Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-12-09
TAFT'S MESSAGE is
SENT TO CONGRESS
Currency Reform, Waterways, Creation of Body
to Deal With Interstate Commerce
and Other Topics Handled.
Government Expenditures and Revenues a Most important Question
Relations with Other Nations, Nicaragua Excepted,
Are Declared To Be Generally Satisfactory.

the cases which for SO long vexed our
relations with Venezuela have been set
tied within the past few months and that,
under the enlightened regime now direct
ing the government of Venezuela, provi-
sion has been made for arbitration of the
remaining case before The Hague trl-
bunal.
On July 30, 1909, the government of
Panama agreed, after considerable nego-
tiation, to indemnify the relatives of the
American officers and sailors who were
brutally treated. one of them having, in
deed, been killed by the Panama police
this year.
The sincere desire of the government of
Panama to do away with a situation
where such an accident could occur is
manifest in the recent request in compli-
ance with which this government has
lent the services of an officer Of the army
to be employed by the government of
Panama as instructor of police.
This government was Obliged to inter-
vene automatically to bring about arbi-
tration or settlement of the claim of the
Emery Company against Nicaragua,
which it had long before been agreed
should be arbitrated. A settlement of
this troublesome case was reached by
the signature of a protocol on September
Is. 1909.
Many years ago diplomatic intervention
became necessary to the protection of the
interests in the American claim of Alsop
& Co. against the government of Chile.
The government of Chile had frequently
admitted obligation in the case and had
promised this government to settle it.
There had been two abortive attempts to
do so through arbitral commissions
which failed through lack Of jurisdiction.
Now, happily. as the result of the recent
diplomatic negotiations, the governments
of the United States and of Chile, actu-
ated by the sincere desire to free from
any strain those cordial and friendly re-
lations upon which both set such store,
nav agreed by a protocol to submit the
controversy to definitive settlement by
his Britannia majesty, Edward VII,
Since the Washington conventions Of
1907 were communicated to the govern
ment of the United States as a consult
ing and advisory 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
Amerca in constant tension and turmoil.
The responses made to the representa-
lions of Central American republics, as
due from the United States on account
of it's relation to the Washington conven-
tions, have been at all times conservative
and have avoided, so far as possible, any
semb1ance of interference, although it is
very apparent that the considerations of
geographic proximity to the Canal Zone
and of the very substantial American in
terests in Central America give to the
United States a special position In the
zone Of these republics and the Carib-
bean sea.
| need not rehearse here the patient eff
forts Of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these republics
efforts which are fully appreciated by
the majority of them, who are loyal tc
their true interests. 1t would be no less
!, unnecessary to rehearse here the sad
tale of unspeakable barbarities and op-
preston alleged to nave been committed
by the Zelaya government. Recently two
Americans were put to death by order OF
, President zelaya himself. They were of.
| ficers in the organized forces of a revo-
luton which had continued many weeks
1 and was in control of about half of the
! republic, and as such, according to the
; modern enlightened practice of civilized
Z nations, they were entitled to be deal
with as prisoners of war.
; At the date when this message is print
7 ed this government has terminated dip
3 lomatic relations with the Zelaya govern
t ment, for reasons made public in a com
5 munication to the former Nicaragua
: charge d'affaires, and is intending to al
. such future steps as nay be found mos
= consistent with its dignity, its duty tt
: American interests and its moral obliga
: tons to Central America and to civiliza
I ton.
The Far East.
In the far east this government pre-
i, serves unchanged its policy of support
( ing the principle of equality of opportu
nifty and scrupulous respect for the integ
: rity of the Chinese empire, to which pol
4 icy are pledged the interested powers o
n both east and west.
q Mention Is made of the sending o
students to America by the Chimes
! government, of China's progress
i toward the eradication Of the opium
t evil, and of this governments cor
Q tinued cordial relations with the JaI
! anese empire.
The Department of State.
1 Favorable action by congress on tn
estimates submitted by the depart
ment of state is urged, especially legis
lation for the development and reol
9 ganization of the department to max
+ 1t efficient in furthering our foreig
trade. Improvement in the consula
) service Is noted. Mr.. Taft then says
u Under a provision of the act of Al
= gust 5. 1909, I have appointed thre
officials to assist the officers of tn
!. government in collecting informatio
necessary to a wise administration c
II the tariff act Of August S, 1909. AS t
" questions of customs administratio
they are cooperating with the official
of the treasury department and as I
matters OF the needs and the exiger
cies of our manufacturers and export
n ers, with the department Of CONNER
n labor, in it's relation to the domes
q tic aspect Of the subject Of foreig
Is commerce. In the study Of foreig
tariff treatment they will assist tn
le bureau of trade relations of the dc
n partment Of state. 1t is hoped thu I
'r coordinate and bring to bear upon TIL
II most important subject all the agencit
Of the government which can contrib
d ute anything to its efficient handling
AS a consequence of Section 2 {
the tariff act of August s, 1909, 1t b,
IS comes the duty of the secretary {
ic state to conduct as diplomatic bushes
10 all the negotiations necessary to plac
a him in a position to advise me as
whether or not a particular countr
unduly discriminates against tx