The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-09


provision has been made for arbitra-
ton of the remaining case before The
Hague tribunal On July so, 1909. the
government of Panama agreed, after
considerable negotiation, to indemnify
the relatives of the American officers
and sailors who were brutality treated,
one of them having, indeed, been killed
by the Panaman police this year.
The sanitary Improvements and pub
lie works undertaken in Cuba prior to
the present administration of that gov
eminent, in the success of which the
United States is interested under the
treaty, are reported to be making good
progress and since the Congress pro-
vided for the continuance of the recip
rocal commercial arrangement between
Cuba and the United States assurance
has been received that no negotiations
injuriously affecting the situation will
be undertaken without consultation.
The collection of the customs of the
Dominican Republic through the gem
eral receiver of customs appointed by
the President of the United States in
accordance with the convention of
February s. 1907, has proceeded in an
uneventful and satisfactory manner.
Many years ago diplomatic interven-
ton became necessary to the protec-
ton of the interest in the American
claim of Alsop and company against
the government of Chile. The govern
ment of Chile had frequently admitted
obligation in the case and had prom
ised this government to settle it. There
had been two abortive attempts to do
so through arbitral commissions. which
failed through lack of Jurisdiction.
Now, happily, as the result of the re-
cent diplomatic negotiations, the gov
ernments of the United States and of
Chile, actuated by the sincere desire
to free from any strain those cordial
and friendly relations upon which both
set such store, have agreed by a pro-
tocol to submit the controversy to
defnitive settlement by His Britannia
Majesty, Edward VII.
The Nicaraguan Difficulty.
Since the Washington conventions
of 1907 were communicated to the gov
eminent of the United States as a con-
sulting and advising party, this gov
eminent has been almost continuous
~ called upon by one or another. and
in turn by all of the five Central Amer
lean republics. to exert itself for the
maintenance of the conventions. Near
ly every complaint has been against
the Zelaya government of Nicaragua.
which has kept Central America in
constant tension or turmoil. The re-
sponses made TO the representations of
Central American republics, as due
from the United States on account of
it's relation TO the Washington conven-
tions. have been at all times conserva-
tive and have avoided, so far as pos
sible, any semblance of interference,
although ii is very apparent that the
considerations of geographic proximity
10 the Canal zone and of the very sub
stantial American interests in Central
America give to the United States a
special position in the zone of these
republics and the Caribbean Sea.
/ need not rehearse here the patient
efforts of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these repub-
lies. efforts which are fully appreciated
by the majority of them who are loyal
to- their true interests. 1t would be no
less unnecessary to rehearse here the
sad tale of unspeakable barbarities and
oppression alleged to have been COM
mitted by the Zelaya government. Re-
Gently two Americans were put to death
by order of President Zelaya himself
They were officers in the organized forces
of revolution which had continued many
weeks and was in control IF about halt of
the republic. and as such. according to
the modern enlightened practice of civiliz-
Ell nations. they were entitled to be dealt
with as prisoners of war.
At the date when this message is print
ed this government has terminated dip
lomatic relations with the Zelaya govern
ment. for reasons made public in a COM
nunication to the former Nicaraguan
charge d'affaires, and is intending to
take such future steps as may be found
most consistent with its dignity. its duty
10 American interests and its moral obli-
cations to Central America and to civili-
cation. 1t may be necessary for me to
bring this subject to the attention of
the Congress in a special message.
The International Bureau of Ameri-
can Republics has carried on an i'm
portant and increasing work during
the last year. In the exercise OF it's
peculiar functions as an international
agency, maintained by all the Ameri-
can republics for the development of
American commerce and friend
ship. ii has accomplished a great prac-
teal good which could be done in the
same way by no individual department
or bureau of one government, and is
therefore deserving of your liberal
support The fact that it is about to
enter new building. erected through
the munificence of an American phi
lanthropist and the contributions of all
the American nations. where both its
efficiency of administration and ex-
pense of maintenance will naturally be
much augmented, further entities it
to special consideration.
Relations in the Far East.
In the Far East this government
preserved unchanged it's policy of sup
porting the principle of equality of OPP
portunity and scrupulous respect for
the integrity of the Chinese Empire, TO
which policy are pledged the interested
powers of both east and west.
Our traditional relations with the
Japanese empire continue cordial as
usual AS the representative of Japan,
his imperial highness Prince Kuni vis-
tied the Hudson Fulton celebration.
The recent visit of a delegation of
prominent business men as guests of
the chambers of commerce of the Pa
cific slope. whose representatives had
been so agreeably received in Japan,
will doubtless contribute to the grow
ing trade across the Pacific, as we'll
as to that mutual understanding which
leads to mutual appreciation.
Expenditures and Revenues.
Perhaps the most important question
presented to the administration is that OF
economy in expenditures and sufficiency
of revenue The deficit of the last fiscal
year. and the certain deficit of the cur
rent year. prompted Congress to throw
a greater responsibility the executive
and the secretary of the treasury than
had heretofore been declared by statute.
This declaration imposes upon the Sec
rotary of the treasury the duty of as
sembling all the estimates of the execu-
tive departments bureaus and offices. of
the expenditures necessary i'm the ensuing
fiscal year. and of making an estimate OF
the revenues of the government for the
same period; and If a probable deficit Is
thus shown, ii is made the duty of the
President to recommend the method BY
which such deficit can be met
The report of the secretary shows that
the ordinary expenditures for the current