Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-12-15
.TAFTS MESSAGE DELIVERED
President Recommends Tariff Reforms
and Parcels Post, and Urges
Ship Subsidy Measure.


the pacific settlement of two important in
ternational controversies before the perma
nent court of The Hague. The arbitratio
y of the hsheries dispute between the Unite
States and Great Britain which has bee
the source of nearly continuous diplomats
correspondence since the hsheries conven
tion OF ISIS, has given an award which
satisfactory to both parties.
The tribunal constituted at The Hagu
by the governments Of. the United State
and Venezuela has completed its delihera
ions and has rendered an award in tn
case Of the Orinoco Steamship Compan
against Venezuela.
The United States proposed that the In
ternational prize court when established
should be endowed with the functions
an arbitral court of justice under and pur
suant to the recommendation adopted b!
the last Hague conference. The replies re
ceived from the various powers to this pro
posal inspire the hope that this also ma,
be accomplished within the reasonably neal
future.
Congress al its last session passed Law
providing for the appointment of com
mission of five members for the purpose OF
limiting the armaments of the nations ol
the world by international agreement.
have not yet made appointments to TINS
commission because l have invited and am
awaiting the expressions of foreign govern
ments as to their willingness to cooperate
with US in the appointment Of similar com
missions.
Several important treaties have been ne
gotiated with Great Britain in the past II
months. A preliminary diplomatic agree
ment has been reached regarding the arbi-
tration of pecuniary claims which each gov
ernment has against the other The con-
vention, concluded January IL. 1909, be-
tween the United States and Great Britain,
providing for the settlement Of international
differences between the United States and
Canada, including the apportionment be-
tween the two countries of certain Of the
boundary waters and the appointment OF
commissioners to adjust certain other ques-
tions has been ratified by both governments
and proclaimed.
In November last the monarchy Of Por-
tugal was overthrown, a provisional repub-
lie was proclaimed and there was set up a
de facto government which was promptly
recognized by the United States for pur-
poses Of ordinary intercourse pending for
NAL recognition by this and other powers.
The new kingdom of Montenegro also was
recognized.
The negotiations which have been under
taken for the amelioration of the condi-
tions found in Liberia by the American COM
mission are being brought to conclusion.
Relations with all Latin America are
satisfactory, their cordially being mani
tested by the receptions accorded to spe-
cial Embassies sent to the centennial
celebrations of Argentina, Chile and
Mexico. The International Bureau of
American Republics is doing a broad and
useful work. The successful mediation
of the dispute between Peru and Ecuador
has proven the value Of cordial co-opera-
tion,
Negotiations regarding the refunding Of
the bonded debt of Honduras have been
under way for more than year. and 1t
is now confidently believed, he says, that
a short time will suffice to conclude an
which will be satisfactory
to foreign creditors and eminently ad-
to Honduras
The President then reviews the rebel
lion in Nicaragua and "the unwarranted
execution of two American citizens who
had regularly enlisted in the ranks of
the reyolutionists," which involved the
breaking off of all diplomatic relations
with the Zelaya government, and adds:
The moderation and conciliatory spirit
shown by the various factions give ground
Tor the confident hope that Nicaragua will |
soon take its rightful place among the law
abiding and progressive countries Of the
world
It gratifies me exceedingly to announce
hat the Argentine Republic some months
ago placed with American manufacturers
contract for the construction Of two battle-
hips and certain additional naval equip |
nent The extent Of this work and Its i'm
)ortance to the Argentine Republic make |
he placing of the bid an earnest of friendly |
ceiling toward the United States.
Universal application has been given |
~ negotiation, followed by 1A procla-
nations embracing the entire CONNER
.lal WOTlQ, TO the ClduSC.
rhe message continues:
Marked advantages to the commerce OF
he United States were obtained through
hese tariff settlements. Foreign nations
ire fully cognizant of the fact that under
Iection two Of the tariff act the President
s required whenever he is satisfied that
he treatment accorded by them to the
PRODUCTS Of the United States is not such
ls to entitle them to the benefits Of the
minimum tariff of the United States, to
n,
living 30 days notice, after which the
maximum tariff will apply to their dutiable
roducts entering the United States. In Its
eneral opinion this section OF the tarih law
as thus far proved a guaranty of contin-
ed commercial peace. although there are,
owever, unfortunately, instances where
oreign governments deal arbitrarily with
american interests within this jurisdiction
a manner injurious and inequitable.
The policy Of broader and closer trade
elations with the Dominion Of Canada
Ihich was initiated in the adjustment OF |
be maximum and minimum provisions OF
be tariff act Of August, 1909, has proved Z
beneficial 1t justihes further ef-
1rts for the readjustment Of the CONNER
al relations Of the two countries, SO that
neir commerce may follow the channels
atural to contiguous countries and be com I
lensurate with the steady expansion OF I
-ade and industry on both sides Of the
oundary line.
The Argentine battleship contracts, like
le subsequent important one for Argentine .
ailway equipment and those for Cuban
overnment vessels, were secured for our
manufacturers largely through the good Of I
ces OF the Department of State.
The efforts Of that department to secure
II citizens Of the United States equal op- !
in the markets Of the world and
expand American commerce have been !
ost successful The volume Of business ,
Dtalned in new fields OF competition and /
pom new lines Is already very great, and
onEress is urged to continue to support
ie Department Of State in It's endeaVora /
" further trade expansion.
I cannot leave this subject without en- !
1asizing the necessity OF such legislation I
will make possible and convenient the
OF American banks and g
ranches Of American banks IN foreign /
especially In Latin-America '
Another instrumentality Indispensable TO :
q unhampered and natural development q
American commerce Is merchant marine. [ 1
i maritime and commercial nations, our t
mpetitors. jealousy foster their merchant a
arine. Perhaps nowhere Is the need for [
pid and direct mall, passenger and freight {
quite 50 urgent ss between q
e United States and Latln-America- We I
n secure in no other quarter Of the world =
ch immediate benefits In friendship and /
mmerce would flow from the establish :
ent Of direct lines Of communication with 4
e countries OF Latin America
Unless prompt action be taken the com 4
elton Of the Panama Canal viii find this 1
: only great commercial nation unable % =
all Itself OF this great contribution to the !
cans Of the worlds commercial inter- s
urse. I
Quite aside from the commercial aspect. q
less we create a merchant marine where {
n We find the seafaring population neces- t
~ as a natural naval reserve and where {
uid we find in case Of war, the trans :
rfs and subsidiary vessels without which 4
naval fleet is arms without a bodyl For e
my reasons ] cannot too strongly urge 0
on the Congress the passage of q measure r
mail subsidy or other subvention ade- a