The Mena weekly star., 1909-12-16

bunal
 On July sO 1909. the government O
 Panama agreed, after considerable nego
 tiation, 10 indemnify the relatives of thu brufally treated one of them having. in
 deed. been killed by the Panama police this year.
 The sincere desire of the government oi Panama to do away with situation where such an accident could occur is manifest in the recent request in compli- ance with which this government has
 lent the services of an officer of the army to be employed by the government oi Panama as instructor of police.
 This government was obliged to Inter. vene automatically to bring about arbi- tration or settlement of the claim of the | Emery Company against Nicaragua, which 1t had long before been agreed should be arbitrated, A settlement of this troublesome case was reached by the signature of a protocol on September IS. 1909
 Many years ago diplomatic intervention | became necessary to the protection of the interests in the American claim of Alsop l Co. against the government Of Chile. l The government of Chile had frequently admitted obligation In the case and had | promised this government to settle it. l There had been two abortive attempts to | do so through arbltral commissions, which failed through lack of Jurisdiction. | Now, happily as the result of the recent | diplomatic negotiations. the governments | of the United States and of Chile actu- l ated by the sincere desire to free from any strain those cordial and friendly re- lations upon which both set such store. have agreed by a protocol to submit the controversy to dehnltive settlement by his Britannia majesty. Edward VII.
 Since the Washington conventions of ..t fs.A Co ha ment of the United states as a consult ing and advisory party. this government has been almost continuously called upon by one or another, and In turn by all of the five Central American republics. to exert itself for the maintenance of the conventions. Nearly every complaint has been against the Zelaya government of Amerca in constant tension and turmoil. The responses made to the representa- tons of Central American republics, as due from the United States on account of It's relation to the Washington conven- tons, have been at all times conservative and have avoided. SO far as possible. any semblance of interference, although 1t Is very apparent that the considerations of geographic proximity to the Canal Zone and of the very substantial American in- terests in Central America give to the United States a special position in the zone of these republics and the Carib bean sea-
 l need not rehearse here the patient ef- forts of this government to promote peace and welfare among these republics. efforts which are fully appreciated by the majority of them. who are loyal to their true interests. IL would be no less unnecessary to rehearse here the sad tale of unspeakable barbarities and op- presson alleged to have been committed i...f fl.. al. Americans were put to death by order of President Zelaya himself. They were of ticers in the organized forces of a revo- luton which had continued many weeks and was in control of about half of the republic, and as such, according 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 print ed this government has terminated dip- lomatc relations with the Zelaya govern ment, for reasons made public in com munication to the former Nicaragua charge d'affaires. and is intending to take such future steps may be found most consistent with It's dignity. its duty to American interests and it's moral obliga- tons to Central America and to civilza- ton.
 The Far East.
 III tnS TUT chcl thlH government pTt- serves unchanged it's policy of support Ing the principle of equality of opportu- nifty and scrupulous respect for the integ- rity of the Chinese empire, to which pol icy are pledged the interested powers of both east and west
 Mention is made of the sending of students to America by the Chinese government, of Chinas progress toward the eradication of the opium evil, and of this governments con tinued cordial relations with the Jap anese empire.
 The Department of State.
 Favorable action by congress on the estimates submitted by the depart ment of state is urged. especially legis- lation for the development and reor- ganization of the department to make 1t efficient in furthering our foreign trade. Improvement in the consular service Is noted. Mir. Taft then says:
 Under a provision of the act of Au- gust 5. 1909, ] have appointed three officials 10 assist the officers of the government in collecting information necessary to wise administration of the tariff act of August 5. 1909. As to questions of customs administration they are cooperating with the officials of the treasury department and as to matters of the needs and the exigen- cies of our manufacturers and export CTS with the department of commerce and labor, in its relation to the domes- tic aspect of the subject of foreign commerce. In the study of foreign tariff treatment they will assist the bureau of trade relations of the de- Al A4. l.. coordinate and bring to bear upon this most important subject all the agencies of the government which can contrib ute anything to it's efficient handling.
 As consequence of Section of the tariff act of August 5. 1909, 1t be- comes the duty of the secretary of state to conduct as diplomatic business all the negotiations necessary to place him in position to advise me as to whether or not a particular country unduly discriminates against the United States in the sense of the stat ute referred to. The great scope and complexity of this work, as well as the obligation to lend all proper aid to our expanding commerce. is met by the expansion of the bureau of trade relations as set forth in the estimates for the department of state.
 Government Expenditures and Reve-
 nues.
 Perhaps the most important question presented to this administration is that Of economy in expenditures and sufi- ciency of revenue. The deficit of the last fiscal year. and the certain deficit of the current year. prompted congress 10 throw a greater responsibility on the executive and the secretary of the treasury than had heretofore been de- clared by statute. This declaration