The new era., 1909-12-16

sage substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentatives:
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
Sral treaty of arbitration concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Bril-
tain. April L. 1908. a special agreement
was entered into between the two coun-
tries on January n. 1903, 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
arbitraI 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 1878 have been
States and Great Britain for nearly 70
years. The interests involved are of
great Importance to the American fishing
industry. and the final settlement of the
controversy will remove source Of con-
stant Irritation and complaint. This 10
the first case involving such great In
ternauonal questions which has been sub
mitted to the permanent court of arbitra-
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
cd 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-
tons arising out Of the Belgian an
notation of the Congo Free State, he
says. are in more hopeful stage.
Latin America.
The message speaks with enthusi-
asm 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 the
Argentine republics great information
al agricultural exhibition, which is to
open In May. 1910. and the president
continues:
To-day more than sver hAfore Arari.
can capital is seeking Investment In for
eign countries and American products are
moro 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, IL 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
tional advantages to be expected. A citi-
xen 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
srty rights when these are unjustly in
\ fringed in a foreign country. To avoid
ceaseless vexations It 10 proper that In
considering whether American enterprise
should be encouraged or supported in a
particular country. the government
should give full weight not only to the
benefits to accrue, but also to the fact
whether or not the government of the
country in question IL 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
ment has long been fixed in its principles
and remains unchanged. With tho
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
thor tho doctrine as 1t exists nor any 9TH
or doctrine of American policy should be
permitted to operate for the perpetuation
of irresponsible government. the escape
of Just obligations or the insidious allega-
ton Of dominating ambitions on the part
Of the United States
661lue tu0 IunQAIuoutdl OOCITlne8 OF our
Pan-American policy there have grown
up a realization of political interests,
community of institutions and ideals and
hourishing 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.
My 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 30 well bind together this republic
and the great republic Immediately to the
south, between which there is 30 vast a
network of material interests.
am happy to say that all but one Of