Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 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-
nected With the Mexican RevoIu-
tIon-Need for Merchant Marine.

Washington, Dec. 7.-Foreign ana1rs
are the sole subject Of President Taft's
special message, which was submitted
70 Congress today. In part the docu-
ment says:
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.
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
putee by arbitration rather than by war,
ana 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
hrpitration 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 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
with Japan and the French government
also expedited the negotiations with sig
pal good will. The new treaties have
DN~ bubAAANNO0 ~ llO Al8
awaiting its advice and consent to their
ratification. All the essentials OF these
important treaties have long been known;
and 1t Is my earnest hope that they Will
receive prompt and favorable action.
Affiliations.
In further illustration of the practical
and benefcent application of the. princi-
pie Of arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit of Cancellation, l 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 Rica 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 ar Independent ma
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 conciud-
ed a protocol submitting this long-pend-
ing controversy to the arbltral 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 Deeh
appointed, and 1t is expected that the ar
guments will shortly proceed and that
this lo~ng-standing dispute will be honor
ably and satisfactorily terminated.
Again, a few months ago it appeared
that the Dominican republic ana Haltl
were about to enter upon hostillties be-
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
a friendly interposition of GOOD othces,
succeeded in prevailing upon the parues
t. place their reliance upon some form Oh
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 Tor taxing
measures properly to saIeguaro Ame III
can interests. The government OF the
United States, in its desire to secure q
proper observance and enforcement OF
the so-called neutrality statutes OF me
federal government, Issued dlrectons 70
the appropriate officers to exercise a dill
gent and vigilant regard for the require
ments Of such rules and laws. Although
a condition Of actual armed conflict ex.
isted. there was no official recognition OF
belliEerency involving the technical neu'
trality obligations Of international law
After a conference with the secretary
of war and the secretary OF the navy,
thought 1t wise to assemble an army
division Of full strength at San Antonio
Tex. a brigade of three regiments al
Galveston, a brigade Of infantry in thu
los Angeles district Of southern Cali
fornia, together with a squadron OF pat,
tleships and cruisers and transports a.
Galveston, and a small squadron OF NIP
At San Diego. At the same time, through
MIR representative at the City OF Mexico
I expressed to President Diaz the hop
that no apprehensiOns might result iron
unfounded conjectures as 10 these Whln ~
tary maneuvers, and assured MIN una
fhey had no Significance which shoulC
cause concern to his government.
1 am more than happy to here recort
the fact that all apprehensions as 10 IN
effect Of the presence OF SO large a mn
tary force in Texas proved grouholess
no disturbances occurred.
The insurrection continued and resulted
in engaeenlents between the regula
Mexican troops and the insurgents, am
this along the border, 80 that in severa
instances bullets from the contendini
forces struck American citizens engaged
In their lawful occupations on American
Soil. IT.
these inVasions of American r1ghts 10 III
Mexican authorities.
The presence Of a large military an
naval force available for prompt acuon
near the Mexican border, proved TO D
the most fortunate under the someWha
trying conditions presented by this lnVa
sion of American rights.
The policy and action Of this govern
ment were based upon an earnest trlehu
illness for the Mexican people as a Whole
and it Is a matter of qualification 70 not
that this attitude Of strict impartiallty a
to all factions in Mexico and OF SINGER
friendship for the ~neighborlng natior
without regard for party allegiance, ma
been generally recognized and has re
suited in an even closer and more SYN
pathetic understanding between the Nv
republics and a warmer regard one 70
the other. Action to suppress violenc
and restore tranquility ~throughout tn
Mexican republic was Of peculiar lntel
est to this government, in that IL COZ
cerned the safeguarding Of American III
and property in that country. On Ma
q, 1911, President Diaz resigned, sem
dc Ia Barra was chosen provisional pres
dent. Elections for president and Vict
president were thereafter held through
out the republic. and Senior Francisco
Madero was formally declared elected 9
October Is, to the chief magistracy., y
November 6 President MaderO entere
upon the duties of his office.
Honduras and Nicaragua Treatie
Propose I'd.
AS to the situation in Central Americi
] have taken occasion in the past to en-
phasize most strongly the Importance TN
should be attributed to the consumm'
ton Of the conventions between the r
publics Of Nicaragua and Of Hondurt
and this country, and l again earnest
recommend that tho necessary advice ar
consent Of the senate be accorded
these treaties. which will make 1t pose
bic for these Central American repul
lies to enter upon an era Of genuine &c
nomic national development.
Our relations with the Republic
Panama, peculiarly important, due to mi
tual obligations and the vast interes
created by the canal, have continued
the usual friendly manner, and we ha'
been glad to make appropriate EXPIRE
Forest in the endeavors Of our neighb
In undertaking the development Of q
Htch esources Of the country.