Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-12-09

Washington, Dec. Tin his annual
message, read to congress, President
Taft said:
To the Senate and the House of Rep
resentatives:
The relations of the United States
with all foreign governments have con-
tinued upon the normal basis of amity
and good understanding and are very
generally satisfactory.
The American rights lin the fisheries
on the north Atlantic COAST under the
fisheries article of the treaty of 1918
have been cause of difference be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain for nearly seventy years. The
interests involved are of great impor-
tance to the American fishing industry,
and the final settlement of the contro-
versy [by the permanent court of ar
bitration at The Haguel will remove
a source of constant irritation and COM
plant. This is the first case involving
such great international questions
which has been submitted to the per-
manent court of arbitration at The
Hague.
Negotiations for an international
conference to consider and reach an
arrangement providing for the preser-
vation 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
the governments interested leads me
to hope for satisfactory settlement of
this question as the ultimate outcome
Of the negotiations.
The Near East.
The quick transition of the govern
ment of the Ottoman empire from one
Of retrograde tendencies to a consti-
tutional government with parlia-
ment and with progressive modern
policies of reform and public improve
ment is one of the important phenome-
ma of our times. Constitutional gov
ernment 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
is every reason why we should obtain
a greater share of the commerce of the
near east since the conditions are
more favorable now than ever before
Latin America.
One of the happicst events in recent
pan-American diplomacy was the pa
cific, independent settlement by the
governments of Bolivia and Peru of
boundary difference between them,
which for some weeks threatened to
cause war and even to entrain i'm
bitterments affecting other republics
less directly concerned.
Our Citizens Abroad.
This administration, through the de-
partment of state and the foreign serv-
ice, is lending all proper support to
legitimate and beneficial American en-
terprises in foreign countries, the de-
gree of such support being measured
by the national advantages to be ex-
pected. A citizen himself cannot by
contract or otherwise divest himself
of the right, nor can this government
escape the obligation, of his protec-
tion in his personal and property
rights when these are unjustly in
fringed in q foreign country. To avoid
ceaseless vexations IL is proper that in
considering whether American enter
prise should be encouraged or support
ed in a particular country the govern
ment should give full weight not only
to the national as opposed to the indi-
vidual benefits to accrue, but also to
the fact whether or not the govern
ment of the country In question is In
its administration and in its diplomacy
faithful to the principles of modera-
ton, equity and justice upon which
alone depends international credit in
diplomacy as well as in finance.
The Monroe Doctrine.
The pan-American policy of this
government has long been fixed In its
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 govern.
""t and progressive ideals. the ap-
prchension which gave rise to the
Monroe doctrine may be said to have
nearly disappeared. and neither the
doctrine as IL exists nor any other doc.
trine Of American policy should be