Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-09


there is so vast network of material
interests.
am happy to say that all but one
Of the cases which for 80 long yexed
our relations with Venezuela hive
been settled within the past few
months and that. under the enlight.
ened regime now directing the govern
ment of Venezuela. provision has been
made for arbitration Of the remaining
case before The Hague tribunal.
On July 80. 1909, the government of
Panama agreed. after considerable ne.
gotiatlon. to indemnify the relatives Of
the American officers and sailors who
were brutally treated, one Of them
having. indeed, been killed by the
Panaman police this year.
This government was obliged to In.
tervene automatically to bring about
arbitration or settlement of the claim
of the Emery company against Mica
ragua. which il had long before been
agreed should he arbitrnted. a settle
ment Of this troublesome case was
reached by the signature Of n protocol
on Sept IS. 1909.
Many years ago diplomatic intervcn-
ton became necessary to the protcc-
ton Of the interests In the American
claim of Alsop 81 Co. against the
government of Chile. The govern
ment Of Chile bad frequently admitted
obligation In the case and had prom
ised this government 10 settle 1t. There
had been two abortive attempts to do
80 through nrbitral commissions. which
failed through lack Of Jurisdiction.
Now. happily, as the result Of the re-
cent diplomatic negotiations. the gov
ernments Of the United States and OF
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 proto.
col to submit the controversy TO defin.
tive settlement by his Britannia majes.
ty Edward VII.
The Nicaraguan Trouble.
Since the Washington conventions of
1907 were communicated to the gov.
eminent Of the United States as con
sulting and advising party this gov
eminent has been almost continuously
called upon by one or another and in
turn by all of the five Central Amer
lean republics to exert itself for the
maintenance Of the conventions. Near
~ every complaint has been against
the Zelaya government of Nicara qua.
which has kept Central America in
constant tension or turmoil. The re-
sponses made to the representations OF
Central American republics as due
from the United States on account of
it's relation to the Washington conven.
tons have been at all times conserva-
tive and have avoided. SO far as possi-
Bile, any semhlance of Interference, al
though it Is very apparent that the
considerations of geogra phic proximity
to the canal zone and OF the very sub
stantial American interests in Central
America give to the United States a
special position in the zone of these
republics and the Caribbean sea.
I need not rehearse here the patient
efforts Of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these re-
publics, efforts which are fully appre
ciated by the majority Of them who
are loyal to their true interests. II
would be no less unnecessary to re-
hearse here the sad tale of unspeak.
able barbarities and oppression alleged
to have been committed by the Zelayu
government. Recently two Americans
were put to death by order Of Presi
dent Zelaya himself. They were ofIi
GERS in the organized forces of rev
Olution which had continued many
weeks and was In control Of about
half Of the republic. and as such, ac
cOrding to the modern enlightened
practice Of civilized nations. they were
entitled to be dealt with as prisoners
Of war.
At the dste when this message is
printed this government has terlni
mated diplomatic relations with tho
Zelaya government for reasons made
public in a communication to the for
mer Nicaraguan charge daffaires ant
Is intending to take such future steps
as may be found most consistent Will
its dignity, its duty to American in
terests and its moral obligations to
Central America and to civilization. II
may later he necessary for me to bring
this subject to the attention of the
congress in special message.
In the Far East.
In the far east this government pre-
serves unchanged its policy of support
Ing the principle of equality of oppor
tunity and scrupuious respect for the
integrity of the Chinese empire, tc
which policy are pledged the interest
ed powers Of both east and west.
By the treaty Of 1903 China has un
dertaken the abolition Of likin with 9
moderate and proportionate raising O.
the customs tariff along with currency
reform. These reforms being a mani
fest advantage to foreign commerce as
well as to the interests OF China, this
government Is endeavoring to facill
tate these measures and the needfu
acquiescence Of the treaty powers
When 1t appeared that Chinese likir
revenues were to be hypothetical tc
foreign bankers In connection with 9
great railway project 1t was obvious
that the governments whose national.
held this loan would have a certain
direct interest In the question Of the
carrying out by China of the reforms
in question. The administration deem
ed American participation to be Of
great national interest. Happily. whe1
1t was 40 . matter of broad policy ur