The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-07

, OiASAAo! dhu duNe1GAOuS conditions,
80 burdensome to3thl natives and so
destructive to their development, has
been pointed out, II observation and
experience. not alsle of American
representatives, bltsi by cumulative
evidence from all Quarters and by the
investigations OF Bet&ian agents. The
announced programsypf reforms while
striking at many 0fs the evils known
to exist, are an au8ury of better
things. The attitude ;of the United
States is one Of beneYplent encourage
ment, coupled witftaA hopeful trust
that the good rkasresponsibly un-
dertaken and zeafoatiy perfected to
the accomplishment9Df the results 40
ardently desired. viii boon justify the
wisdom that inspiresHhem and satisfy
the demands Of htenane sentiment
throughout the worid}
Conference VIII NORWAY.
Inc norwegian eTernment, by a
note addressed on#J Snuary 26: 1909
to the department. tdfk state, convened
an invitation to the sSSyernment- of the
United States to take bart in confer
ence. which 1t is understood will be
held In February off, March, 1910. for
the purpose of devisMs means to rem
edy existing conditihls in the Spitz-
bergen islands. I
This invitation MMlconveyed under
the reservation that the question of
altering the status Sk the islands as
countries belonginEstb no particular
state, and as equally open to the citi-
zens and subjects ofssall states, should
not be raised. 80
The European poweSs invited to this
conference by the gpyRrnment of Nor
way were Belgium, D4nmark, France,
Germany. Great Britain, Russia, Swe-
den and the Netherlands.
The department at 3tate in view of
fproofs filed with It'll 1906, showing
the American posseS1ion, occupation
ana working OF cer4lin cOal-bearing
lands in Spitzbergenakccepted the in
yitation under the "a 6ervation above
stated, and under 'tk Further reserva-
tonsthat all dnterest in those islands
already vested shotlli be protected
and that there. shouH be equality of
opportunity for; hevluture. 1t was
further pointed Dut That membership
in the conference e. sthespart Of the
limited States waS f3nalified by the
consideration TINT tkas lgoSernment
would not become si6natpry to any
conventional, arrangement concluded
by the European members ofathe con-
ference which would imply, contribut-
ory participation by the United States
In any obligation or responsibility
for the. enforcement of any scheme of
administration which might be devils
ed by the conference for the islands.
| The Near East
His Majesty Mehmed V, sultan of
Turkey, recently sent to this country
special, embassy to announce his ac-
cession. y The quick transition of the
! government of the Ottoman empire
from one of retrograde tendencies to
constitutional government with a
parliament and with progressive mod
ern policies of reform and public i'm
provement is one of the important
phenomena of our times. Constitu-
tional government 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 theis prestige of the United
States has spread widely through the
| peaceful influence of American
schools. universities and missionaries.
There isF every reason why we should
obtain greater share of the COM
merce of the near east since the con-
ditions are more favorable now than
ever before.
| Latin America.
One of the happiest events in recent
| pan-American diplomacy was the pac-
ific,. independent settlement by the
governments of Bolivia and Peru of
a boundary difference between them,
which for some weeks threatened to
cause war and even to entrain en-
bitterments affecting other republics
less directly concerned. From vari-
GUS quarters, directly or indirectly
concerned, the intermediation of the
United States was sought to assist
| in solution of the controversy. De-
string at all times to abstain from any
undue mingling it the affairs of sister
republics and having confidence in the
ability of the governments. of Peru
and Bolivia to settle their differ
ence in manner satisfactory to them
selves which, viewed with magnani-
nifty, would assuage all embitterment.
this government steadily abstained
from being drawn into the controversy
and was much gratified. to find it's con-
fidence justified by events.
Countries Nearer
Today, more than ever before,
American capital is seeking invest
ment In foreign countries, and Ameri-
can products are more and more gen.
orally seeking foreign markets. As
consequence, in all countries there
are American citizens and American
interests to- be protected on occasion,
by their government. These move
ments Of men, of capital, and of COM
modities bring peoples and govern
ments, clsser together and so form
bonds Of peace and mutual depen-
dencX, 90 they must also naturally
sometimes make passing points Of
friction. The, resultant situation in
evitably imposes upon 2ths govern
ment vastly increased responsibilities.
This administration. through the de-
&c o /. . . . . q - . . S.s o