The Somerset reporter., 1906-12-06

out in Cuba which it speedily grew evil
dent that the existing Cuban govern
ment was powerless to quell. Thanks
to the preparedness of our navy,
was able Immediately to send enough
ships to Cuba to prevent the situation
from becoming hopeless and fur
thermore dispatched to Cuba the sec
rotary of war and the assistant secre-
tary of state In order that they might
grapple with the situation on the
ground.
In accordance with the 80 called
Plat amendment, which was embod-
led in the constitution OF Cuba, there
upon proclaimed provisional govern.
ment for the island, the secretary of
war acting as provisional governor I'M
til he could be replaced by Mr. Magoon,
/ the late minister to Panama and gov
ernor OF the canal zone on the isthmus
j Troops were sent to support them and
/ to relieve the navy, the expedition be-
| Ing handled with most satisfactory
/ speed and efficiency. Peace has come
| In the Island, and the harvesting Of the
! sugar cane crop, the great crop of the
| island, Is about to proceed. When the
election has been held and the new
| government inaugurated In peaceful
and orderly fashion the provisional
government will come to an end
The United States wishes nothing of
Cuba except that 1t shall prosper NOR
ally and materially and wishes nothing
OF the Cubans save that they shall be
able to preserve order among them
selves and therefore to preserve their
independence. If the elections become
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
secure the safety of life and property
The Rio Conference.
The second international conference
Of American republics, held in Mexl-
co in the years 190102. 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
governing board of the bureau of
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 at Rio de
Janeiro, continuing from the 23d of
July to the Doth of August last. Many
subjects of common interest to all the |
American nations were discussed by
the conference. and the conclusions |
reached, embodied In n series of reso-
lutions 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 |
p"nama and shall report to you nj
ltiiH II lllGl Oll inc lOlE SubJtNl vi llR
Panama canal.
The AIgeciras 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 |
1880, 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 all European countries and |
does not entail a single obligation OF !
any kind upon us, and earnestly hope |
1t may be speedily ratified.
Sealing.
The destruction of the Priblof Is |
land fur seals by pelaglc sealing still |
continues. The herd, which, according |
to the surve made In 1874 by direc
ton of the congress, numbered 400 |
600, and which, according to the sur
yey 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
OLueI ScdHuB NeSSelS Killing TIE female |
seals while in the water during their |
annual pilgrimage to and from the |
south or In search OF food.
The process of destruction has been |
accelerated during recent years by the |
appearance of 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 | advised you
that the emperor OF Russia had taken |
the initiative In bringing about a sec
ond peace conference at The Hague |
Under the guidance of Russia the ar
rangement of the prellminaries for
such a conference has been progressing |
during the past year Progress has |