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

I ask for authority to reform the
agreement with China under which
the Indemnity of 1900 was fixed, by
reDitting and caneelling the obIiga-
ton of China for the payment of all
that part of the stipulated IHdemn-
ity which is in excess of the sum
Of eleven million, SIX hundred and
fifty-fTVe thousand, four hundred and
ninety-tWO dollars and SiXty-nTne
cents, and interest at four per cent.
After the rescue of the foreign le-
cations in Peking during the Boxer
troubles in 1900 the powers requ:r-
ed from China the payment of equi-
table indemnitieS to the several ma
tions, and the final pratocol under
which the troops were withdrawn,
signed at Peking, September 7, 1901
fixed the amount of this indemnity
allotted to the United States at over
2O.000.00O, and China paid, up to-
and including the 1st day of June
Fast, little over 100000 1t
vas the first intention Of this govern
ment at the proper time, when all
claims had been presented and all
expenses ascertained as fully as pos
slble, to. revise the estimates and &C
count, and as a proof of sincere
release that country from its legal
liability for all payments in excess
of the sum which should prove to
be necessary for actual indemnity to
the United States and it's citizens.
CHINESE STUDENTS.
This nation should help in every
practicable way in the education of
the Chinese people, SO that the vast
and pOpulous empire Of China may
gradually adapt itself to modern
conditions. One way of doing this
is by promoting the coming of Chi
nese students to this country and
making it attractive to them to take
courses at our universities and high
ed educational institutions. Our ed
ucators should, SO far as possible,
take concerted action toward this
end.
MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
On the courteous invitation of
the president of Mexico, the secre-
tary of state visited that country in
September and October and was re-
ceived everywhere with the greatest
kindness and hospitality.
He carried from the government
of the United States to our south
ern neighbor a message of respect
and goodwill and of desire for bet
ter acquaintance and increasing
friendship. The response from the
government and the people of Mex
leo was hearty and sincere. No pains
were spared to manifest the most
friendly attitude and feeling toward
the Jnited States.
In view Of the close neighbOrhood
of the two countries the relations
which exist between Mexico and the
United States are just cause for
qualification We have common
| boundary of over 1900 miles from
| the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific.
! Much of it is marked only by the
| shifting waters of the Rio Grande.
| Many thousands of MeXicans are re-
| siding upon our side of the line and
! it is estimated that over 10000
| Americans are resident in Mexican
| territory and that American invest
ments in Mexico amount to over sew
en- hundred million dollars. The ex-
| traOrdinary industrial and CONNER
| cial prosperity of Mexico has been
! greatly promoted by American en-
terprise, and Americans are sharing
largely in its results. The foreign
| trade of the republic already ex-
| CeSuS ztUyVVV,ooO pSA OAAN
! of this two-thirds both of exports
| and imports are exchanged with the
! United States. Under these circum-
| stances numerous questions neces-
! sarily arise between the two coun-
! tries. These questions are always
approached and disposed of in a
spirit of mutual courtesy and fair
| dealing Americans carrying on
! business in Mexico testify uniformly
| to the kindness and consideration
| with which they are treated and
their sense of the security of their
property and enterprises under the
! wise administration of the great
statesman who has so long held the
office of chief magistrate Of that re-
public.