Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-08
ECONOMY OF GOVERNMENT MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.
A DEFICIT OF S73,0756OO-
 APPROPRIATIONS DECREASED BY s5O,OOO,OOo

patent law are mdOe ludppllCdDle LO the patents of American citizens, was concluded on Feb. 23, 1909, and is now tn force. Negotiations for similar con- ventions looking to the placing of American inventors on the same foot ing as nationals have recently been initiated with other European govern ments whose laws require the local working of foreign patents.
 Under an appropriation made at the last session of the congress a commis- sion was sent on American cruisers to Monrovia te investigate the interests of the United States and it's citizens in Liberia. Upon it's arrival at Monrovia the commission was enthusiastically received and during its stay in Li- beria was everywhere met with the heartiest expressions of good will for the American government and people, and the hope was repeatedly expressed on all sides that this government might see its way clear to do some thing to relieve the critical position of the republic arising in measure from external as well as internal and fnan- cial embarrassments.
 The Liberian government afforded every facility to the commission for ascertaining the true state of affairs. The commission also had conferences with representative citizens. interest ed foreigners and the representatives of foreign governments in Monrovia. Visits were made to various parts of the republic and to the neighboring British colony of Sierra Leone. where the commission was received by and conferred with the governor.
 Helping Liberia.
 It will be remembered that the fn- terest of the United States in the re- public of Liberia springs from the his tOrical fact of the foundation of the republic by the colonization of Ameri- can citizens of the African race. In an early treaty with Liberia there is a provision under which the United States may be called upon for advice or assistance. Pursuant to this previ- sion and in the spirit of the moral re- lationship of the United States to Liberia that republic last year asked this government to lend assistance in the solution of certain of their national problems, and hence the commission was sent
 The report of our commissioners has just been completed and is now under examination by the department of state. It is hoped that there may re- suit some helpful measures, in which case it may be my duty again to invite your attention to this subject.
 The Norwegian government, by a note addressed on Jan. 26 1909, to the department of state, conveyed an invi- tation to the government of the United States to take part in a conference which it is understood will be held in February or March, 1910, for the pur- pose of devising means to remedy ex- isting conditions in the Spitzbergen islands.
 This invitation was conveyed under the reservation that the question of altering the status of the islands as countries belonging to no particular state and as equally open to the cid- zens and subjects of all states should not be raised.
 The European powers invited to this conference by the government of Nor way were BetgidR. Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain. Russia, Swe- den and the Netherlardg.
 The department of state, in view of proofs flied with it in 1906, showing the American possession, occupation and working of certain coal bearing lands in Spitzbergen, accepted the in- vitation under Ehe reservation above stated and under the further reserva- ton that all interests in those islands already vested should be protected and that there should be equality Of opportunity for the future. It was further pointed cut that membership in the conference on the part of the United States was qualified by the consideration that this government would not become a signatory to any conventional arrangement concluded by the European members of the con- ference which would imply contribu- tory participation by the United States in any obligation or responsibility for the enforcement of any scheme of ad- ministration which might be devised by the conference for the islands.
 The Near East.
 His majesty Mehmud V., sultan of Turkey, recently sent to this country special embassy to announce his ac- cession. The quick transition of the government of the Ottoman empire from one of retrograde tendencies to a constitutional government with par iament and with progressive modern policies of reform and public improve ment is one of the important phenome- ma of our times. Constitutional gov ernment seems also to have made further advance in Persia. These events have turned the eyes of the world upon the near east. In that quarter the prestige of the United States has spread widely through the peaceful influence of American schools, universities and missionaries. There is every reason why we should obtain a greater share of the commerce of the near east since the conditions are more favorable now than ever before.
 Latin America.
 One of the hRPpiest events in recent pan-Ameriean diplomacy was the pa- cific fudannndonf S@fflAm0nt hv fho