Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-07


and the japanese government express
ed an earnest desire to conduct the
negotiations for a new treaty with the
United States simultaneously with its
negotiations with the other powers.
There were a number of important
questions involved In the treaty, in
Guiding the immigration of laborers.
revision of the customs tariff and the
right Of Americans to hold real estate
in japan. The United States consent
ed to waive all technicalities and to
enter at once upon negotiations for
new treaty on the understanding that
there should be q continuance through
out the life Of the treaty Of the same
effective measures for the restriction
of immigration Of laborers to Ameri-
can territory. which had been in OPP
Grafton with entire satisfaction to both
governments since 1905 The japanese
government accepted this basis of ne
gotiation, and a new treaty was quick
" concluded, resulting in a highly
satisfactory settlement of the other
questions referred to.
A satisfactory adjustment has also
been effected of the questions growing
out of the annexation Of Korea by ia
pan.
The recent visit Of Admiral Count
Togo to the United States as the ma
tons guest afforded a welcome oppor-
tunity to demonstrate the friendly feel
ing SO happily existing between the
two countries,
There has been a change of sover-
eigns in Siam, and the American min
| lister at Bangkok was accredited in q
special capacity to represent the Unit
ed States at the coronation ceremony
! Of the new king.
EUROPE AND NEAR EAST.
In Europe and the near east during
! the past twelvemonth there has been
| at times considerable political unrest
| The Moroccan question, which fol
some months was the cause of great
anxiety. happily appears to have
reached a stage at which it need nc
longer be regarded with concern. The
Ottoman empire was occupied for 8
period by strife in Albania and is now
at war with Italy. In Greece and the
Balkan countries the disquieting pc
tentialities of this situation have beer
more or less felt. Persia has been the
scene of long internal struggle. These
conditions have been the cause of un
easiness in European diplomacy, but
thus far without direct political con
Germ to the United States.
In the war which unhappily exists
between Italy and Turkey this govern
ment has no direct political interest
1 and l took occasion at the suitable
time to issue a proclamation OF neu
trality in that conflict At the same
time all necessary steps have beer
taken to safeguard the personal inter
ests of American citizens and organi
cations in so far as affected by the
war
The pod Of June of the present yea
marked the coronation of his Britannia
majesty King George v. In honor o
this suspicious occasion 1 sent spe
cial embassy to London. The cour
teous and cordial welcome extended t
this governments representatives b,
his majesty and the people of Grea
Britain has further emphasized tn
strong bonds Of friendship happily ez
listing between the two nations.
AS the result Of a determined effor
on the part Of both Great Britain an
the United States to settle all of thei
outstanding differences q number O
treaties have been entered into be
tween the two countries in recent year
by which nearly all of the unsettle
questions between them of any impoI
lance have either been adjusted b
agreement or arrangements made fo
their settlement by arbitration.
number of the unsettled questions RI
ferred to consist of pecuniary claim
presented by each country against tn
other. and In order that as many @
these claims Gs possible should be Sc
tied by arbitration a special agreemer
for that purpose was entered into b,
tween the two governments on the 1St
| day Of August, 1910. In accordanc
with article 2 OF the general arbitra
ton treaty with Great Britain Of Apr
4, 1908. Pursuant to the provisions o
this special agreement a schedule o
claims has already been agreed upor
and the special agreement, togethe
with this schedule, received the az
proval of the senate when submitte
to it for that purpose at the last ses
sion of congress. Negotiations b.
tween the two governments for til
: preparation of an additional schedul
of claims are already well advanced
> and it is my intention to submit sue
: schedule as soon as it is agreed upo
to the senate for its approval in orde
:. that the arbitration proceedings ma
be undertaken at an early date. /
this connection the attention OF col
. gress is particularly called to the n,
cessity for an appropriation to cove
> the expense incurred in submittin
these claims to arbitration.
In pursuance of the act of congress.
approved June %, 1910, the secretar
of state and the joint committee o
the library entered into a contrac
with the sculptor Albert Jaegers fc