Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-06

Washington, Dec. 6.-President Taft
sent his annual message to congress
Today. 1t is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
During the past year the foreign re-
lations of the United States have con-
hnued 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 be-
cause it is the first arbitration held IN
der the general arbitration treaty of
April 4, 1908. between the United
States and Great Britain and disposes
of a controversy the settlement of
which for nearly ninety years has been
the cause of friction between two
countries whose common interest lies
in maintaining the most friendly and
cordial relations with each other.
The United States was ably repre-
scented before the tribunal. The COM
plicated history of the questions aris-
ing made the issue depend more than
ordinarily in such cases upon the care
and skill with which our case was
presented, and ! should be wanting in
proper recognition of a great patriotic
service If l did not refer to the lucid
historical analysis of the facts and the
signal ability and force of argument
six days in length-.presented to the
court in support Of our case by Mr..
lElihu Root AS secretary of state Mr..
Root had given close study to the in
Itricate facts bearing on the contro-
iversy and by diplomatic correspond
Ience had helped to frame the issues.
at the solicitation of the secretary Of
state and myself Mr.. Root, though bur
.dened by his duties as senator from
New York, undertook the preparation
,Of the case as leading counsel, with
the condition imposed by himself that
in view Of his position as senator he
should not receive any compensation
The tribunal constituted at The
Hague by the governments of the Unit
ed States and Venezuela has completed
its deliberations and has rendered an
award in the case of the Orinoco
Stea mship company against Venezuela.
The award may be regarded as SatiSfac-
tory since ii has. pursuant to the con-
tentions of the United States. recog-
Inized number of important principles
making for Il judicial attitude in the
determining of international disputes.
In view of grave doubts which had
been raised as to the constitutonality
of The Hague convention for the es-
Establishment of an international prize
court. now before the senate for ratif-
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 powers
which had taken part in the London
maritime conference that the powers
tsignatory TO the convention, if con-
fronted with such difficulty, might In
sert a reservation to the effect that ap-
peaIs to the international prize court
in respect TO decisions of its national
tribunals should take the form of di-
rect claim for compensation, that the
proceedings thereupon to be taken
should be in the form of trial de novo
and that judgment of the court should
consist OF compensation for the Illegal
capture irrespective of the decision Of
the national court whose Judgment had
thus been internationally involved.
As the result of an informal discus
sion it was decided to provide such pro-
cedure by means of n separate protocol
which should be ratified at the same
time as the prize court convention it
self
Accordingly the government Of the
Netherlands at the request of this gov
eminent proposed under date OF May
"a. 1910. to the powers siCnatory 60
The Hague convention the negotiation
OF A supplemental protocol embodyfDS