The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-08
President Taft Expresses Opposition to Proposed Congressional
Investigation of Sugar Import Scandals at New York
and Also Opposes Further Revision of
Tariff at Present

! VI each government was on october 4
i last submitted to the other and to the
arbitral tribunal at The Hague and the
counter case of the United States is now
in course of preparation
The American rights under the fisheries
article of the treaty of 1878 have been a
cause of difference between the United
States and Great Britain for nearly 70
years The interests involved are of great
Importance to the American fishing indus
try, and the final settlement of tho con-
troversy Will remove a source of constant
irritation and complaint. This is the first
case involving such great international
questions which has been submitted to the
permanent court of arbitration at The
Hague.
The treaty between the United States
and Great Britain concerning the Cana
dian international boundary, concluded
, April II, 1908, authorizes the appointment
| of two commissioners to define and mark
! accurately the international boundary
| line between the United States and the
| Dominion of Canada in the waters of the
| Passamaquoddy Bay, and provides for the
! exchange of briefs within the period of
! six months The briefs were duly pre-
| sented within the prescribed PERIOD but
| as the commissioners failed to agree with
| in six months after the exchange of
| the printed statements, as required by
! the treaty, 1t has now become necessary
| to resort to the arbitration provided for
| in the article.
The international fisheries commission
| appointed pursuant to and under the au-
, thority of the convention of April II,
| 1908. between the United States and Great
! Britain, has completed system of uni
| form and common international regula-
| lions for the protection and preserva-
| ton of the food fishes in international
| boundary waters of the United States
and Canada.
| The regulations will be duly submitted
J to Congress with a view to the enact
ment of such legislation as will be neces-
| sary under the convention to put them
| into operation.
The convention providing for the settle
. ment of international differences between
! the United States and Canada, including
| the apportionment between the two coun-
| tries of certain of the boundary waters
and the appointment of commissioners to
adjust certain other questions, signed
| the 18th day of January, 1909. and to the
ratification of which the Senate gave
| its advice and consent on March 3, 1909
has not yet been ratified on the part of
| Great Britain.
Commissioners have been appointed on
the part of the United States to act
jointly with commissioners on the part of
Canada in examining into the question of
Instructions in the st. John river be-
| tween Maine and New Brunswick, and
| to make recommendations for the reg-ula-
| ton of the uses thereof, and are now
| engaged in this work.
| Negotiations for an international con-
| ference to consider and reach an arrange
ment providing for the preservation and
| protection of the fur seals in the North
| Pacific are in progress with the gov
ernments of Great Britain. Japan and
| Russia. The attitude of the governments
| interested leads me to hope for a salts
| the ultimate outcome of the negotia-
| tons.
| The second peace conference recently
held at The Hague adopted convention
| for the establishment of an international
prize court upon the joint proposal of
| delegations of the United States, France,
| Germany and Great Britain. The law to
! be observed by the tribunal in the de-
| cison of prize cases was, however, left
! in uncertain and therefore unsatisfac-
| tory state. Article of the convention
+! provided that the court was to be gov
| erned by the provisions of treaties ex-
| listing between the belligerents. but that
| 'in the absence of suoh provisions the
| court shall apply the rules of interna-
| tional law. II no generally recognized rule
/, exists. the court shall give Judgment In
| accordance with the general principles
| of justice and equity" AS, however.
many questions In international maritime
law are understood differently and there
fore interpreted differently in various
countries, It was deemed advisable not to
intrust legislative powers to the proposed
court. but to determine the rules Of law
| properly applicable in conference of the
| representative maritime nations. Pursuant
| to an invitation of Great Britain con-
| ference was held at London from De-
| cember 2, 1908, to February 26, 1909, in
| which the following powers participated:
EfataS Fl rV
| France, Germany. Great Britain, Italy.
| Japan, The Netherlands, Russia and
| Spain. The conference resulted In the
| declaration of London, unanimously
| agreed to and signed by the participant
| ing powers, concerning among other mat
| tiers the highly important subjects of
| blockade, contraband, the destruction of
! neutral prizes and continuous voyages
| The declaration of London is an emil
| nently satisfactory codihcation of the In
ternationaI maritime law, and It is hoped
| that it's reasonableness and fairness will
secure its general adoption. as well as
! remove one Of the difficulties standing in
| the way Of the establishment of an in
ternational prize court.
| Under the authority given IN the sun
| dry civil appropriations act. approved
March I, 1909, the United States was
| represented at the international confer
ence on maritime law at Brussels. The
last and resulted in the signature ad
! referendum of conventions for the uni
| hcation OF certain regulations with regard
| to maritime assistance and salvage and
| a convention for the unihcation Of certain
rules with regard to collisions at sea-.
| Two new projects of conventions which
| have not heretofore been considered In a
! diplomatic conferences, namely. one con-
corning the limitation Of the responsible
ity Of shipowners, and tho other CON-
corning marine mortgages and privileges,
| have been submitted by tho conference
| to the different governments.
| The conference adjourned to meet again
| on April II, 1910.
| The international conference for the
! purpose of promoting uniform legislation
| concerning letters Of exchange, which was
| called by the government Of The Neither
| lands to meet at The Hague In Septem-
Der, 1909. has been postponed to meet at
\ that capital in June, 1910. The United
| States win be appropriately represented
| in this conference under the provision
| therefor already made by Congress.
The cordial invitation of Belgium to be
represented BY . fitting display OF Amer
| lean 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. Mindful of the
| advantages to accrue to our artisans and
| producers In competition with their con-
| tinental rivals. I renew the reccmmen-
| dation heretofore made that provision
| be made for acceptance Of the invitation
and adequate representation In the ex-
position.