The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1909-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

|lOIULU / 1
To the Senate and the House Of Rep
resentatlyes:
The relations OF the United States
with all foreign governments have con-
tinued upon the normal oasis OF amity
ana good understanding aud are very
generally satisfactory.
Europe.
Pursuant t. the provisions Of the
general treat, OF arbitration concluded
between the United States and Great
Britain, April 4. 1908. special agree
ment was entered into between the
two counries on Jan. 27. 1909. for the
submission of questions relating to the
fisheries on the north Atlantic coast to
tribunal 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 Oct.
4 last. sub-,itted to the other. and to
the arbitral tribunal at The Hague, and
the counter case Of the United States
II now IN course Of preparation.
The Americcr rights under the fish,
cries article Of the treaty Of 1918 have
been a cause of difference between the
United States and Great Britain for
nearly seventy years. The interests
involved are Of great Importance to the
American dshing industry, and the
final settlement OF the controversy will
remove a source OF constant irritation
and complaint This is the frst case
involving such g.cat international
questions which has been submitted to
the permAnen, court o. arbitration at
The Hague.
The treaty between the United States
and Great Britain concerning the Ca
madam international boundary. con-
cluded April II, 1908, authorizes the
appointment Of two commissioners to
define and mark accurately the inter-
national boundary line between the
United States and the Dominion Of
Canada In the waters Of the Passama-
Quoddy bay and provides for the ex-
change Of briefs within the period Of
six months. The briefs were duly pre-
scented within the prescribed period,
but ~ the commissioners failed to
agree within six months after the ex-
change Of the printed statements, as
required by the treaty, 1t has now be-
como necessary to resort to the arbi-
tration provided for in the article.
The international fisheries commits
sion appointed pursuant to and under
the authority Of the convention Of
April IL. 1908, between the United
States and Great Britain has COM
pleted system Of uniform and COM
mon international regulations for the
protection and preservation Of the food
fishes In International boundary wa
ters Of the United States and Canada.
The regulations will be duly submit
ted to congress with a view to the
enactment Of such legislation as will
bo necessary under the convention to
put them into operation.
The convention providing for the set
tlement Of international differences be-
tween the United States and Canada,
Including the apportionment between
the two countries Of certain If the
boundary waters and the appointment
Nof commissioners to adjust certain
other questions, signed on the 18th day
OF January. 1909. and to the ratifca-
IT, n Of which the senate gave it's ad-
vice and consent on March 8, 1909. has
not yet been ratified on the part of
Great Britain.
Commissioners have been appointed
on the part Of the United States to act
Jointly with commissioners on the part
Of Canada In examining into the ques-
ton Of distractions in the st. John
river between Maine and New Bruins
wick and to make recommendations
for the regulation Of the uses thereof
and arc now engaged in this work.
Protecting the Seals.
Negotiations for an international
conference to consider and reach nm
arrangement providing for the preser.
vati0n and protection Of the fur seals
IN the north Pacific are in progress
with the governments Of Great Britain,
Japan and Russia. The attitude of
tho governments interested leads me
to hope for satisfactory settlement OF
this question as the ultimate outcome
OF the negotiations.
The second peace conference recent.
" held at The Hague adopted con.
vention for the establishment Of an In.
ternational prize court upon the joint
proposal Of delegations Of the United
States. France, Germany and Great
Britain. The law to be observed by
the tribunal In the decision Of prize
cases was. however, left In an uncer.
tain and therefore unsatisfactory state
Article OF the convention provided
that the court was to be governed by
the provisions Of treaties existing be
tween the belligerents. but that ''in
the absence Of such provisions the
court shall apply the rules Of inter.
national law. II no generally recog.
nized rule exists the court shall give
Judgment In accordance with the gen.
eral principles Of justice and equity
As, however, many questions in inter
national maritime law are understood
differently and therefore interpreted
differently In various countries, it was
deemed advisable not to intrust legis
latiye powers to the proposed court
but to determine the rules Of law prop
erly applicable in q conference Of the
roDFpaA0ntAtiy0 maritime Nations pur