The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-12-09
RESIDENT TAFTs FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE TO THE CONGRESS
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initiated with other European govern.
ments whose laws require the local
working Of foreign patents.
Under an appropriation made at the
last session Of the congress a commits.
sion was sent on American cruisers
70 Monrpyia to investigate the interests
Of the United States and It's citizens In
Liberia. Upon Its arrival at Monrovia
the commission was enthusiastically
received and during its stay in I'll
IBERIA was everywhere met with the
neartiest expressions of good will for
the American government and people.
and. the hope was repeatedly expressed
on all sides that this government
might see Its way clear to do some.
thing to relieve the critical position Of
the republic arising In measure from
external as well as internal and fnan.
clal etnbarrassments.
The Liberian government afforded
every facility to the commission for
ascertaining the true state Of affairs.
The commission also had conferences
with representative citizens. interest
ed foreigners and the representatives
Of foreign governments in Monroyia.
Visits were made to various parts Of
the republic and to the neighboring
British colony Of Sierra Leone, where
the commission was received by and
conferred with the governor.
Helping Liberia.
It Will be remembered that the In.
terest Of the United States in the re-
public Of Liberia springs from the his
tericat fact OF the foundation Of the
republic by the colonization Of Amert.
can citizens OF the African race. In
an carly treaty with Liberia there is a
provision under which the United
States may be called upon for advice
or assistance. Pursuant to this provf-
sion and in the spirit Of the moral re-
lationship OF the United States to
Liberia that republic last year asked
this government to lend assistance in
tho solution Of certain Of their national
problems. and hence the commission
was sent.
The report Of our commissioners has
Just been completed and is now under
examination by the department Of
state. 1t is hoped that there may re-
suit some helpful measures, in which
case It may be my duty again to invite
your attention to this subject.
The Norwegian government. by a
note addressed OH Jan. 26, 1909. to the
department Of state. conveyed an invl-
tation to the government of the United
States to take part in conference
which It Is understood will be held in
February or March. 1910. for the pur-
pose Of devising means to remedy ex-
listing conditions in the Spitzbergen
islands.
This invitation was conveyed under
the reservation that the question Of
altering the status of the islands as
countries belonging to no particular
state and as equally open to the citi-
gems and subjects Of all states should
not be raised.
The European powers invited to this
conference by the government of Nor
way were Belgium. Denmark. France.
Germany. Great Britain. Russia, Swe-
den and the Netherlands.
The department Of state. in view Of
proofs filed with 1t in 1906. showing
the American possession. occupation
and working of certain coal bearing
lands In Spitzbergen. accepted the in
yitation under the reservation above
stated and under the further reserva-
ton that all interests in those islands
already vested should be protected
and that there should be equality of
opportunity for the future. 1t was
further pointed out that membership
In the conference on the part of the
United States was qualified by the
consideration that this government
would not become signatory to any
conventional arrangement concluded
by the European members OF the con-
ference which would imply contribu-
tory participation by the United States
in any obligation or responsibility for
the enforcement Of any scheme of ad.
ministration which might be devised
BY the conference for the islands.
The Near East.
His majesty Sfehmud ". sultan Of
Turkey, recently sent to this country
a special embassy to announce his nc.
cesslon. The quick transition of the
government of the Ottoman empire
from one Of retrograde tendencies to n
constitutional government with n par.
lament and with progressive modern
policies Of reform and public improve.
ment Is one of the important phenome.
ia Of our times. Constitutional gov
eminent 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 tho
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.