The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-12-05

independence. If the elections become
a farce and if the insurrectionary habit
becomes confirmed on the island it Is
absolutely out of the question that the
island should continue independent.
and the United States. which has as
sumed the sponsorship before the CIV
ilized world for Cuba's career as a ma
ton, would again have to intervene
and to see that the government was
managed in such orderly fashion as to
The Rio Conference.
The second international conference
of American republics, held in Mexi-
co in the years 10O1-O2, provided for
the holding Of the third conference
within five years and committed the
fixing of the time and place and the
arrangements for the conference to the
American republics, composed Of the
representatives of all the American
nations in Washington. That board
discharged the duty imposed upon
1t with marked fidelity and pains
taking care. and upon the courteous
Invitation Of the United States of Bra
I'll the conference was held ut Rio de
Janeiro. continuing from the 23d Of
July to the Goth of August last. Many
subjects Of common interest to all the
American nations were discussed by
the conference, and the conclusions
reached, embodied in a series Of reso-
buttons and proposed conventions, will
be laid before you upon the coming Of
the final report Of the American, dele
gates.
Panama Trip.
have just returned from a trip to
Panama and shall report to you at
Panama canal.
h Algeciras Convention.
The Algeciras convention, which was
signed by the United States as we'll as
by most of the powers Of Europe, SUI
persedes the previous convention of
1850, which was also signed both by
the United States and a majority of
the European powers. This treaty
confers upon us equal commercial
rights with ali European countries and
does not entail a single obligation Of
any kind upon us, and I earnestly hope
It may be speedily ratified.
Sealing.
The destruction of the Pribilof is
land fur seals by pelagic sealing still
continues. The herd which, according
to the surve y made In 1874 by direc-
ton of the congress, numbered 4,7OO,-
600. and which, according to the sur
vey of both American and Canadian
commissioners in 1891, amounted to
100000, has now been reduced to
about 10000. This result has been
brought about by Canadian and some
other sealing vessels killing the female
seals while in the water during their
annual pilgrimage to and from the
south or in search CT food.
The process Of destruction has been
accelerated during recent years by the
appearance of a number of Japanese
vessels engaged in pelagic sealing.
Suitable representations regarding
the incident have been made to the
government Of Japan, and we are as
sured that all practicable measures will
be taken by that country to prevent
any recurrence of the outrage.
We have not relaxed our efforts to
secure an agreement with Great Brit
ain for adequate protection Of the seal
herd, and negotiations with Japan for
the same purpose are in progress.
The laws for the protection of the
seals within the jurisdiction Of the
United States need revision and
amendment.
Second Hague Conference.
In my last message l advised you
that the emperor Of Russia had taken
the initiative in bringing about a Sec
0nd peace conf srence at The Hague.
Under the guidance of Russia the. ar
such a conference has been progressing
during the past year. Progress has
necessarily been slow, owing to- the
great number Of countries to be con-
suited upon every question that has
arisen. 1t is q matter of satisfaction
that all Of the American republics have
now, for the first time, been invited to
join in the proposed conference.
Army and Navy.
1t must ever be kept in mind that
war Is not merely justifable. but i'm
perative upon honorable men, upon m
honorable nation, where peace can
only be obtained by the sacrifice OF
conscientious conviction or Of national
welfare.
The United States navy is the surest
g%uarantor Of peace which this country
possesses. l do not ask that we con
time to increase our navy. l ash
merely that it be maintained at it.
present strength, and this a be dom
only if we replace the obsolete and out
worn ships by new and good ones, tn
equals Of any afloat in any navy. 7,
stop building ships for one year means
that for that year the navy goes bacl
instead Of forward.
In both the army and the navy Their