The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-07

- sociations formed by these representa- tive young men will have when they return to take up their work in the progressive development of their coun- try.
 The results of the opium conference held at Shanghai last spring at the invitation of the United States have been laid before the government. The report shows that China Is making re markable progress and admirabi ef- forts toward the eradication of the opium evil and that the governments concerned have not allowed their com mercial interests to interfere with a helpful cooperation in this reform. Collateral investigations of the opium question in this country lead me to recommend that the manufacture, sale and use of opium and its derivatives in the United States should be so far as possible more vigorously controlled by legislation.
 In one of the Chinese-Japanese con ventions of Sept of this year there was a provision which caused consid- erable public apprehension in that upon its face it was believed in some quarters to seek to establish moHop- oly of mining privileges along the South Manchurian and Antung- Muk- den railroads and thus to exclude Americans from a wide field of enter prise, to take part in which they were by treaty with China entitled. After a thorough examination of the eonveH- tions and of the several contextua: documents the secretary of state reach ed the conclusion that no such monop- oly was intended or accomplished. However, in view of the widespread discussion of this question, to confirm the view it had reached this govern ment made inquiry of the imperial Chinese and Japanese governments and received from each official assur- ance that the provision had no purpose inconsistent with the policy of equality of opportunity to which the sigma tories, in common win the United States, are pledged.
 Relations With Japan.
 Our traditional relations with the Japanese empire continue cordial. as usual. As the representative of Japan his imperial highness Prince Kuni visited the Hrdson-FuftoR celebration. The recent visit of a delegation of prominent business men as guests of The chambers of commerce of the Pa cific slope, whose representatives had been so agreeably received in Japan, will doubtless contribute to the grow ing trade across the Pacific. as well as to that mutual understanding which leads to mutual appreciation. The ar- rangenent of 1908 for a cooperative control of the coming of laboTers te the United States has proved to work satisfactorily. The matter of a revi- sion of the existing treaty between the rrni~e<7 States and IaIsan which is fer- minable in 1912 is already receiving the study of both countries.
 The department of state is consider ing the revision in whole or in part of the existing treaty with Siam, which was concluded in 1856 and Is now, ID respect to many of it's provisions, out of date
 The Department of State.
 I earnestly recommend to the favor able action of the congress the esti- mates submitted by the department of state and most especially the legisla ton suggested in the secretary of states letter of this date whereby it will be possible to develop and make permanent the reorganization of the department upon modern lines in a manner to make it thoroughly ef f1cient instrument in the furtherance of our foreign trade and of American interests abroad. The plan to have divisions of Latin American and far eastern affairs and to institute cer- tain specialization in business with Europe and the near east will at once commend itself These poIitico- geo graphical divisions and the detail from the diplomatic. or consular service to the department of a number of men who bring to the study of complicated problems In different parts ef'the world practical knowledge recently gained on the spot clearly is of the greatest ad- vantage to the secretary of state in foreseeing conditions likely to- arise and in conducting the great variety of correspondence and negotiation. It should be remembered that such faciI- ities exist in the foreign offices of all the leading commercial nations and that to deny them to the secretary of state would be to place this govern 11C4t Ut n ShCat 1A tA1C rivalry of commercial competition.
 improved Consular Service.
 The consular service has been great ly improved under the law of April 5, l 1906, and the executive order of June | 27. 1906, and I commend to your con- sideration the question of embodying | in a statute the principles. of the pres | ent executive order upon which the | of our consular service is | wholly dependent
 In modern times political and com | interests are iuterreIated, and | In the negotiation of commercial trea- | ties, conventions and tarin agreements, | the keeping open of opportunities and | the proper support of American enter prises our diplomatic service is quite | as important as the consular service to the business interests of the country. Impressed with this idea and con- vinced that selection after rigorous ex- a miDafiou Dromotion for merit solely