Iron County register., 1903-12-10

The proceedings were expeditions. and
marked by a friendly and conscientious
and arguments presented the issues clear
y and fully. On the Goth o. 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
tlde-water 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; a line is drawn
from the head of Portland canal to the
tifty-sixth degree Of north latitude; and
the interior border line ot'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
its branches.
While the line so traced follows the pro-
visional Gemarcation of 1873 at the crossing
of the Stikne river. and that of 1899 at the
submits of the White and Chilkoot passes,
it runs much farther inland from the Kle-
hini than the temporary line of the later
modus viyendi and leaves the entire min,
ing district of the Porcupine river and
Glacier creek within the jurisdiction of the
United States.
The award is self-executing on the vital
points. To make it effective as regards
the others 1t only remains for the two
governments to appoint, each on its own
behalf, one or more scientific experts,
who shall, with all convenient speed. pro-
ceed together to lay down the boundary
line in accordance with the decision of
the ma iority of the tribunal. l recon-
mend that the congress make adequate
provision for the appointment. compen-
sation and expenses of the members to
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
| alliance for the purpose of blockadinS
| the ports of Venezuela and using such
other means of pressure as would secure
| n 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
ernment 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-
| ceipts of two of her ports to be applied
| 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 a state of
war, but also to the United States, France,
Spain, 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 blockading 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
called peace powers Venezuela, on the
other hand, insisted that all her creditors
should be paid upon basis of exact
equality, During the efforts to adjust
ers in interest that it should be referred
to me for decision, but l 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 ad-
mirable opportunity to advance the prac-
tice of the peaceful settlement of dis
putes between nations and to secure for
The Hague tribunal n memorable In
crease of its 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
lied. Russia and Austria are, represented
in the persons of the learned and dstin-
guished jursts 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
hot, an tn n hn
decision of that high court of international
justice and international peace can hardly
fail to secure a like submission of many
future controversies. The nations now 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-
tional arbitration Is a subject of warm con-
graduation and offers happy augury for
the peace of the world.
Relations with Turkey.
Early in July, having received intelli-
gence, which happily turned out to be
erroneous of the assassination of our vice
consul at Beirut, | dispatched n small
squadron to that port for such service as
might be found necessary on arrival. AL
though the attempt on the life OF our wee
consul had not been successful, yet the
outrage was symptomatic of state OF
excitement and disorder which demanded
immediate attention. The arrival of the
vessels naQ Ine HdppleSt result. "A leeIllB
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 of amicable adjust
ment
; Relations with China.
The signing of a new commercial treaty
with China, which took place at Shangha
on the Sth of October, is a cause for sat.
isfaction. This act the result of long dis
3 cussion and negotiation, places our com
mercal relations with the great orienta
empire on a more satisfactory footing thar
! they have ever heretofore enjoyed 1t pro
I vides not only for the ordinary rights ant
privileges of diplomatic and consular
/, officers, but also for an important exten
= sion of our commerce by increased facility
= of access to Chinese ports and for tht
9 relief of trade by the removal of some o
= the obstacles which have embarrassed /
e, in the past. The Chinese government en-
e cages, on fair and equitable conditions
s which will probably be accepted by tn,
t principal commercial nations, to abandon
s the levy of "liken" and other transit due
: throughout the empire, and to introduc
n OlHer desirable administrative reforms
Y Rural Free Delivery.
+ The rural free-delvery service has bee
" steadily extended. The attention of tn
; congress is asked to the question of tn
i compensation of the letter carriers an
8 clerks engaged in the postal service, es
i, pecially on the new rural free-deliver
n routes. More routes have been installe
since the first of July last than in an
like period in the departments history
While due regard to economy must b
j. kept in mind in the establishment of ne'
# routes, yet the extension of the rurf
IS free-delivery system must be continued
y for reasons of sound public policy. n
It governmental movement of recent yeal
e has resulted in greater immediate benef
# to the people of the country district
l. Rural free delivery, taken in connectio
i with the telephone the bicycle, and tn
h trolley, accomplishes much toward lie.
y senng the isolation of farm life an
d making it brighter and more attractiv
. international Expositions.
tlat tIn ,,.;n