Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The President opens his message t.
Congress by the announcement sha
our relations with foreign governments
have continued upon the normal bas's
and are very generally" satisfactory
1f an exception is implied in the tern
within quotation marks, this must retei
TO Nicaragua For there is no other
government with which the relations
have not during the past year, been
entirely satisfactory. And the trouble
with the Central American republic is
but a passing cloud.
The President calls attention to cases
of international Importance that are
about to be submitted to arbitration.
Among these arc questions relating TO
the fisheries in the North Atlantic.
which for 20 years have been q source
of controversy between the united
States and Great Britain. This is noted
rs the first case of such international
Importance to come before the Hague
tribunal The treaty of 1918 provided
that American fishermen were allowed
to take fish inShore. that is, inside
line parallel with the coast and three
miles from shore. OH parts of the coast
Of Newfoundland and Labrador; also
to dry and cure fish on unsettled parts
of those shores, and TO enter harDoFS
for shelter, wood, and water But the
treaty has always been source OF
difference between the two countries.
In 1877 the United States paid S5.60O,000
according TO u decision by an arbltl-t-
ton commission, for certain privileges
exercised by American fishermen IL
the submission of the case to the per-
inanent Hague court settles the con-
trovcrsy for ever, that court will there
by establish its usefulness and demon
stratc that war is no longer a neces-
sary evil but one that can be avoided
Tho message pays great deal of at
tention to foreign countries and az
fairs 1t suggests the probability Of
special message on Liberia. This rcpub-
lie was founded in 1921 on the west
coast of Africa by American negroes.
In 1916 the National Colonization So
cicty came into existence with the aim
OF encouraging the emigration OF free
negroes to Africa, and In 1919 Congress
appropriated 100000 to carry back
slaves captured at sea. Thus Liberia
was founded But it has never been
prosperous. The country has asked the
United States for assistance, and this
cannot very we'll be refused. But in
what form can help be rendered. con-
sistently?
The status OF the Spitzbergen islands
is another foreign question to which
the message calls attention. That
group of islands situated about 400
miles north of North Cape, though
known for centuries by explorers. what
ers. and hunters. has been practically
Il no-man's land. Russians have made
efforts at colonizing. But the islands
are valuable on account of mineral de-
posts. as well as for fishing and whal-
ing purposes, and a conference is about
to be held for the purpose of establish
ing an International status To this con-
ference the United States has been
invited.
One OF the important parts of the
message relates to Latin America Con-
gress is asked for a liberal approprla-
ton for representation at Buenos Ayres,
next July, at the fourth Pan-American
congress. and the agricultural exh.bi-
tion to be held at the same place from
May to November, next year.
Attention is called to the fact that
American capital is being invested in.
foreign countries and that, therefore.
American citizens and interests must
be protected abroad. This leads to the
following important definition of our
Pan-American policy:
with the changed circumstances of
the United States and of the republics
TO the south of us, most of which have
great natural resources, stable govern
ment and progressive ideals. the appre-
hension OF which gave rise to the Mon
roe doctrine. may be said to nave near
ly disappeared. and neither the doctrine
as IL exists nor any other doctrine OF
American policy should be permitted to
operate Tor the perpetuation of ire
sponsiOle government the escape OF
just onngations, OF the insidlous allega-
lion OF dominating ambitions on the
part of the United States Beside the
fundamental doctrines OF our pam
American policy there have grown I'D
realization of political interests. COM
munity OF institutions and ideals. and
hourishing commerce. All these
bonds will be greatly strengthened as
time goes on and Increased faculties
such as the great bank soon to be es-
tabiished in Latin America, supply the
means for building up the colossal
fnter-continental commerce of the fu
turc."
Special attention Is paid 10 Mara
g=e, and the Zelaya government is Sc
verely arraigncd. The important point
is made that the two Americans who
were Killed by Zelayas orders. wcro
officers In the insurscnt army and were
entitled to the rights OF prisoners OF
war This fact cannot but count against
the president OF Nicaragua.
The Message discusses our far eastern
policy, which is one OF respect for the
integrity of China and equal opportun;-
ties for all Our relations with Japan
are sad to be cordial, which can only
mean that Japan. too. is in harmony
with our far eastern policy.
Turning to domestic affairs, the Mcs-
sage recommends the subdivision OF
The state department for the purpose
OF better specialization of the enormous
business. This is a splendid recom-