The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-07

e'~t @"a tUtJ VI S1oiS'@i ~
cedure-Advlses tho Purchase Of
Embassies Abroad.
Washington, Dec THE president
today transmitted the following mes
sage to congress:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentativcs:
The relations OF the United States with
ali foreign governments have continued
upon the normal basis OF amity and good
understanding, and are very generally
satisfactory
Europe.
Pursuant to the provisions OF the gem
eral treaty Of arbitration concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Br-
tain, April a. 1908. a special agreement
was entered into between the two eoun-
tries on January q. 1909. for the submis-
atom of questions relating TO the fisher
les on the North Atlantic coast TO a tribu-
nal to be formed from members OF the
permanent court OF arbitration at The
Hague.
In accordance with the provisions of
ths special agreement the printed case
OF each government was. on October =
last, submitted 70 the other and TO the
srbitral tribunal VI The Hague, and the
counter case OF the United states is now
In course Of preparation
The American rights under the fisher
les article Of the treaty OF 1918 have seen
cause Of difference between the United
States and Great Britain for nearly 70
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 cOa-
stant irritation and complaint Th,s is
the nrst case involving such great In
ternational questions which has been sub
mitted 70 the permanent court Of arbitra-
tion at The Hague.
The treaty between the United States
and Great Britain concernins the Cana
dian International boundary, concluded
April II. 1905, authorizes the appointment
OF two commissioners 20 define and mark
accurately the international boundary
line between the United States and the
Dominion OF Canada la the waters OF the
Passamaquoddy bay, ana provides for tile
exchange OF briefs within the period OF
six months. The briefs were duly pre-
sented within tile prescribed period but
as the commissioners failed TO agree With
in siA months after the exchange Of the
treaty, II has now become necessary to
resort to the arbitration provided for In
the article
The international fisheries commission
appointed pursuant 70 and under the au-
thorify Of the convention OF April T. 1905,
between the uiited States and Great Bri-
tain. has completed a system OF uniform
and common international regulations for
the protection and preservation Of the
food fishes In international boundary wa
tiers of the United States and Canada.
The regulations viii be duly submitted
70 congress with view to the enactment
Of such legislation as will be necessary
under the convention TO put them into
operation.
The convention providing for the settle
ment Of international differences between
the United states and Canada including
the apportionment between the two coun-
tries Of certain Of the boundary waters
and the appointment Of commissioners to
adjust certain other questions signed on
the 18th day Of January. 1869, and to the
ratification OF which the senate gave its
advice and consent on March 3, 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 joint
~ with commissioners on the part of Can
ada In examining into the question OF
obStructions IN the st. John river between
Maine and Kew Brunswick. and 70 make
Recommendations for the regulation Of
the uses thereof, and are now engaged IN
this work,
Negotiations for an international con-
ference TO consider and reach an arrange
ment providing for the preservation and
protection OF the fur seals in the North
Pacific are In progress with the govern
ments OF Great Britain, Japan and Rus
ala The attitude OF the governments In
terested leads me TO hope for a satisfac-
tory settlement OF this question the
ultimate outcome Of the negotiations.
The secoed peace conference recently
held at The Hague adopted a eonven=
tion for the estahlisnment OF an interna-
tiona prize court upon the Joint proposal
OF delegations Of the United States.
France, Germany aud Great Britain. The
law 10 be observed by the tribunal in the
decision OF prize cases was however. left
in an uncertain and therefore unsatisfac-
tory state. Article OF the convention
provided that the court was to be gov
erned by the provisions OF treaties exist
Ing between the beIllgerents. but that In
the absence OF such provisions the court
shall apply the rules OF International
law. II n3 generally recognized rule ex-
lists. the court shall give judgment In ac-
cordanca with tile general principles Of
Justice and equity" AS, however. many
questions In international maritime law
are understood differently ana therefore
Interpreted differently In various coun-
tries. it was deemed advisable not to in
trust legislative powers to the proposed
court. but 70 determine the rules Of law
properly APPLICABLE In conference OF the
4 representative maritime nations Pursu-
ant 10 an invitation OF Great Britain a
<-----~ ---- t~la 81 london from De-
cernbcr :. 1905. 10 February .s 1sns, In
which the following powers participated:
the United States. Austria Hungary.
France. cefmaiv Great Britain Italy.
1apan. Il EEsArlaeds. rhssia and