Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-12-14
NATION At PEACE
PRESIDENT INFORMS CONGRESS
ABOUT RELATIONS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES.
NEW ARBITRATION TREATIES
United States Helps In Amicable Set
Element Of Disputes-Events Con-
neeted With the Mexican Revolu-
tion-Need for Merchant Marine.

nccteo WIN tne MEXICAN neNoiu-
tion-Need for Merchant Marine.
Washington, Dec. 7.-Foreign AFFAIRS
are the sole subject of President Taft's
special message, which was submitted
to Congress today. In part the c
ment says:
The relations Of the United States with
other countries v continued during the
past twelve months upon a basis of the
usual good will and friendly Intercourse.
Arbitration.
The year Just passed marks an i'm
portant general movement on the part OF
the powers for broader arbitration. In
the recognition of the manifold benefits
to mankind in the extension Of the policy
Of the settlement of International dis
putes by arbitration rather than by war,
and in esponse to a widespread demand
for an advance in that direction on the
part OF the people of the United States
and OF Great Britain and of France, new
spring with Great Britain and France,
the terms of which were designed. as
expressed in the preamble Of these treat
les. to extend the scope and obligations OF
the policy Of arbitration adopted in our
present treaties with those governments.
To pave the way for this treaty with the
United States, Great Britain negotiated
an important modification in its alliance
VIII SdpdD HnQ the french government
also expedited the negotiations with sig
nal good will. The new treaties have
been submitted to the senate and are
awaiting Its advice and consent to their
ratihcation. All the essentials OF these
important treaties have long been known,
and II is my earnest hope that they will
receive prompt and favorable action.
Arbitrations.
In further illustration of the practical
and beneficent application OF the princi-
Pile of arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit of conciliation. ! am happy
to advert to the part of the United States
In facilitating amicable settlement OF dis
putes which menaced the peace between
Panama and Costa RIGA and between
Haiti and the Dominican republic.
Since the date Of their Independence.
Colombia n Costa RIGA had been seek
Ing a solution of a boundary dispute,
WHICH came as a heritage from Colombia
to the new republic of Panama, upon its
beginning life as an Independent ma.
ton. In January, 1910, at the request OF
both governments h agents represent
ing them met in conference at the depart
ment of state and subsequently conclud-
ed a protocol submitting this long-pend-
ing controversy to the arbitral judgment
who consented to act In this capacity. A
boundary commission, according to the
international agreement, has now been
appointed. and 1t Is expected that the ar
6utilSIllS Will 5IlOIlly PtOSCCu LIN thdt
this lon~g-standing dispute will be honor
ably and satisfactorily terminated.
Again, a few months ago it appeared
that the Dominican republic and Haiti
were about to enter upon hostilittes be-
cause Of complications growing out OF an
acrimonious boundary dispute which the
efforts of many years had failed to solve.
TIL government of the United States, by
a friendly interposition of good offices,
succeeded In prevailing upon the parties
to place their reliance apo some form Of
pacific settlement,
Mexico.
The recent political events In Mexico
received attention from this government
because of the exceedingly delicate and
difficult situation created along our south
ern border and the necessity for taking
measures properly to safeguard Ameri-
can interests. The government of the
United States, in its desire to secure a
proper observance and enforcement of
the so-called neutrality statutes of the
federal government. issued directions to
the appropriate officers to exercise a dill
gent and v~igilant regard for the require
ments of such rules and laws. Although
a condition of actual armed conflict ex-
listed. there was no official recognition of
bellfgerency involving the technical neu-
trality obligations of international law.
After a conference with the secretary
of war and the secretary of the navy, I
thought 1t wise to assemble an army
division of full strength at San Antonio,
Tex, a brigade Of three regiments at
Galveston, a brigade of infantry in the
Los Angeles district of southern Cali
forniS4 together with a squadron of bat
tleships and cruisers and transports at
Galveston, and a small squadron of ships
at San Diego. At the same time, through
our representative at the City Of Mexico
/ expressed to President Diaz the hope
that no apprehensions might result from
unfounded conjectures as to these mill
tary maneuvers, and assured him that
they had no significance which should
cause concern to his government.
l am more than happy to here record
the fact that all a~pprehensions as to the
effect of the presence of SO large a mill
tary force in Texas proved groundless;
no disturbances occurred.
The instruction continued n resulted
in engagements between the regular
Mexican troops and the insurgents, and
this along the border, SO that in several
instances bullets from the c%ontending
In their lawful occupations on American
soil.
Proper protests were made against
these invasions of American rights to the
Mexican authorities.
The presence of a large military and
naval force available for prompt action,
near the Mexican border, proved to be
the. most fortunate under the somewhat
trying conditions presented by this inya-'
sion of American rights.
The policy and action Of this govern
ment were based pom ar earnest friend
Illness for the Mexican people as a whole.
and 1t Is a matter Of qualification to note
that this attitude of strict impartiality as
to. all factions In Mexico and OF sincere
friendship for the neighboring nation,
without regard for party allegiance, has
been generally recognized and has re-
suited in an even closer and more SYM
pathetic understanding between the two
republics and a warmer regard one for
Ihe other. Action to suppress violence
ana restore tranquility throughout the
Mexican republic was Of peculiar inter-
est to this government, in that 1t con-
cerned the safeguarding of American life
property in that country. On May
70, 1911, President Diaz resigned, Senior
dent; Elections for president and vice
president were thereafter held through
out the republic, and Senior Francisco T..
Madero was formally declared elected on
October Is, to the chief magistracy. On
upon the duties of his office.
Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed,
As to the situation In Central America.
1 nave taken occasion in the past to EN-
phasize most strongly the importance that
should be attributed to the consumma-
ton OF the conventions between the re-
publics Of Nicaragua and Of Honduras
and TINS country. and / again earnestly
consent Of the senate be accorded to
these treaties. which will make it possi-
bic for these Central American repub-
hes to enter upon an era of genuine eco
nomic national development.
Our relations with the Republic of
Panama, peculiarly important, due to mu-
tual obligations and the vast interests
created by the canal, nave continued in
the usual friendly manner. and we have
been glad to make appropriate express
sion of our attitude of sy~mpathetic in
terest In the e%ndeavors OF our neighbor
~ Undertaking the development of the
rich resources Of the country,
New Japanese Treaty.
The treaty Of and navigation
between the United States and Japan,