The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-12-08

heartiest expressions OF good will for
the American government and people.
and the hope was repeatedly expressed
Oh all sides that this government
! might see its way clear to do some
| thing TO relieve the critical position or
| the republic arising in measure from
| external as we'll as internal and hnan-
| cial embarrassments.
The LiberIan government afforded
every facility to the commission Tor
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
| tire commission was received by and
conferred with the governor. fa
Helping Liberia.
| 1t will be remembered that the In
terest OF the United States in the re-
public of Liberia springs from the his
| 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
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.
The report Of our commissioners has
| Just been completed and is now under
| examination By the department OF
state. 1t 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. 20, 1909, to the
| department of state, conveyed an invi-
tation to the government Of the United
! States TO take part in conference
| which ii is understood will be held In
| February or March. 1910, for the pur-
pose of devising means to remedy eX-
listing conditions n the Spitzbergen
| islands.
| This invitation was conveyed under
the reservation that the question or
| altering the status of the islands as
4 ,ty.f, hnln uif1
state and as equally open to the clti-
zens 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.
The department of state, In view OF
| proofs filed with 1t in 1906, showing
!, the American possession, occupa ton
and working Of certain coal bearing
lands in Spitzbergen, accepted the In
vitation under the reservation above
stated 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 70 any
conventional arrangement concluded
by the European members OF the con
ference which would Imply contrtbu
tory participa ton by the United States
In any obligation or responsibility 10,
the enforcement of any scheme OF ad
mlnistration which might be devised
by the conference for the islands.
The Near East.
His majesty Mehmud ", sultan u
Turkey recently sent TO this eountr!
a special embassy to announce his &C
cession. The quick transition of The
government of the Ottoman ,cmpirE
from one of retrograde tenderness 10 {
constitutional government with a par
lament and with progressive moderl
policies of reform and public improve
meut is one Of the important phenome
ma Of our times Constitutional gov
eminent seems also 10 have mad
further advance in Persia Tbest
events have turned the eyes Of tbI
world upon the near east, In tina
, quarter the prestige OF the United
States has spread widely through III,
peaceful influence of American schools
universities and missionaries. Their
Ia every reason why we should Obtain
greater share OF the commerce of TIL
near east since the conditions ar,
more favorable now than ever before
" Latin America.
One of the happiest events in recen
pan American diplomacy was the pa
; cific, independent settlement by tn
governments of Bolivia and Peru of
boundary difference between then
which for some weeks threatened +
cause war and even to entrain I'm
bitterments affecting other republic
= less directly concerned From yariou
quarters, directly or indirectly cor
cerned, the INTERPRETATION of tn
l United States was sought to assist 4
: q solution OF the controversy. Desil
I ing at all times to abstain from an
: undue mingling iii the affairs of siste
e republics and having faith In the abb
D ity Of the governments OF Peru an