Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-12-17

claim Of AlSop x Co against the
government cf Chile. The govern
/ ment of Chile had frequently admitted
obligation in the case and had prom
ised this government TO settle IL. There
had been two abortive attempts 10 do
So through arbitrai commissions. which
fnileL through lack Of jurisdiction.
/ Now, happily, as the result OF the re-
! cent diplomatic Negotiations. the gov
/ ernmen,s of the United States and OF
/ Chile. aCtuated by the sincere desire
to Iree from any strain those cordial
and friendly relations upon which both
set such store. have agreed by proto-
col to submit the controversy to defin-
| tive settlement by his Britannia majes-
/ ty Edward VII.
The Niearaguan Trouble.
! Since the Washington conventions OF
/ 1907 were communicated 10 the gov
! ernment Of the United States as con-
sulting and advising party this gov
| ernment has been almost continuously
! called upon by one or another and In
| turn by all of the five Central Amer
! lean republics 10 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 or
| Central American republics as due
from the United States on account OF
/ l, ~. 81 tI,, n n n n
tions have been at all times conserva-
! tive and have avoided, SO far as poSSi-
! Bile, any semblunce OF interference. al
/ though 1t Is very apparent that the
considerations of geographic proximity
to the canal zone and of the very sub
| stautial American interests In Central
| America give to the United States
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 re-
publIcs. efforts which are fully appre-
ciated by the majority Of them who
are loyal to their true interests. 1t
would be 10 less unnecessary to re-
hearse here the sad tale Of unspeak-
able barbarities and oppression alleged
to have been committed by the Zelaya
government. Recently two Americans
were put to death by order OF Presi-
dent Zelaya himself. They were otii
GERS In the organized forces Of Il rev.
olution which had continued many
weeks and was in control Of about
kalf Of the republic, and as such. ac-
cordnS 10 the modern enlightened
practice OF civilized nations. they were
| entitled to be dealt with as prisoners
| Of war.
At the date when this message is
printed this government has termi-
mated diplomatic relations with the
Zelaya government for reasons made
public in n communication to the for
mer Nicaraguan charge daffaires and
| Is intending to take such future steps
as may be found most consistent with
its dignity. Its duty to American in
terests and its moral obligations to
| Central America and to civilization. 1t
may later be necessary for me to bring
this subject to the attention Of the
congress III special message.
| In tho Far East.
In the far east this government pre-
serves unchanged Its policy Of support
ing the principle OF equality OF oppor-
tunity and scrupulous respect for the
integrity Of the Chinese empire. to
which policy are pledged the interest
ed powers Of both east and west.
BY the treaty of 1908 China has un-
dertaken the abolition Of likin with a
moderate and proportionate raising of
the customs tariff along with currency
reform. TIese reforms being a mani
fest advantage to foreign commerce as
we'll as to the interests of China. this
government Is endeavoring to facili-
tate these measures and the needful
acquiescence Of the treaty powers.
When 1t appeared that Chinese likin
revenues were to be hypothecated to
foreign bankers In connection with a
great railway project 1t was obvious
that the governments whose nationals
held this loan would have n certain
direct interest In the question OF the
carrying out by China Of the reforms
in question. The administration deem
ed American participation to be of
GREAT national interest. Happily. when
It was az a matter Of broud policy mr.
gent that this opportunity should not
be lost. the Indispensable instrumental.
ity presented itself when a group Of
American bankers Of International
reputation and great resources agreed
at once to share In the loan upon pre-
cisely such terms as this government
should approve. The chief of those
terms was that American railway ma
terial should be upon an exact equality
with that OF the other nationals join
Ing In the loan IN the placing of or
ders for this whole railroad system
After months of negotiation the equal
participation Of Americans seems at
last assured.
In one Of the Chinese-Japlnese con-
ventions Of Sept. l Of this year there
was n provision which caused consid-
cradle public apprehension In that
upon its face 1t was believed In some
quarters to seek to establish a monop-
oily Of mining privileges along the
South Manchurian and Antung- Muk-
den railroads and thus to exclude
Americans from a wide field Of enter
prise. TO take part in which they were
by treaty with China entitled. After
q thorough examination of the CONVEX.
tions and of the several contextual
documents the secretary of state reach
ed the conclusion that no such monOp-
oily was intended or accomplished.
This government made inquiry O.. the
imperial Chinese and japanese gov
ernments and received from each off,
cial assurance that the provision had
no purpose inconsistent with toe poll
cy of equality Of opportunity 10 which
the signatories. In common with the
United States. are pledged.
Our traditional relations with the
japanese empire continue cordial. as
usual. The arrangement of 1908 for
Al