Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-09
TAFT REVIEWS
THE RELATIONS
0fU.S. ABROAD
Second One-Topic Message
Within Three Days De-
voted to Foreign Affairs !;
Urges Treaty Ratification
RUSSIAN PASSPORT
QUESTION TAKEN UP

1
Negotiations Are Now OF
With Cars Government
! Mexican Troop Movement
| Washington, D. G., Dec. Tn thu
second one-topic message he has sem
to congress during the three days o.
the present session, President Taf
today reviewed the relations of ths
( United States with foreign govern
ments during the past year. In thif
1 message the president gave the first
official explanation of the pOst-hasts
movement OF 10000 federal troops tc
Mexico nine months ago; Urged the
j United States senate to ratify the gen
eral arbitration treaties with Great
Britain and France and the conven
tons with Nicaragua and Honduras
and suggested legislation that he de-
clared would strengthen this nations
world trade and position among the
other powers. The message was read
II congress today. N
Takes UP Russia Passport Question
The president informed congress
of the efforts begun by American AM
bassador Guild at st. Petersburg con-
corning passports in Russia for Ameri-
can Jews and explained that after the
Christmas holidays he expects.to send
special message on this subject.
Spy direction of the state depart
ment," he said "our ambassador to
Russia has recently been having a
series of conferences with the minister
of foreign affairs for Russia with a
view to securing clearer understand
! ing and construction of the treaty OF
1882 between Russia and the United
States, and the modification of any
existing Russian regulations which
may be found to interfere in any way
with the full recognition Of the rights
Of American citizens under the treaty.
| believe that the government of Rus
STA is addressing itself seriously to
the need of changing the present prac-
tice under the treaty and that suffi-
cient progress has been made to war.
rant the continuance of those confer
ences in the hope that there may be
soon removed any justification of the
complaints Of treaty violation now
prevalent In this country" &
Legislation Recommended.
The president recommends the fol-
lowing legislation: ~I
The enactment of law providing
for the fulfillment Of obligations as
sumed by the United States in connec-
ton with the settlement of the fur-seal
controversy; the passage of a law to
forbid the carrying Of opium and other
s'habit-forming drugs" In interstate
commerce; the formation of a central
organization in the nature of a ma
tional chamber of commerce that
would keep all such organizations In
touch with commercial development
abroad and the enactment into law of
executive regulations providing for ad-
vancement in the diplomatic and con-
sular service upon merit basis In
stead Of through political preferment
Tariff Amendment Proposed.
Suggestion also was made by the
president that the present tariff act
should be amended so that it's maxi
mum and minimum features. designed
to prevent undue Determinations
against American commerce, could be
graduated to meet varying degrees of
discrimination, such as have been en-
countered since the present law was
passed. & .sE
Outlining the idea of a central
"chamber OF commerce" Mr.. Taft sug-
gested that such an organization might
be managed by commission com.
posed of small number of those now
actively engaged in carrying >on the
work of some of the large associations
Of this kind with members ex-officio
from the state and commerce ana
labor departments. In leading up to
this suggestion, Mr. Taft showed that
in the fiscal year ending June 80. 1911,
the value of American exports in
creased 5000. 100000 over the previous
year, but indicated that further in
crease was possible.>
Mexican Troops Explanation.
y The presidents explanation, Of the
sudden dispatch of one quarter Of the
army to the Mexican border agreed
with the unofficial reasons for that
troop movement given last spring, but
he showed in a confidential letter to
General Leonard Wood, chief of staff
OF the army, that there was no doubt
In his mind as to what he would do
il he had found American lives and
property in danger.
at seems my duty as commander ~
chief" said the president in this LEI
ter made public for the first time In
today's message, ITO place troops In
sufficient number where, if congress
shall direct that they enter Mexico to
save American lives and property, an
effective movement may be PROMPTLY
made" 3 4
The outcome of the troop movement,
Mr.. Taft declared, was entirely salts
factory. a...-.v. ~.
In regard to China, now in the
throes of revolution, Mr.. Taft mad
little to say except to explain the
loans placed in that country by
A nj o1s otc N,