Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-12-09
TAFT'S MESSAGE is
SENT TO CONGRESS
Currency Reform, Waterways, Creation Of Body
to Deal With Interstate Commerce
and Other Topics Handled.
Government Expenditures and Revenues Most Important Question
Relations with Other Nations Nicaragua Excepted,
Are Declared To Be Generally Satisfactory.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE president
to-day transmitted to congress a mes
sage substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
The relations Of the United States with
all 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
erai treaty of arbitration concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Bri-
tain. April 4, 1908, a special agreement
was entered into between the two coun-
tries on January q, 1903. for the submits
sion of questions relating to the fisher
ies on the North Atlantic coast to a tribu-
mai to be formed from members of the
permanent court of arbitration at The
Hague.
in accordance with the provisions of
the special agreement the printed case
of each government was, on October 4
last, submitted to the other and to the
arbitral tribunal at The Hague, and the
counter case of the United States is now
in course of preparation.
The, American rights under the fisher
tes article of the treaty of 1918 have been
a 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 con-
slant irritation and complaint. This is
the first case involving such great in
ternational questions which has been SUBJ
mitted to the; permanent court of arbitra-
ton at The Hague.
The president tells of the sending
of commission to investigate the
interests of the United States and its
citizens In Liberia. the commission s
report now being under examination
by the department of state.
He also notes the invitation extend,
ed by the Norwegian government to
take part in an international confer,
'ence next year to devise means to
remedy existing conditions in the
.Spitzbergen islands. and of it's accept,
tion is made of several international
conferences, and then the president
urges that provision be made for
American participation in the world s
fair at Brussels next year. The ques.
lions arising out of the Belgian an.
nexation of the Congo Free State, he
says. are in a more hopeful stage.
Latin America.
The message speaks with enthusi-
asm of the settlement of the boun-
DAIRY dispute between Bolivia and
Peru, and of the fourth Pan-American
conference, to be held in Buenos Aires
next July. Mention is made of the
Argentine republics great information
al agricultural exhibition, which is to
open in May, 1910, and the president
continues:
To-day. more than ever before, Ameri-
can capital is seeking investment in for
elgn countries and American products are
more and more generally seeking foreign
markets. AS a consequence, in all coun-
tries there are American citizens and
American interests to be protected, on
occasion, by their government. These
movements of men, of capital and of
commodities bring peoples and govern
Nnents closer together and so form bonds
Of peace and mutual dependency, as they
must also naturally sometimes make
Hassing points of friction. The resultant
situation inevitably imposes upon this
government vastly increased responsible
ties. This administration, through the
department of state and the foreign SER
vice, is lending all proper support to le-
Ultimate and beneficial American enter
Erises in foreign countries, the degree of
ouch support being measured by the ma
Eonal advantages to be expected. A citi-
men himself cannot by contract or other
wise divest himself of the right, nor can
This government escape the obligation of
e. T. t., l. .N,l
erty rights when these are unjustly in
tringed in a foreign country. To avoid
-ceaseless vexations II is proper that in
considering whether American enterprise
should be encouraged or supported in a
particular country, the government
should give full weight not only to the
national. as opposed to the individual
benefits to accrue. but also to the fact
whether or not the government of the
country In question is in it's administra-
tion and in its diplomacy faithful Ia
the principles of moderation. equity and
Justice upon which alone depend interna-
tional credit, in diplomacy as well as In
finance.
! The Pan-American policy Of this govern
ment has long been fixed in it's principle.
and remains unchanged. With the
changed circumstances of the United
States and of the republics to the souti
of us. most of which have great natura
resources, stable government and pro
kressive ideals, the apprehension which
gave rise to the Monroe doctrine may b.
said to have nearly disappeared and mel
ther the doctrine as it exists nor any 9th
er doctrine of American policy should b.
permitted to operate for the perpetuatiol
of irresponsible government, the escap
of Just obligations or the insidious allega
ton of dominating ambitions on the par
of the United States.
Beside the fundamental doctrines Of on
.Pan-Amerioan policy there have grow
up e realization of political interest:
community of institutions and ideals an
a nourishing commerce. All these bond
will be greatly strengthened as time goe
on and increased facilities, such as tn
great bank soon to be established
Latin America, supply the means fc
building up the colossal intercontinents
commerce of the future.
My meeting with President Diaz an
the greeting exchanged on both America
and Mexican soil served. hope. to sis
nalize the close and cordial relation
which so well bind together this republ
and the great republic Immediately to I'll
isouth. between which there Is so vast
nstwork of material interests.
am happy to say that all but one