The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-12-14

lihyu- convention IcT lne T. hDIlSn
ment OF an international prize court,
mentioned in my last annual message.
embodying stipuiations providing for
an alternative procedure which would
remove the constitutional objection to
that part of The Hague convention
which provides that there may be an
appeal to the proposed court from the
decisions OF national courts, has re-
ceiyed the signature OF the govern
ments parties to the original conven-
ton and has been ratified by the gov
ernment of the United States, together
with the prize court convention.
The deposit of the ratifcations with
the government Of the Netherlands
awaits action by The powers on the
declaration, signed at London on Feb
rusry 20, 1909, of the rules of interna-
tional law to be recognized within the
meaning of article seven of The Hague
convention for the establishment OF an
international prize court.
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 border
ing upon the north Pacific ocean,
whose subjects have been permitted 10
engage in pelagic sealing against the
fur.seal herds having their breeding
grounds within the Jurisdiction of the
United States has at last been salts
factorily adjusted by the conclusion OF
the North Pacific sealing convention
entered into between the United
States. Great Britain, Japan and Rus.
sia on the seventh OF July last. This
convention is conservation measure
Of very great Importance. and II II Is
carried out In the spirit OF reciprocal,
concession and advantage upon which
It Is based, there is every reason to be-
lieve that not only will 1t result In pre-
serving the fur-seal herds of the north
Pacific ocean and restoring them to
their former value for the purposes OF
commerce, but also that II will afford
permanently satisfactory settlement
Of a question the only other solution
of which seemed to be the total de-
structlon Of the fur goals. In another
aspect. also, this convention Is OF I'M
portance in that 1t furnishes an illus
tration of the feasibility of securing a
general international game law for the
protection of other mammals Of the
sea, the preservation of which is OF
importance to all the nations Of the
world.
The attention Of congress is especil-
ly called to the necessity for legisla-
ton on the part of the United States
for the purpose of fulfilling the obliga-
tlons assumed under this convention,
10 which the senate gave It's advice
and consent on the twenty.fourth day
OF July last
international Opium Comm m'sslcn.
In a special message transmitted to
the congress on the seventh of Janu-
ary, 1911, In which | concurred In the
recommendations made by the secre-
tary of state In regard to certain need.
full legislation for the control Of our
interstate and foreign traffic In opium
and other menacing drugs, | quoted
from my annual message OF Decem.
ber I, 1909, In which announced that
the results of the International Opium
commission held at Shanghai in Feb
ruary, 1909. at the invitation of the
United States, had been laid before
this government; that the report OF
that commission showed that China
was making remarkable progress and
admirable efforts toward the eradica
tion of the opium evil; that the inter
ested governments had not permitted
their commercial interests to prevent
their cooperation In this reform; and
as result of collateral investigations
of the opium question In this country
| recommended that the manufacture
sale and use of opium in the United
States should be more vigorously con
trolled by legislation.
Prior to that time and In continua
tion OF the policy of this government
to secure the cooperation Of the inter
ested nations. the United States pro
posed an international opium confer
ence with full powers for the purpose
of clothing with the force OF interna
tional law the resolutions adopted b!
the above-mentioned commission, to
gether with their essential corollaries
The other powers concerned cordial!
responded to the proposal of this gov
ernment, and, | am glad TO be able t
announce, representatives OF all tn,
powers assembled In conference a
The Hague on the first OF this month
Since the passage Of the opium-ex
clusion act, more than twenty state
have been animated to modify thel
pharmacy laws and br.ag them In ac
cord with the spirit of that act, thu
stamping out, to measure, the In
trastate traffic in opium and othe
habit-forming drugs. But. although
have urged on the congress the pass
age of certain measures for fedora
control of the interstate and foreigl
traffic In these drugs, no action ha
vet been taken. In view of the fac
that there Is now sitting at The Hagu
so important a conference. which ha
under review the municipal laws o
the different nations for the mitigation
of their opium and other allied evils,
conference which will certainly dea
with the international aspects of thes
evils, II seems to me most essentia
that the congress should take immed
ate action on the anti-narcotic legisls
ton to which have already called al
.aption nv a snecinl message