The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

ton of neutral prizes and continuous
voyages.
The declaration of London is an emf
nently satisfactory codification of the
international maritime law, and it is
hoped that it's reasonableness and fair
ness will secure its general adoption,
as well as remove one of the difficult
ties standing in the way of the estab-
lishment of an international prize
court.
Under the authority given in the
sundry civil appropriation act, ap-
proved March 4. 1909. the United
States was represented at the inter-
national conference on maritime law
at Brussels. The conference met on
the 2Sth of September last and result
ed in the signature ad referendum of
a convention for the unification of GER
tain regulations with regard to mari
time assistance and salvage and a con-
vention for the unification of certain
rules with regard to collisions at sea.
Two new projects of conventions
which have not heretofore been con-
sidered in a diplomatic conference
namely. one concerning the limitation
and the other concerning marine mort
cages and privileges-have been SUBJ
mitted by the conference to the diff
ferent governments.
The conference adjourned to meet
again on April IL. 1910.
The international conference for the
purpose of promoting uniform legisla-
ton concerning letters of exchange
which was called by the government
of the Netherlands to meet at The
Hague in September, 1909 has been
postponed to meet at that capital in
June, 1910. The United States will be
| appropriately represented In this con-
| ference under the provision therefor
already made by congress.
The cordial invitation of Belgium to
be represented by a fitting display of
American progress in the useful arts
and inventions at the worlds fair to
/ be held at Brussels in 1910 remains to
be acted upon by the congress. Mind
full of the advantages to accrue to our
artisans and producers in competition
with their continental rivals, renew
the recommendation heretofore made
that provision be made for acceptance
of the invitation and adequate repre-
sentation in the exposition.
The question arising out of the Bel
| gian annexation of the Independent
| State of the Kongo, which has so long
and earnestly preoccupied the atten-
ton of this government and enlisted
the sympathy of our best citizens, is
still open, but in more hopeful stage.
This government was among the fore
most in the great work of uplifting
the uncivilized regions of Africa and
urging the extension of the benefits
of civilization, education and fruitful
| open commerce to that vast domain
and is a party to treaty engagements
of all the interested powers designed
to carry out that great duty to human
ity. The way to better the original
and adventitious conditions, so bur-
densome to the natives and so de-
structive to their development, has
been pointed out, by observation and
experience, not alone of American rep
resentatives, but by cumulative evil
dence from all quarters and by the
Investigations of Belgian agents. The
announced programs of reforms,
striking at many of the evils known
to exist, are an augury of better
things The attitude of the United
| States is one Of benevolent encourage
ment, coupled with hopeful trust
that the good work. responsibility under
taken and zealously perfected to the
accomplishment of the results so
ardently desired, will soon justify the
wisdom that inspires them and satisfy
the demands Of humane sentiment
throughout the world.
German Patents.
| A convention between the United
States and Germany, under which the
nonworking provisions of the German
patent law are made inapplicable TO
the patents of American citizens, was
concluded on Feb. %, 1909, and is now
in force. Negotiations for similar con-
ventions looking to the placing of
American inventors on the same foot
ing as nationals have recently been
initiated with other European govern
ments whose laws require the local
working of foreign patents.
Under an appropriation made at the
last session of the congress a commits
sion was sent on American cruisers
to Monrovia to investigate the interests
of the United States and it's citizens in
Liberia. Upon it's arrival at Monrovia
the commission was enthusiastically
received and during it's stay in Lii
IBERIA was everywhere met with the
heartiest expressions of good will for
the American government and people,
and the hope was repeatedly expressed
on all sides that this government
might see it's way clear to do some
thing to relieve the critical position of
! the republic arising in a measure from
external as we'll as internal and fnan-
| cial embarrassment
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