Gilpin observer., 1911-12-14
President Taft Sends in Special Message
Reviewing Our Relations With
Other Countries.
Important General Movement for Broader Arbitration On
Part of Powers is Noted--Mexican War Dis
cussed---Merchant Marine Needed.

without regard for party allegiance. has
been generally recognized and has re-
sa sa,ted a,he,, In = an even closer and more sym
republics rep and a warmer regard one for
the the other ta..: Action to suppress violence
Mexican republic was of peculiar inter-
eerned the safesuardin. Of American life
70, 1911. President Diaz resigned. Senior
De la Barra was chosen provisional presi
dent Elections for president, and vice
president were thereafter held through
Madero was formally declared elected on
November 70 Presdent s delef madero entered
upon the duties of his office.
Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed.
As to the situation in Central America.
nave taken occasion in the past to en-
phasize most strongly the Importance that
ton of the conventions between the
pu5iics of Nicaragua and Of Honduras
recommend that the necessary advice and
consent of the senate be accorded to
these treaties. which viii make 1t posi-
BILE for these Central American repub-
Hes to enter upon an era of genuine eco
nomic national development.
our relations with the Republic OF
tual obligations and the vast interests
created by the canal. have continued in
been glad to make appropriate express
sion of our attitude OF sympathetic in
terest in the endeavors of our neighbor
In undertaking the development of the
rich resources of the country.
The Chinese Loans.
relations with China by the conclusion
of two important international loans, one
for the construction OF the Hukuang rail-
ways. the other for the carrying out of
the currency reform to which China was
pledged, by treaties with the United
States' s,,h,n' Great Britain and Japan; OF
nual message.
Especially important at the present.
when the ancient Chinese empire Is shak-
en- by civil war incidental to its awaken
ing to the many influences and activity
OF moderization. are the cooperative pol
Icy OF good understanding which has been
fostered by the international projects re-
ferred to above and the general SYM
pathy Of view among all the powers in
terested in the far east.
New Japanese Treaty.
The treaty of commerce and navigation
between the United States and Japan.
signed in 1894. would by strict inter
prstation OF its provisions have terminat-
treaties with the other powers. however.
terminated in 1911. and the japanese gov
ernment expressed an earnest desire to
with the United States simultaneously
with Its negotiations with the other pow
ers. Inere were a NUMBER OF important
questions involved in the treaty. nclud
ing the immigration of laborers. revision
of the customs tariff and the right of
americans to hold real estate In Japan.
The United States consented to waive all
technicalities and to enter at once upon
negotiations for new treaty on the un-
derstanding that there should be con-
unuance throughout the life of the treaty
of the same effective measures for the
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 highly satisfac-
tory settlement of the other questions re-
ferred to-
Europe and the Near East.
In Europe and the near east. during the
past tweivemonth. there has been at
times considerable political unrest. The
Moroccan question, which for some
months was the of great anxiety.
happily appears to have reached 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
dsquieting 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 uneasiness in European diplo-
macy. but thus far without direct politi-
cal concern to the United Stated
In the war which unhapply exists be-
has direct political interest and /
took occasion at the suitable time to is
sue a proclamation of neutrality in that
conflict. At the same time all necessary
steps have been taken to safeguard the
personal interests of American citizens
and organizations in so far as affected
by the war.
In spite OF the attendant economic un-
certainties and detriments to commerce.
the United States has gained markedly in
its commercial standing with certain of
the nations of the near east.
Coronation Of King George v.
The ed OF June OF the present year
marked the coronation of his Britannia
majesty. King George V. In honor of
this auspicious occasion l sent a special
embassy to London. The courteous and
cordial welcome extended to this gov
ernments representatives by his majesty
and the people OF Great Britain has fur
ther emphasized the strong bonds OF
friendship happily existing between the
Settlement Of Differences With Great
Britain.
As the result of a determined effort on
the part OF both Great Britain and the
United States to settle all OF their out
standing differences number of treat
les have been entered into between the
nearly all OF the unsettled questions be-
tween them of any Importance have been
adjusted by agreement or arrangements
made for their settlement by arbitration
Recognition Of Portuguese Republic.
The National Constituent assembly reg
ularly elected by the vote of the Portu-
| guese people. having on June 10 last
| unanimously proclaimed IA republican gov
ernment the official recognition of the
government OF the United States was
| given to the new republic In the after
| noon OF the same day.
| international Conventions and Confer
ences.
The supplementary protocol to The
| Hague convention for the establishment
| OF an International prize court. mentioned
| in my last annual message. embodying
| stipuiations providing for an alternative
| procudure which would remove the con-
| stitutonal 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 received the signature OF
| the governments parties to the original
| convention and has been ratified by the
| government OF the United States. togeth-