The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-12-15

AChl Aakk 6pS1isti IRlUSTSA6CS
WAS read in congress today. 1t deals en-
tirely with foreign affairs. The message
In part follows:
The relations OF the United States with
other countries have continued during the
past twelve months upon a basis Of the
usual good will and friendly intercourse.
Arbitration.
che 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 Dement'S
to mankind in the extension of the policy
OF the settlement of International dis
putes by arbitration rather than by war,
and in response 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
arbitration treaties were negotiated last
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 or
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
with Japan and the French government
also expedited the negotiations with sig
nal good will. The new treaties nave
been submitted to she senate and are
awaiting It's advice and consent to their
ratification. All the essentials or these
important treaties have long been known,
and 1t Is my earnest hope that they VIII
receive prompt and favorable action.
Claim of Aisop G. Co. Settled.
l am glad to report that on July . last
the American claim of AlsOp az 90.
against the government of Chile was
finally disposed of by the decision of his
Britannia majesty George ", to whom,
as amiable compositeur, the matter nad
been referred for determination. Hls
majesty made an award of nearly Sl,0Jo,-
900 to the claimants, which was promptly
paid by Chile. The settlement of this
controversy has happily eliminated from
fhA sna1 hnt rgLA tho Gnhhlr or
Chile and the United States the only
question which for two decades had CIV
en- the two foreign offices any serious
concern and makes possible the unoD-
structed development of the relations Of
friendship which it has been the aim or
this government in every possible way TO
further and cultivate.
Affiliations.
IN further illustration of the practical
and benetlcent application Of the, pr!nci-
pie of arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit of Cancellation, | 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 Rica and between
Haiti and the Dominican republic.
Since the date Of their independence,
Colombia and 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
ton. In January, 1910, at the request of
both governments the 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
OF the chief justice of the United States,
who consented to act in this capacity. "A
boundary commission, according to the
international agreement. has now been
appointed, and It is expected that the ar
this long-standing dispute will be honor
ably and satisfactorily terminated.
Again, . few months age it appeared
that the Dominican republic and Haiti
cause Of complications growing out Of an
acrimonious boundary dispute which the
efforts of many years had failed TO solve.
The government of the United States: by
q friendly interposition OF good offices.
succeeded in prevailing upon the parties
to place their reliance upon some form OF
pacific settlement.
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
meas interer ptopTh The government Of the
United States, in its desire to secure q
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 ~vigilant regard for the require
ments OF such rules and laws. Aithough
listed. there was no official recognition OF
belligerency involving the technical neu-
trality obligations Of international law.
On the 9Th OF March last. In the alb
sence Of the secretary of state, / had q
personal interview with Mr.; Wilson: the
ambassador Of the United States to Mex
leo, in which he reported to me that the
conditions in Mexico We're much more
critical than the press dispatches dis
closed; that President Dfaz was on a vol
cane OF popular uprising; that the small
outbreaks which had occurred were only
symptomatic of the whole condition.; that
a very large per cent. of the people were
In sympathy with the Instruction; that a
time, in which case he feared that the
44o. 900 or more American residents In
Mexico might be assailed. and that the
very large American investments might
be injured or destroyed.
After a conference with the secretary
Of war and the secretary OF the navy. l
thought It wi Wise s,r to e asse sf san an Ant army
Tex. a brigade of three regiments at
Galveston. a brigade OF infantry in the
Los Angeles district of southern Cali
fornia, 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
/ expressed to President Diaz the hope
that no ap~prehensions might result from
u~nfoundcd conjectures as to these mill
vaTY HAucuNtIS, GIN oooalV0 iAAAAi VIA
they had no significance which should
cause concern to his government.
l am more Than happy to here record
the fact that all apprehensions as to the
effect Of the presence Of SO large a mill
tary force in Texas proved groundless:
no disturbances occurred.
From time to time communications
were received from Ambassador Wilson.
who had returned to Mexico, confirming
the view tina the massing Of American
troops In the neighborhood had had good
effect.
The insurrection continued and resulted
In engagements between the regular
Mexican troops and the insurgents. and
this along the border, SO that In several
instances bullets from the contending
forces struck American citizens engaged
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
irving conditions presented by this inva-
Ion OF American rights.
The policy and action Of this govern
ment were based upon an earnest friend
liness for the Mexican people as a whole,