The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-12-10

our relations with Venezuela have
been settled within the past few
months and that. under the enllght.
encd regime now directing the govern
ment OF Venezuela provision has been
made for arbitration of the remaining
case before The Hague tribunal
On July 30. 1909 the government OF
Panama agreed. after considerable ne.
gotiation. TO indemnify the relatives OF
the American officers and sailors who
were brutally treated. one Of them
having indeed, been killed by the
Panaman police this year.
This government was obliged to in
tervene automatically to bring about
arbitration or settlement of the claim
of the Emery company against Mica
ragua. which It had long before been
agreed should he arbitrated. A settle.
ment Of this troublesome case was
reached by the signature of protocol
on Sept. 1S, 1909,
Many years ago diplomatic interven-
tion became necessary to the protec-
ton Of the interests In the American
claim of Alsop & Co. against the
government of Chile. The govern.
ment OF Chile had frequently admitted
obligation In the case and had prom
ised 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 re-
cent diplomatic negotiations, the gov
ernments of the United States and Of
Chile. actuated by the sincere desire
to free from any strain those cordial
and friendly relations upon which both
set such store, have agreed by proto-
col to submit the controversy to defin.
itive settlement by his Britannia majes
ty Edward VII
The Niearasuan Trouble.
Since the Washington conventions Of
1907 were communicated to the gov
ernment of the United States as con.
sulting and advising party this gov.
ernment has been almost continuously
called upon by one or another and in
turn by all of the five Central Amer
lean republics to exert itself for the
maintenance of the conventions. Near
the Zelaya government of Nicaragua.
which has kept Central America in
constant tension or turmoil. The re-
sponses made to the representations 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 conserva-
tive and have avoided, so far as posi-
BILE, any sembance of interference, al.
though it is very apparent that the
considerations of geographic proximity
to the canal zone and of the very sub
stantial American interests in Central
America give to the United States
special position in the zone of these
republics and the Caribbean sea
l need not rehearse here the patient
efforts Of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these re.
publics, efforts which are fully appre.
ciated by the majority Of them who
are loyal to their true interests. 1t
would be no less unnecessary to re,
hearse here the sad tale of unspeak-
able barbarities and oppression alleged
to have been committed by the Zelaya
government. Recently two Americans
were put to death by order Of Presi-
dent Zelaya himself. They were Off
GERS in the organized forces of a rev
olution which had continued many
weeks and was in control Of about
kalf of the republic. and as such, ac
cording to the modern enlightened
practice of civilized nations, they were
entitled to be dealt with as prisoners
OF war.
AT the date when this message is
printed this government has termi-
mated diplomatic relations with the
Zelaya government for reasons made
public In a communication to the for
mer Nicaraguan charge daffaires and
Is intending to take such future steps
as may be found most consistent with
its dignity. its duty to American in
terests and its moral obligations TO
Central America and to civilization 1t
may later be necessary for me to bring
this subject to the attention of the
congress in a special message
In the Far East
In the far east this government pre-
serves unchanged it's policy Of support
ing the principle of equality of oppor
tunity and scrupulous respect for the
integrity of the Chinese empire, to
which policy are pledged the interest
ed powers of both east and west.
BY the treaty Of 1908 China has un-
dertaken the abolition of likin with
moderate and proportionate raising of
the customs tariff along with currency
reform These reforms being a mani.
fest advantage to foreign commerce as
well as to the interests of China. this
government Is endeavoring to facili.
tate these measures and the needful
acquiescence Of the treaty powers,
When 1t appeared that Chinese likin
revenues were to be hypothecated to
foreign bankers in connection with
great railway project It was obvious
that the governments whose nationals
held this loan would have a certain
direct interest in the question of the
carrying out by China of the reforms
In question, The administration deem
ed American participation to be Of