The Carlisle independent., 1909-12-09
TAFT'S MESSAGE IS
 SENT TO CONGRESS
Currency Reform, Waterways, Creation of Body to Deal With Interstate Commerce
 and Other Topics Handled.
Government Expenditures and Revenues Most Important Question Relations with Other Nations Nicaragua Excepted,
 Are Declared To Be Generally Satisfactory.

the cases which for so long vexed our relations with Venezuela have been set tied within the past few months and that
 under the enlightened regime now direct ing the government of Venezuela, provi- sion has been made for arbitration of the remaining case before The Hague tri- bunal
 On July 30, 1909, the government of Panama agreed, after considerable nego- tiation, to indemnify the relatives of the American officers and sailors who were brutally treated. one of them having, in- deed been killed by the Panama police
 this year.
 The sincere desire of the government of Panama to do away with a situation
 where such an accident could occur is
 manifest in the recent request in comph-
 ance with which this government has
 lent the services of an officer of the army
 to be employed by the government of
 Panama as instructor of police. This government was obliged to inter- vene automatically to bring about arbi-
 tration or settlement of the claim of the Emery Company against Nicaragua,
 which 1t had long before been agreed should be arbitrated. A settlement of this troublesome case was reached by
 the signature of a protocol on September IS. 1909.
 Many years ago diplomatic intervention
 became necessary to the protection of the interests in the American claim of Alsop & Co., against the government of Chile. The government of Chile had frequently
 admitted obligation in the case and had promised 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 recent diplomatic negotiations, the governments of the United States and of Chie actu- ated by the sincere desire to free from any strain those cordial and friendly re- lations upon which both set such store, have agreed by a protocol to submit the controversy to definitive settlement by his Brtannic majesty, Edward VII. Since the Washington conventions of l9OT were communicated to the govern ment of the United States as a consult Ing and advisory party, this government has been almost continuously called upon by one or another, and in turn by all of the five Central American republics, to exert itself for the maintenance of the conventions. Nearly every complaint has been against the Zelaya government of Nicaragua, which has kept Central Amerca in constant tension and turmoil. The responses made to the representa- tions of Central American republics, as due from the United States on account
 of its relation to the Washington conven-
 tions, have been at all times conservative
 and have avoided, so far as possible any semblance of interference, although 1t is very apparent that the considerations of geographic proximity to the Canal Zone
 and of the very substantial American in- terests in Central America give to the United States a special position in the
 zone of these republics and the Carib- bean sea.
 I need not rehearse here the patient ef- forts of this government to promote peace and welfare among these republics, affD s@tx the majority of them, who are loyal to
 their true interests. It would be no less unnecessary to rehearse here the sad tale of unspeakable barbarities and op- pression alleged to have been committed by the Zelaya government Recently two Americans were put to death by order of President Zelaya himself. They were of ficers in the organized forces of revo- lution which had continued many weeks and was in control of about half of the republic, and as such, according to the
 modern enlightened practice of civilized nations, they were entitled to be dealt with 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 com | munication to the former Nicaragua charge d'affaires, and is intending to take such future steps as may be found most consistent with it's dignity, it's duty to American interests and it's moral obliga-
 tions to Central America and to cviliza- ton.
 The Far East.
 In the far east this government pre-
 serves unchanged its policy of support
 ing the principle of equality of opportu-
 nity and scrupulous respect for the integ-
 rity of the Chinese empire, to which pol
 icy are pledged the interested powers of
 both east and west.
 Mention is made of the sending of
 students to America by the Chinese
 government, of Chinas progress
 toward the eradication of the opium
 evil, and of this governments con-
 tinued cordial relations with the Jap-
 anese empire.
 The Department of State.
 Favorable action by congress on the. estimates submitted by the depart ment of state is urged, especially legis- lation for the development and reor- ganization of the department to make it efficient in furthering our foreign trade. Improvement in the consular service is noted. MT. Taft then says:
 Under provision of the act of Au-
 gust 5, 1909, l have appointed three officials to assist the officers of the
 government in collecting information necessary to wise administration of the tariff act of August g. 1909. As to questions of customs administration they are cooperating with the officials of the treasury department and as to matters of the needs and the exigen- cies of our manufacturers and export CTS, with the department of commerce and labor, in its relation to the domes- tic aspect of the subject of foreign commerce. In the study of foreign
 tariff treatment they will assist the
 bureau of trade relations of the de- partment of state. It is hoped thus to coordinate and bring to bear upon this
 most important subject all the agencies of the government which can contrib
 ute anything to it's efficient handling
 As a consequence of Section 2 of the tariff act of August 5, 1909, it be- comes the duty of the secretary of state to conduct as diplomatic business all the negotiations necessary to place
 him in a position to advise me as to
 whether or not a particular country unduly discriminates against the