Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-12-15
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. THE president
to-day transmitted to congress 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 gen.
Sral treaty of arbitration concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Bril-
tain, April 4, 1908, a special agreement
was entered into between the two coun-
tries on January q, 1909. for the submits
sion of questions relating TO the fisher
ies on the North Atlantic coast to a tribu-
ual 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
last, submitted to the other and to the
Arbltral tribunal at The Hague, and the
counter case OF the United States is now
In course of preparation.
Tho American rights under the fisher
les article OF the treaty of 1918 have been
. 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
ternatonal questions which has been SUBJ
United 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 commissions
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
6pitzbergen islands. and of it's accept
ance under certain reservations. Men
ton is made of several international
conferences, and then the president
urges rat provision be made for
American participation in the worlds
fair at Brussels next year. The ques-
lions arising out of the Belgi n an
uexation 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 internation-
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
sign 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
ments closer &c ret er and so form bonds
OF peace and mutual dependency as they
must also naturally sometimes make
passing poi is 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 lie.
climate and beneficial American enter
prises in foreign countries, the degree Of
such support being measured by the ma
honal advantages to be expected. A citi
zen himself cannot by contract or other
wise divest himself Of the right, nor car
this government escape the obligation o.
his protection in his personal and prop
Srty rights when these are unjustly in
fringed in a foreign country. To avoiC
ceaseless vexations 1t is proper that II
considering whether American enterprise
should be encouraged or supported in
particular country, the government
should give full weight not only to tn,
national. as opposed to the individual
benefits to accrue. but also to the fac
whether or not the government OF tn,
country In question Is in its administra
ton and In its diplomacy faithful t
the principles OF moderation, equity AM
Justice upon which alone depend interna
tonal credit, in diplomacy as we'll as II
finance.
The Pan-American policy OF this govern
ment has long been fixed in its principle
and remains unchanged. With tn
changed circumstances of the Unite
States and OF the republics to the sout
Of US. most OF which have great natura
resources. stable government and pro
Eressive ideals. the apprehension whic
gave rise to the Monroe doctrine may
said to have nearly disappeared and mel
Their the doctrine as IL exists nor any 9th
er doctrine of American policy should
pSiHitecu " OpcA0eS AOh ehC pSlpSeudhiO
of irresponsible government. the escap
OF just obligations or the insidious allegs
ton OF dominating ambitions on the paI
OF the United States.
Beside the fundamental doctrines OF on
Pan-American policy there have grow
up q realization OF political Interests
community of institutions and ideals an
hourishing commerce. All these bond
will be greatly strengthened as time goe
on and increased facilities, such as IN
great bank soon to be established 1
Latin America, supply the means Il
building up the colossal intercontinenti
commerce OF the future.
Ny meeting with President Diaz an
the greeting exchanged on both America
and Mexican soil served. hope, to ST
nalize the close and cordial relation
which 90 well bind together this republ
and the great republic Immediately to Il
south. between which there IL 20 vast