The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-06


the American people and maintain
ed with fidelity and ability the poll
icy of our government upon all the
great questions discussed in the con-
ference.
The report Of the delegation, to-
gether with authenticated copies of
the conventions signed, when re-
ceived, will be laid before the SEN
ate for its consideration.
When we remember how difficult
it is for one of our own legislative
bodies, composed of citizens of the
same country. speaking the same lam
guage, living under the same laws,
and having the same customs, to
reach an agreement, or even TO Sc
cure a majority upon any difficult
and important subject which is pro-
posed for legislation, it becomes
plain that the representatives OF
forty-fve different countries, speak
ing many different languages, &C
customed to different methods Of
procedure, with widely diverse in
terests, who discussed SO many diff
ferent subjects and reached agree
ments upon so many, are entitled TO
grateful appreciation for the wisdom,
patience and moderation with which
they have discharged their duty.
The example of this temperate dis
cussion, and the agreements and eff
forts to agree, among representa-
tives of all the nations Of the earth,
acting with universal ecCgnitiOn of
the supreme obligation to promote
peace, can not fail to be a power
full influence for good in future in
ternational relations.
CUBA.
A year ago in consequence Of
revolutionary movement in Cuba
which threatened the Immediate re-
turn to chaos of the island, the
United States interviewed, sending
down an army and establishing a
provisional government under Gov
ernor Magoon. Absolute quiet and
prosperity have returned to the is
land because of this action. We
are now taking steps to provide for
elections in the island and our ex-
pectation is within the coming year
to be able to turn the island over
again to a government chosen by
the people thereof. Cuba is at our
doors. 1t is not possible that this
nation should permit Cuba again to
sink into the condition from which
we rescued it. All that we ask of
the Cuban people is that they be
that they govern them
selves so as to bring content, order
and progress to their island, the
Queen of the Antilles; and our only
has been and will be to
help them achieve these results.
THE JAPANESE EXPOSITION.
An invitation has been extended
by Japan to the government and
people of the United States to par
ticipate in a great national expo
sition to be held at Tokyo from
April / to October 81, 1912, and
in which the principal countries of
the world are to be invited to take
part. This is an occasion Of special
interest to all the nations of the
world, and peculiarly SO to us; for
it is the first instance in which such
a great national exposition has been
held by great power dwelling on
the Pacific; and all the nations of
Europe and America will, | trust,
join in helping to success this first
great exposition ever held by great
nation of Asia. The geographical
relations Of Japan and the United
States as the possessors Of such large
L
the intimate trade relations already
existing between the two countries,
the warm friendship which has been
maintained between them without
break since the opening of Japan
to intercourse with the western ma
tions, and her increasing wealth and
production, which we regard with
hearty goodwill and wish to make
the occasion of mutually beneficial
commerce, all unite in making it
eminently desirable that this invita-
tion should be accepted. L heartily
recommend such legislation as will
provide in generous fashion for the
of this government
and it's people in the proposed eX-
position. Action should be taken
now. We are apt to underestimate
the time necessary for preparation in
such cases. The invitation to the
French exposition OF 1900 was
brought to the attention Of the con-
gress by President Cleveland in De-
cember, 1895; and so many are the
delays necessary to such proceedings
that the period Of four years and a
half which then intervened before
the exposition proved none too long
for the proper preparation Of the
exhibits.
GERMAN TARIFF AGREEMENT.
The adoption Of new tariff by
Germany, accompanied by cOnven-
tions for reciprocal tariff concessions
between that country and most of
the other countries of continental
Europe, led the German government
to give the notice necessary to ter
inmate the reciprocal commercial
agreement with this country pro-
claimed July IS, 1900. The notice
was to take effect on the 1st Of
March, 1906, and in default Of some
other arrangements this would have
left the exports from the United
States to Germany subject to the
general German tariff duties, from
25 to SO per cent. higher than the
conventional duties imposed upon
the goods Of most Of our competi-
tors for German trade.
Under a special agreement made