The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-08


Chile actuated by the sincere desire TO
free from any strain those cordial and
friendly relations upon which both set
such store, have agreed by protocol
to submit the controversy to dehnitive
settlement by His Britannia Majesty, Ed
ward VII
Since the Washington conventions of
1907 were communicated to the govern
ment of the United States as a consult
ing and advising party, this government
has been almost continuously called upon
by one or another, and in turn by all
of the five Central American republics
to exert itself for the maintenance of
the conventions. Nearly every complaint
has been against the Zelaya government
of Nicaragua, which has kept Central
America in constant tension or turmoil
The responses made to the representa-
tions of Central American republics.
as due from the United States on ac-
count of its relation to the Washington
conventions, have been at all times con-
servative and have avoided. so far as
possible any semblance of interference,
although it is very apparent that the con-
siderations of geographic proximity to
the canal zone and of the very substan-
tial American interests in Central Amer
lea give to the United States a special
position in the zone of these republics
and the Caribbean sea.
L
efforts of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these republics,
efforts which are fully appreciated by the
majority of them who are loyal to their
true interests. It would be no less UNI
necessary to rehearse here the sad tale
of unspeakable barbarities and oppres-
sion alleged to have been committed by
the Zelaya government. Recently two
Americans were put to death by order
Ual inns They
officers in the organized forces OF. revo-
luton which had continued many weeks
and in control OF about half OF the
republic and as such, according to the
modern enlightened practice of civilized
nations, they were entitled to be dealt
with as prisoners of war.
At the date when this message is print
ed this government his terminated diplo-
matte relations with ne Zelaya govern
ment. for reasons made public in com
munication to the former Nicaraguan
charge d. affairs and is intending to take
such future steps as may be found most
consistent with It's dignity, Its duty to
American interests and It's moral obliga-
tons to Central America and to civiliza-
ton. It may later be necessary for us
to bring this subject to the attention OF
the Congress In special message.
The international bureau of American
republics has carried on an important
and increasing work during the last year
In the exercise of its peculiar functions
as an international agency, maintained
by all the American republics for the
development of Pan-American commerce
and friendship. It has accomplished a
great practical good which could be done
in the same way by no individual de-
partment or bureau of one government,
and Is therefore deserving OF your liberal
support. The fact that it is about to en-
ter O new building, erected through the
munifscence of an American philanthro-
pist and the contributions of all the
American nations where both its eff
cheney OF administration and expense of
maintenance will naturally be much aug
mented, further entities it to special con-
sideration.
The Far East.
In the far east this government pre-
serves unchanged its policy of supporting
the principle of equality of opportunity
and scrupulous respect for the integrity
of the Chinese Empire, to which policy
are pledged the interested powers of both
east and west.
BY the treaty of 1908 China has under
taken the abolition of lilin with a mod
crate and>~proportionate raising of the
customs tariff along with currency re-
form. These reforms being of manifest
advantage oforegn commerce as well
as to the interests of China, this govern
ment is endeavoring to facilitate these
measures and the needful acquiescence of
the treaty powers. When it appeared
that Chinese lilSin revenues were to be
hypothecated to foreign bankers in con-
nection with great railway project, it
was obvious that the governments whose
nationals held this loan would have a GER
tain direct interest in the question Of the
carrying out by China of the reforms in
question. Because this railroad loan rep
resented a practical and real application
of the open door policy through cooper
alton with China by interested powers as
well as because of its relations to the re-
forms referred to above, the administra-
ton deemed American participation to be
of great national interest. Happily, when
it was as a matter Of broad policy urgent
that this opportunity should not be lost,
the indispensable fundamentally present.
ed itself when a group of American bank
ers, of international reputation and great
resources, agreed at once to share In the
loan upon precisely such terms as this
government should approve. The chief
of those terms was that American rail-
way material should be upon an exact
equality with that of the other nationals
joining in the loan in the placing of or
ders for this whole railroad system.
After months of negotiation the equal par
ticipation of Americans seems at last as
sured 1t is gratifying that Americans
will thus take their share in this extern
sion of these great highways of trade,
and to believe that such activities will
give real impetus to our commerce and
will prove practical corollary to our
historic policy in the far east.
The imperial Chinese government, in
pursuance of its decision to devote funds
from the portion of the indemnity remit
ted by the United States to the sending
of students to this country has already
completed arrangements for carrying out
this purpose, and considerable body of
students have arrived to take up their
work in our schools and universities No
one can doubt the happy effect that the
associations formed by these representa-
tive young men will have when they re-
turn to take up their work in the pro-
gressive development OF their country.
The results OF the opium conference
held at Shanghai last spring at the invi-
tation OF the United States have been laid
before the government. The report shows
that China is making remarkable prog
ress and admirable efforts toward the
eradication OF the opium evil and that
the governments concerned have not al
lowed their commercial interests to Inter
fere with a helpful cooperation In this
reform. Collateral Investigations of the
opium question in this country lead me
TO recommend that the manufacture, sale
the United States should be so far as pos
sible more vigorously controlled by leg
islation.
W.. r