Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-08

To the Senate andlithe House of Rep.
 resentatives:
 The relations of the United States with all foreign governments have con tinued upon the normal basis of amity and good understanding and are very generally satisfactory.
 Europe.
 Pursuant to the provisions of the general treaty of arbitration concluded between the United States and Great Britain, April 1. 1908, a special agree ment was entered into between the two countries on Jan. 27, 1909, for the submission of questions relating to the fisheries on the north Atlantic coast to ! tribunal to be formed from members If the permanent court of arbitration At The Hague
 In accordance with the provisions Sf the special agreement the printed fase of each government was, on Oct. { last, submitted to the other and to lhe arbitral tribunal at The Hague, and }he counter case of the United States 5 now in course of preparation.
 The American rights under the fish Iries article of the treaty of 1918 have been q cause of difference between the United States and Great Britain for Dearly seventy years. The interests
 <volved are of great importance to the American fishing industry, and the final settlement of the controversy will temove a source of constant irritation Dnd complaint. This is the first case tnvolving such great international questions which has been submitted to she permanent court of arbitration at Che Hague.
 The treaty between the United States end Great Britain concerning the Ca eadian international boundary, con- Suded April II. 1908, authorizes the appointznent of two commissioners to behne and mark accurately the inter- hattonai boundary line between the Dnited States and the Dominion of eanada in the waters of the Passama- iuoddy bay and provides for the ex- shange of briefs within the period of nix months. The briefs were duly pre- bented within the prescribed period, but as the commissioners failed to agree within six months after the ex- change of the printed statements, as required by the treaty, it has now be- csme SScessary to resort to the arbi- tration provided for in the article.
 The International fisheries commis- Ssen appointed pursuant to and under the suthority of the convention of April IA, 1908. between the United States and Great Britain has com piesed a system of uniform and com nsan international regulations for the protection and preservation of the food fishes fin international boundary wa ters of the undtHd States and Canada.
 The regulations will be duly submit ted to congress with & view to the enactment of such Legislation as will be necessary under tho convention to put them into operation,
 The convention providing for the setl clement of international differences bA- tween the United States and Canada. fnrluding the apportfonment between the tive countries of certain of the bo1hdary waters and the sppointn,knt of commissioners to adjust certain other questions. signed on the 1Ithl day of January, lD9, and to the ratIsca- ticn of which the senate gave ftei ad vice and consent on March 5, l9o9l has net yet been ratified on the paft of Greet Britain.
 Commissioners have been app Dinted on the. part of the United Stateslto act Jointly with commissioners on the part of Canada in examining into the oues- tion of instructions fin the st. John river between Maine and New Bruus- wick and to make reconamendations for the regulation of the uses thereof and are now engaged in this work. Protecting the seaIes.
 Negotiations for an international conference to consider andi reach an arrangement providing for 9the preser- vatien and protection of tFfe fur seals in the north Pacific are ldn progress with the governments of Great Britain. Japan and Russia. The attitude of the governments interested leads me to hope for q satisfactory settlement of this question as the ulti hate outcome of the negotiations.
 The second peace conference recent iH hsid at The Hague )anopted a con- senfioA fer the estabtS hment of an in- ternattonai prize court upon the joint psoposai of delegatiosDs of the United States. France, 0ertbany and Great Britain. The law tu be observed by the tribrnal tn the decision of prize cases was. however, left in an uncer- tain and therefore Unsatisfactory state. Art4de of tho epnvent1on provided that the court waaj to be governed by the provisions of treaties existing be- tween the beifigfrents. but that Sin the abseRce of ispch provisions the court shah apply the rules of inter national law. IF no generally recog- mixed rule exista the court shall give isAsnaas is .ssesas.ss sisb ths gen