The daily sentinel., 1909-12-07


of altering the status of the islands
as countries belonging to no particu-
lar state and as equally open to the
citizens and subjects of all states,
should not be raised.
THE European powers invited to
this conference by the government of
| Norway were Belgium, Denmark
France, Germany. Great Britain,
Russia, Sweden and The Netherlands
THE department of state. in view
of proofs filed with 1t in 1906 show
ing the American possession. occupa-
| tion and working of certain coal
bearing lands in Spitzbergen, accept
ed the invitation under the reserva-
tion above stated and under the fur
ther reservation that all interests in
those islands already vested should
be protected, and that there should
be equality of opportunity for the fu-
ture. 1t was further pointed out that
membership in the conference on the
part of the United States was quail
| fed by the consideration that this
government would not become a sig
natory to any conventional arrange
ment concluded by tht~ European
members of the conference which
would imply contributory participa-
tion by the United States in any OBJ
! legation or responsibility for the en-
forcemeht of any scheme Of admins
| tration which might be devised by
the conference for the islands.
The Near East.
His majesty. Mehmed v, sultan
J of Turkey, recently sent to this coun-
| try a special embassy to announce his
accession. The quick transition of
| the government of the Ottoman en-
pire from one of retrograde tenden-
cies to constitutional government
with a parliament and with progress
i've 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 the prestige of the Unit
ed States has spread widely through
the peaceful influence of American
schools. universities and missionar-
| les. There is every reason why we
should obtain greater share of the
commerce of the near east since the
conditions are more favorable now
than ever before.
Latin America.
"One of the happiest events in re-
| cent Pan-American diplomacy was
the pacific, independent settlement
by the governments of Bolivia and
Peru of boundary difference be-
tween them which for some weeks
threatened to cause war and even to
entrain embitterments affecting 9TH
er republics less directly concerned.
From various quarters, directly or in
directly concerned, the intermedia-
Of
to assist in a solution of the contro-
versy. Desiring at all times to alb
stain from any undue mingling in
the affairs of sister republics and
having faith in the ability of the
governments of Peru and Bolivia
themselves to settle their difference
in manner satisfactory to them
selves. which. viewed with magma
nimity, would assuage all embitter-
ment. this government steadily alb
stained from being drawn into the
controversy and was much gratified
to find its confidence justified by
events.
"On the 9th of July next there will
open at Buenos Aires the fourth Pan
American conference. This confer
ence will have a special meaning to
the hearts of all Americans because
dTpunu ltS udle are clustered t0e an
niyersaries of the independence of
so many of the American republics
1t is not necessary for me to remind
the congress of the political social
and commercial Importance of these
gatherings. You are asked to make
liberal appropriation for our partici-
patton. If this be granted. it is my
purpose to appoint n distinguished
and representative delegation, quail
fed fittingly to represent this coun-
try and to deal with the problems of
intercontitnental interest which will
there be discussed.
THE Argentine republic will also
hold from May to November. 1910. at
Buenos Aires. a great international
agricultural exhibition, In which the
United States has been invited to par
ticipate. Considering the rapid
growth of the trade of the United