Evening journal., 1910-12-06
TAFT'S MESSAGE
UP To CONGRESS
President Breaks Record For
Length Of Document,
DEFENDS PAYNE TARIFF ACT.

Deals With Panama Canal, Postal Saw
inss Bank Parcels Post and conser-
vation--Asks For Raise Of Judicial
sslaries-Reeommendation For Fit
ting Honor For Pesry.
Washington, Dec. 6.-The president
sent the following message to congress
today:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes:
During the past year the foreign re-
Iations of he United States have con
tinued upon a basis of friendship and
good understanding.
The year has been notable as wit
Messing the Pacific settlement of two
important international controversies
before the permanent court Of The
Hague.
The arbitration of the fisheries dis
pute between the United States and
Great Britain, which has been the
source of nearly continuous diplomatic
correspondence since the fisheries con-
vention Of 1918, has given an award
which is satisfactory to both parties.
This arbitration is particularly note
worthy not only because of the emf
nently just results secured, but also
because it is the first arbitration held
under the general arbitration treaty of
April 4, 1908, between the United
States and Great Britain and disposes
Of controversy the settlement Of
which has resisted every other re-
source of diplomacy and which for
nearly ninety years has been the cause
Of friction between two countries
whose common interest lies in main
tanning the most friendly and cordial
relations with each other.
In view of grave doubts which had
been raised as TO the constitutionality
of The Hague convention for the estab-
lishment Of an international prize
court now before the senate for ratih.
cation because Of that provision of the
convention which provides that there
may be an appeal to the proposed court
from the decisions of national courts
this government proposed in an identic
circular note addressed to those pow.
ers who had taken part in the London
maritime conference that the powers
signatory TO the convention if confront.
ed with such difficulty might insert a
reservation to the effect that appeals to
the international prize court in respect
10 decisions of it's national tribunals
should take the form of a direct claim
for compensation. that the proceedings
thereupon to be taken should be in the
form Of a trial de novo and that judg.
ment of the court should consist of
compensation for the Illegal capture, ir.
respective of the decision of the nation.
al court whose judgment had thus been
internationally involved. As the result
of an informal discussion It was de.
cided to provide such procedure by
means of a separate protocol which
should be ratified at the same time as
the prize court convention itself.
1t is gratifying TO observe that this
additional protocol is being signed
without objection by the powers sig
natory to the original convention and
that there is every reason to believe
that the international prize court viii
be soon established.
Peace Commission.
Approaching these enlightened tend
encies of modern times. the congress
at its last session passed a law provid
ing for the appointment Of a commits
sion Of five members "to be appointed
by the president of the United States
to consider the expediency Of utilizing
existing international agencies for the
purpose Of limiting the armaments ol
the nations Of the world by information
al agreement and of constituting the
combined navies of the world an inter
national force for the preservation Of
universal peace and to consider an6
report upon any other means to dimin
ish the expenditures Of government fol
military purposes and to lessen the
probabilities of war"
Sc -eral important treaties have beer
negotiated with Great Britain in the
past twelve months. A preliminary
diplomatic agreement has been reach
ed regarding the arbitration Of pecu
mary claims which each government
has against the other. This agree
ment. with the schedules of claims an
nexed. will. as soon as the schedules
are arranged, be submitted to the sen
ate for approval.
The work Of the international fish
cries commission appointed in 1908
under the treaty Of April II, 1905 be
tween Great Britain and the United
States. has resulted in the formula
ton and recommendation Of uniform
regulations governing the fisheries oi
the boundary waters of Canada and
the United States for the purpose Of
protecting and increasing the supply
Of food fish in such waters.
The Far East
The center Of interest in far eastern
affairs during the past year has agair
been China.
It is gratifying to note that the ne
gotiations for loan TO the Chinese
government for the construction Of the
trunk railway lines from Hankov
southwark to Canton and westward
through the Yangtse valley. known as
the Hukuang loan. were concluded by
the representatives Of the various
financial groups in May last aud the