Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-12-14

conduct the negotiations for a new treaty
with the United States simultaneously
with Its negotiations with the other pow
ers. There were a number of important
questions involved in the treaty, includ-
Ing the immigration Of laborers, revision
OIL the customs tariff and the right OF
Americans to hold real estate in Japan;
Inc United States consented to waive all
technicalities and to enter at once upon
negotiations for a new treaty on the I'M
Outstanding that there should be a con-
tnuance throughout the life Of the treaty
OF the same effective measures for the
restriction of immigration OF laborers to
American territory which had been in
operation with entire satisfaction to both
governments since 1908. The Japanese
government accepted this basis Of nego-
tiation, and a new treaty was quickly
concluded, resulting In a highly satisfac-
tory settlement Of the other questions re-
ferred to.
Europe and the Near East.
In Europe and the near east, during thu
past t~welve-month, there has been at
times considerable political unrest. The
Moroccan question, which for some
months was the cause Of great anxiety,
happily appears to have reached a stage
at which 1t need no longer be regarded
with concern. The Ottoman empire was
occupied for a period by strife In Al
bania and is now at war with Italy. In
Greece and the Balkan countries the
disquieting potentialities Of this situation
have been more or less felt. Persia has
been the scene of a long Internal strug-
gle. These conditions have been the
cause Of u1easiness in European diplo-
macy, but thus far without direct polti-
cal concern to the United States.
In the war which u%nhappily exists be-
tween Italy and Turkey this government
has 20 direct political interest, and l
took occasion at the suitable time to Is
sue a proclamation OF neutrality In that
conflict. At the same time all necessary,
49, 49, - 49, - khA
personal interests Of American citizens
and organizations II so far as affected
by the wax.
Fur-seal Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy, which for
nearly twenty-five years has been the
source Of serious friction between the
United States and the powers bordering
upon the north Pacific ocean, whose SUD-
jects have been permitted to engage IN
pelagic sealing against the fur-seal heroS
having their breeding grounds within the
Jurisdiction Of the United States, mas AZ
last been satisfactorily adjusted by the
conclusion of the North Pacific sealing
convention entered into between the
United States, Great Britain, Japan ana
Russia on the seventh Of July last IT.
h attention Of congress Is especially
called to the necessity for legislation on
the part of the United States for the pur,,
pose Of fulfilling the obligations assumed
under this convention, to which the SEN
ate gave its advice n consent on the
twenty-fourth day Of July last.
international Opium Commission.
In a special message transmitted to the
congress on the seventh Of January, lyIl'
In which l concurred in the recommends
tons made by the secretary OF state In
regard to certain needful legislation for
the control of our interstate and Foreign
traffic In opium and other menaclng
drugs, I quoted from my annual mes
sage Of nappmhar z 1910 In which L an
nounced that the results Of the Interna-
tional Opium commission held at Shang..
hal In February, 1909, at the invitation OF
the United States, had been laid before
this government; hat the report OF that
commission showed that China was max
ing remarkable progress and admirable
efforts toward the eradication OF the
opium evil; that the interested govern
ments h~ not permitted their CONNER
cial int ssts to prevent their co-opera-
ton In this reform; and, as a result OF
collateral Investigations of the opium
question In this country, l recommended
that the manufacture, sale and use OF
opium In the United States should De
more vigorously controlled by legislation
Prior to that time and in continuation
or the policy of this government TO se,
cure the cooperation of the interested
nations, the United States proposed ar
international opium conference with full
power for the purpose of clothing VIII
the force Of international law the reso.
lutions adopted by the above-mentloneC
commission, together with their essen
cerned cordially responded to the pro
posal of this government, and, l am glaC
to be able to announce, representative
OF all the powers assembled In conterenc'
at The Hague on the first of this month
Foreign Trade Relations Of the United
States.
In my last annual message 1 %referret
to the tariff negotiations of the depart
ment Of state with foreign countries II
rieg Of ~proclamations, Of the minimum
tariff Of the United States to importa
tons from the several countries, and
stated that, in its general operation, sec
ton 2 Of the new tariff law had prove
[ a guaranty of continued Commercial
peace, although there were, unfortunate
ly, instances where foreign government
dealt arbitrarily with American interest
, within their jurisdiction in a manner IN
furious and negotiable. During the pas
year some nstances OF discrimination,
{ treatment have been removed, but l re
5 greet to say that there remain q fey
l cases Of differential treatment adverse t
} the m Of the United States. Will
. none Of these instances now appears I
I amount to undue discrimination in tn
sense Of section 2 OF the tariff law Q
t August 5, 1909, they are a. exceptions t
that complete degree Of equality OF tai
III LlGANhACAlt lliaN az y ~ -
state has consistently sought to obtai
3 for American abroad.
= While the double tariff feature OF tn
-; tariff law of 1909 has been amply just
fed by the results achieved in removln
former and preventing new, undue dis
r ordinations against American commerc'
It Is believed that the time has come 70
the amendment of this feature OF the la
3 in such way as to provide a graduate
4 means of meeting varying degrees {
discriminatory treatment of America
in foreign countries as we'll @
t to protect the financial interests abroa
Q Of American citizens against arbitrar
and Injurious treatment on the part
foreign governments through either Les
islative or administrative measures.
g 1t would seem desirable that the max
t mum tariff Of the United States shoul
: embrace within It's purview the free lis
which is not the case at the present tim,
+ In order that II might have reasonab
i Significance to the governments OF thos
countries from which the importation
a into the United States are confined vi
8 tually to articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 80, l9l
/, shows great progress in the developmel
8 OF American trade. II was notewortf
= as marking the highest record OF eXpor
l. of American products to foreign coul
o tries, the valuation being In excess
n SIC 0O,C00. 900. These exports showed
e gain over the preceding year OF mo
e than $500. 900. 900.
r Crying Need for American MerehaI
Marine.
y 1 need hardly r~eiterate the c%onvictiC
n that there should speedily be built up {
l. American merchant marine. This Is ne
D. essary to assure favorable transport
l. ton facilities to our great ocean-borl
as we'll as to supplement Il
N navy with an adequate reserve Of shil
IN and men. It would have the economic a
ID vantage of keeping at home part of 4
vast sums now paid foreign shipping I
carrying American goods. All the gre
. commercial nations pay heavy subsidi