Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-08


Presidents message as submitted to
Congress Tuesday Dec !. The COM
plete story of the doinSs of Congress
will be found on Page l. The mes
sage:
To the Senate and the House OF
Representatives:
Tho 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 4, 1908, a special agree
ment was entered into between the two
countries on January q, 1909 for the
submission Of questions relating to the
fisheries on the North Atlantic Coast to,
tribunal to be formed from men,
bers of the Permanent Court of Arbi
tration at The Hague.
In accordance with the provisions of
the special agreement the printed case
of each Government was, on October
last, submitted to the other and to
the Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague,
and the counter case of the United
states is now in course of preparation.
The American rights under the fish
cries article of the Treaty OF 1878 have
been cause of difference between
the United States and Great Britain
for nearly seventy years. The interests
involved are of great importance to
thesAmerican fishing industry, and the
final settlement of the controversy will
remove source of constant irritation
and complaint. This is the first case
involving such great international
questions which has been submitted to
the Permanent Court of Arbitration at
The Hague.
The treaty between the United States
and Great Britain concerning the
Canadian International boundary, con-
cluded, April IL, 1908, authorizes the
appointment of two commissioners to
define and mark accurately the inter-
nationaf~ bOundary line between the
D. United States and the Dominion OF
Canada in the waters of the Passama-
Guoddy Bay and provides for the ex-
change of briefs within the period of
six months. The briefs were duly pre-
sented 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
come necessary to resort to the arbi-
tration provided for in the article.
The International Fisheries Commits
sion appointed pursuant to and under
the authority of the Convention of
April II, 1905 between the United
States and Great Britain. has complet-
ed system of uniform and common
international regulations for the pro-
lection and preservation of the food
fishes in international boundary waters
of the United States and Canada.
The regulations will be duly sab.
mited to Congress with a view to the
enactment of such legislation as will
be necessary under the convention to
put them into operation =.
The Convention providing for the set
tlement Of International differences be-
tween the United States and Canada
including the apportionment between
the two countries of certain Of the
boundary waters and the appointment
" " ADJUST CtItdlI
other questions. signed on the 18th day
Of January, 1909, and to the ratification
Of WHICH the Senate gave its advice
and consent on March g. 1909 has not
yet been ratified on the part of Great
Britain
Commissioners have been appointed
on the part of the United States to act
jointly with Commissioners on the part
Of Canada in examining into the ques-
ton of distractions lin the st. John
River between Maine and New Bruins
wick. and to make recommendations
for the regulation of the uses thereof,
and arc now engaged in this work
Negotiations for an international
conference to consider and reach an
arrangement providing for the prescr-
walton and protection of the fur seals
in the North Pacific are in progress
with the Governments of Great Britain.
Japan. and Russia. The attitude of the
of the Governments Interested leads me
to hope for a satisfactory settlement Of
this question as the ultimate outcome
Of the negotiations.
The Second Peace Conference recent
" heldg,at The Hague adopted con-
NSIitsth inc vi dIl III
ternational Prize Court upon the joint
proposal of delegations of the United
States. France, Germany and Great
Britain. The law to be observed by
the Tribunal in the decision of prize
eases was. however. left in an uncer-
tain and therefore unsatisfactory state.
Article of the Convention provided
that the Court was to be governed by
the provisions of treaties existing be-
tween the bellegerents. but that lin the
absence of such provisions the cour.
snail apply the rules of international
law. If no general recognized rule
exists. the court shall give judgement
III accordance with the general princi-
pies of justice and equity" AS. how
ever. many questions in international
maritime law are understood different
ly and therefore interpreted different
~ IL various countries it was deemed
advisable not to intrust legislative
powers to the proposed court but to
determine the rules of law properly ap-
pllcable in a Conference of the repre-
sentative maritime nations. Pursuant
10 an invitation of Great Britain a con-
terence was held at London from De-