for the collection of the
claims alleged to be due to certain of
their citizens.
A demand was then made by the So
called blockadng powers that the sums
ascertained to be due to their citizens by
such mixed commission should be accord
ed payment in full before anything was
paid upon the claims Of any of the So
called peace powers. Venezuela, on the
other hand, insisted that all her creditors
should be paid upon a basis of exact
equality. During the efforts to adjust
this dispute it was suggested by the pow
ers in interest that it should be referred
to me for decision. but I was clearly
of the opinion that far wiser course
would be to submit the question to the
permanent court of arbitration at The
Hague. 1t seemed to me to offer an adj
mirable opportunity to advance the prae-
tice of the peaceful settlement of dis
putes between nations and to secure for
The Hague tribunal a memorable in
crease of it's practical Importance. The
nations interested in the controversy
were so numerous, and in many instances
so powerful as to make it evident that
beneficent results would follow from
their appearance at the same time before
the bar of that august tribunal of peace.
Our hopes in that regard have been real
ICED Russia and Austria are represented
in the persons of the learned and distin-
guished jurists who compose the tribunal,
while Great Britain, Germany, France,
Spain, Italy, Belgium. the Netherlands;
Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the United
States and Venezuela are represented by
their respective agents and counsel. Such
an imposing concourse of nations present
ing their arguments to and invoking the
decision of that high court of international
i,1ct inf rdlV
fail to secure a like submission of many
future controversies. The nations now APP
pearing there will find it far easier to ap
pear there a second time, while no nation
can imagine its just pride will be lessened
by following the example now presented.
This triumph of the principle of interna-
tionai arbitration is subject of warm con-
graduation and offers a happy augury for
the peace of the world.
Relations with Turkey.
Early in. July, having received inteln-
gence which happily turned out to be
erroneous, of the assassination of our vice
consul at Beirut, / dispatched small
squadron to that port for such service as
might be found necessary on arrival AL
though the attempt on the life of our vice
consul had not been successful, yet the
outrage was symptomatic Of a state OF
excitement and disorder which demanded
immediate attention. The arrival of the
vessels had the happiest result. A feeling
of security at once took the place OF the
former alarm and disquiet; our officers
were cordially welcomed by the consular
body and the leading merchants, and or
binary business resumed its activity. The
government of the sultan gave a consider
ate hearing to the representations of our
minister; the official who was regarded as
responsible for the disturbed condition of
affairs was removed. Our relations with
the Turkish government remain friendly;
our claims founded on inequitable treat
ment of some of our schools and missions
appear to be IN process or am1cable ADJUST
ment.
Relations with China.
The signing of a new commercial treaty
with China, which took place at Shanghai
on the Sth Of October is caus Sc for for sat
cussion and negotiation, places our COM
mercial relations with the great oriental
empire on more satisfactory footing than
they have ever heretofore enjoyed. 1t pro-
vdes not only for the ordinary rights and
privileges of diplomatic and consular
officers, but also for an important extern
sion of our commerce by increased facility
of access to Chinese ports, and for the
relief of trade by the removal of some of
the obstacles which have embarrassed it
in the past. The Chinese government en-
cages, on fair ana equitable conditions,
which will probably be accepted by the
principal commercial nations, to abandon
the levy of '.liken" and other transit dues
throughout the empire, and to introduce
other desirable administrative reforms.
Rural Free Delivery.
The rural free-delivery service has been
steadily extended. The attention of the
compensation of the letter carriers and
clerks engaged in the postal service.
pecially on the new rural free-delivery
routes. More routes have been installed
since the first of July last than in any
like period in the departments history.
While due regard to economy must be
kept in mind in the establishment OF new
routes. yet the extension of the rural
free-delivery system must be continued,
for reasons of sound public policy. No
governmental movement of recent years
ted for 7{cfa