The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-08
irresponsible Nations Not Pro-
teCted by Monroe Doctrine.
A DEFICIT OF $73,O75,6OO.
Legislation Urged Against In.
functions Without Notice.

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.
Europe.
The American rights lin the fisheries
on the north Atlantic coastl under the
fisheries article of the treaty of 1918
have been a 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 Hague] 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-
walton 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
cthc, Independent settlement by the
governments Of Bolivia and Peru Of a
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. ia 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-
ton in his personal and property
rights when these are unjustly In
fringed IN a foreign country. To avoid
ceaseless vexations IT 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 ~ opposed to the indi-
Xldlal benehts to accrue but also to