The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-07
TkFT'S MESSAGE
IUP TO CONGRESS
President Breaks Record For
Length Of Document
DEFENDS PAYNE TARIFF ACT.

DEFENDS PAYNE TARIFF ACT.
Deals With Panama Canal, PsstaI Saw
= inss Bank. Parcels Post and csnssr.
4 vatien-Asks Fer Raise 81 Judicial
T. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Fer Fit.
= ting Honor Fer Psary.
: Washington. Dec. 6-Ths president
sent the following message to congress
today:
20 the Senate and House Of Repre-
Z sentatives:
During the past year the foreign re-
lations of the United States have con-
.tnued upon a basis Of friendship and
4ood understanding.
3 The year has been notable A. Wit
Messing the raciic settlement Of two
Important International controversies
before the permanent court Of The
tHHeue.
: The arbitration Of the fisheries dis
lpute between the United States and
Great Britain, which has been the
lource Of nearly continuous diplomatic
correspondence since the fisheries con-
SeUtion Of 1918, has given an award
winch Is satisfactory to both parties.
This arbitration Is particularly note
worthy not only because Of the emil
nently just results secured, but also
because 1t Is the nrst 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-
socrce 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 MS to the constitutionallty
Of The Hague convention for the estab-
lishment Of an international prize
court now before the senate for ratifi-
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 chat the powers
signatory to the convention II confront
ed with such difficulty might insert a
reservation to the effect that appeals to
the international prize court In respect
70 decisions Of its national tribunals
for compensation, that the proceedings
thereupon to be taken should be in the
form Of trial de novo and that judg-
ment OF the court should consist Of
compensation for the illegal capture. r.
respective of the decision Of the nation
nj court whose Judgment had thus been
internationally involved. As the result
of an informal discussion II was de-
cided to provide such procedure by
means Of separate protocol which
should be ratified at the same time as
the prize court convention itself
N Is gratifying to observe that this
additional protocol IL 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 will
BE- soon established.
Peace Commission.
Approaching these enlightened tend
encies Of modern times. the congress
Mt Its last session passed law provid-
Ing for the appointment of 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 ornaments OF
the nations of the world by information
oil agreement and Of constituting the
combined navies of the world an inter
national force for the preservation OF
universal peace and to consider and
report upon any other means to dimin
ish she expenditures Of government FOL
military purposes and to lessen the
probabilities Of war;"
s3-eral important treaties have beer
Ae0ptiated with Great Britain in the
no twelve months. A preliminary
depyomatic agreement has been reach
ed-regarding the arbitration Of pecu
.riary claims which each government
has against the other. This agree
.ment. with the schedules Of claims an
nexed. will. IA soon rs the schedule.
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. 1908. be
stween Great Britain and the uuitet
States. has resulted In the formula
ton and recommendation Of uniform
regulations governing the fisheries o
the boundary waters OF Canada ant
the United States for the purpose O
protecting and increasing the suppl
Of food fish In such waters.
The Far East.
The center Of interest in far easter
eNsirs during the past year has aoai