The Montgomery tribune., 1909-12-10

washington, Dec. Tine president
to-day transmitted to congress a mes
sage substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentatlves:
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 gem
eral treaty of arbitration concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Bri-
tain, April 4, 1908, special agreement
was entered into between the two coun-
tries on January 27. 1909, for the submis-
sion of questions relating to the fisher
les on the North Atlantic coast to a tribu-
nal 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 4
last, submitted to the other and to the
arbitral tribunal at The Hague, and the
counter case of the United States is now
in course of preparation.
The American rights under the fisher
les article of the treaty of 1918 have been
a cause of difference between the United
States and Great Britain for nearly 20
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-
stant irritation and complaint This Is
the frst' case involving such great in
ternational questions which has been sub
mitted to the permanent court of arbtra-
tion at The Hague
The president tells of the sending
of a 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
Spitzbergen islands. and OF its accept
ance under certain reservations Men.
tion is made of several international
conferences, and then the president
urges that provision be made for
American participation In the worlds
fair at Brussels next year. The ques-
tions arising out of the Belgian an
nexation of the Congo Free State, he
says, are in more hopeful stage.
Latin America.
The message speaks with enthusi-
arm of the settlement of the boun-
dary dispute between Bolivia and
Peru, and of the fourth Pan-American
conference, to be held in Buenos Aires
next July. Mention is made of tho
Argentine republics great information
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
eign countries and American products are
more and more generally seeking foreign
markets. AS 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 together and so form bonds
of peace and mutual dependency, as they
must also naturally sometimes make
passing points 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 le-
gitimate and beneficial American enter
prises in foreign countries, the degree Of
such support being measured by the ma
\ fionai advantages to be expected. A citi-
zen himself cannot by contract or other
wise divest himself of the right, nor can
this government escape the obligation of
his protection in his personal and prop
erty rights when these are unjustly In
fringed In q foreign country. To avoid
ceaseless vexations 1t is proper that in
considering whether American enterprise
should be encouraged or supported in a
4 urft nnIln frV OnU Fr rp1a anf
should give full weight not only to the
national, as opposed to the Individual
benefits to accrue. but also to the fact
whether or not the government OF the
country in question is in its administra-
tion and In its diplomacy faithful to
the principles of moderation, equity and
Justice upon which alone depend interna-
tional credit, in diplomacy as well as in
finance.
The Pan-American policy of this govern
1nent has long been fixed In it's principles
and remains unchanged. 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 government and pro-
gressive ideals, the apprehension which
gave rise to the Monroe doctrine may be
said to have nearly disappeared and neil
ther the doctrine as 1t exists nor any 9TH
er doctrine of American policy should be
permitted to operate for the perpetuation
OF irresponsible government, the escape
of Just obligations or the insldious allega-
tion of dominating ambitions on the part
of the United States
Beside the fundamental doctrines of our
Pan-American policy there have grown
up realization of political interests.
community of institutions and ideals and
a fiourishing commerce. All these bonds
will be greatly strengthened as time goes
on and Increased facilities, such as the
great bank soon to be established In
Latin America. supply the means for
building up the colossal intercontinental
commerce of the future.
Ny meeting with President Diaz and
the greeting exchanged on both American
and Mexican soil served, ]. hope. to sig
nalize the close and cordial relations
which so well bind together this republic
a and the great republic Immediately TO the
south. between which there is SO vast .
network OF material interests.
sm happy TO say that all but one o.