The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-08

10 the Senate and the House of Rep x 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.
 Purspant to the provisions of the general treaty of arbitration concluded between the United States and Great Britain. April {. 1908. a special agree rnent was entered into between the two countries on January 27. 1909. for the submission of questions relating to the fisheries on the North Atlantic coast 10 a tribunal to be formed from members of the permanent Court of ' Arbitration at The Hague.
 In accordance with the provisions of the special agreement the printed case of each government vas. on October 1 last. submitted to the other and to the Arbftral Tribunal at The Hague, and the counter case of the United States Is now in course of preparation.
 The American rights under the hsh- cries article of the treaty Of 1918 have been cause of difference between the United States and Great Britain for nearly seventy years The interests involved are of great importance to the American fishing industry, and the final settlement of the controversy will remove a source of constant irritation and complaint. ThAs is the first case involving such great international questions which has been submitted to the permanent Court of Arbitration at
 The treaty between the United States and Great Britain concerning the Ca- nadian international boundary, con cluded April II. 1908, authorizes the appointment of two commissioners to define ana mark accurately the inter national boundary line between the United States and the Dominion of Canada In the waters of the Passama- quoddy Bay. and provides for the ex- change of briefs within the period of six months. The briefs were duly pre- scented 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. 1t has now be- come necessary to resort to the arbi- tration provided for in the article.
 The International Fisheries Commis- sion appointed pursuant to and under the authority of the convention of April II. 1908, between the United States and Great Britain. has completed a system regulations for the protection and preservation of the food fishes in inter national boundary waters of the Uni ted States and Canada.
 The regulations will be duly sub mitted 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 clement 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 of commissioners to adjust certain oth- ssnea nS ta 8n the Ssy of which the Senate gave it's advice and consent on March 8, 1909, has not yet been ratified on the part of Great
 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- tion of obstructions in the St. John river between Maine and New Bruns- wick, and to make recommendations for the regulation of the uses thereof and are now engaged in this work.
 Negotiations for an international conference to consider asd reach an arrangement providing for. the preser- 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 hope for satisfactory settlement of tfiis question as the ultimate outcome of Inc negotiations. M
 The second Peace Conference recent Iy held at The Hague adopted con vention for the establishment of an in- ternationai prize court upon the Joint proposal of delegations of the United Britain. The law to be observed by the tribunal in the decision of prize cases 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 belligerents, but that 'in the absence of such provisions, the court shall apply the rules of interna- tienal law. If no generally recognlzen rule exists. the court shall give judg- ment in accordance with the general principles of justice and equity" As, however, many questions in interna- tional maritime law are understood differently and therefore interpreted differently in various countries, 1t was deemed advisable not to intrust legis- lative powers to the proposed court, but to determine the rules of law properly applicable in a conference of the rep resentative maritime nations. Pursu- ant to an invitation of Great Britain q conference was held at London from December 2. 1908 to February 26, 1909, in which the following powers partici- pated: the United States, Austra- Hun gary. France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands. Russia and Spain The conference resulted in the Declaration of London. unanimous ly agreed to and signed by the partic- ipating powers concerning among oth- CT matters the highly important sub Jeets of blockade, contraband. the de- struction of neutral prizes, and con- tinuous voyages.
 The Declaration of London is an emi nently satisfactory codifcation of the international maritime law, and 1t is hoped that It's reasonableness and fair ness will secure its general adoption, as well as remove one of the difflcul- ties standing in the way of the estab- lishment of an International Prize