Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-08

initiated with other European govern
pents whose laws require the local
working of foreign patents. .%s, ,I..
Under an appropriation made at the
last session Of the congress q commits
sion was sent on American cruisers
to Monrovia to investigate the interests
\ of the United States and Its citizens tn
Liberia: Upon it's arrival at Monrovia
the commission was enth usfastically,
received and during its stay In IL
IBERIA was everywhere met with the
/ heartiest expressions OF good will for
the American government and people.
and the hope was repea tedly expressed
on all sides that this government
might see its way clear to do some
thing to relieve the critical position OF
the republic arising in measure from
external as we'll as internal and fnan-
cial embarrassments.
The Liberian government afforded
every facility to the commission for
ascertaining the true state Of affairs.
The commission also had conferences
with representative citizens. interest
ed foreigners and the representatives
of foreign governments in Monrovia.
Visits were made to various parts OF
the republic and to the neighboring
British colony of Sierra Leone, where
the commission was received by and
conferred with the governor:
Helping Liberia.
It will be remembered that the In
terest of the United States in the re-
public Of Liberia springs from the MIS-
torical fact of the foundation of the
republic by the colonization OF Ameri-
can citizens of the African race. In
an early treaty with Liberia there is a
provision under which the United
States may be called upon for advice
or assistance. Pursuant to this provi-
sion and in the spirit of the moral re-
lationship of the United States to
Liberia that republic last year asked
this government to lend assistance In
the solution Of certain OF their national
problems, and hence the commission
was sent. ..-u.. >.
The report Of our commissioners has
Just been completed and " now under
examination by the department OK
state. It is, hoped that there may re-
suit some helpful measures, in which
case It may be my. duty again to invite
your attention to this subject.
The Norwegian government. by a
note addressed on Jan. 26, 1909, to the
department Of state. conveyed an tnvt-
tation to the government OF the United
states to take part In 4, conference
which It Is understood viii be held in
February or March, 1910. for the pur-
pose Of ,deyising means to remedy ex-
listing, conditions IN the spitzbersen
Islands. -,....i, -.,...
| This invitation Was conveyed under
| the reservation. that. the question OF
altering the status Of the islands ~
,countries belonging to 10 particular
state, and % equally open to the citi-
sens and subjects Of all states should
not be raised,
The European powers invited to this
conference by the government OF Nor
way were Belgium. Denmark. France,
Germany, Great Britain. Russia, Swe'
! den and the Netherlands. -. .4.,......
The department Of state, IN view OF
proofs died with it in 1900. showing
the American possession. OCCUPATION
and, WORKING Of certain coal bearing
lands In Spitxbergen, accepted the IN
yitation under the reservation above
seated and under the further reserva'
ton that all interests In those islands
| already vested should be protected
and that there should be equality OF
opportunity for the future. 1t was
further pointed out that membership
| in the conference on the part OF the
| United States was qualified by the
| consideration that this government
would not become a signatory to any
conventional arrangement concluded
! by the European members Of the con-
ference which would imply contribu'
! tory participation by the United States
In any obligation or responsibility for
the enforcement Of any scheme OF id.
ministration which might be devised
by the conference for the islands.
The Near East.
His majesty Mehmud Y. sultan OF
Turkey, recently sent to this country
Z. special embassy to announce his &C
cession. The quick transition OF the
government Of the Ottoman empire
from one of retrograde tendencies to
constitutional government with par
lament and with progressive modern
policies Of reform and public improve
ment Is one Of the important phenome'
ma Of our times. Constitutional gov
eminent 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 United
states has spread widely through the
peaceful influence of American schools,
universities and missionaries. There
II every reason why we should obtain
4 greater share of the commerce OF the
near east since the conditions are
| more favorable now than ever before.
l. [ attn Ameriee.