Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-12-14
NATION At PEACE
PRESIDENT INFORMS CONGRESS
zAsouT RELATIONS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES.
NEW ARBITRATION TREATIES

NEW ARBITRATION TREATIES
United States Helps In Amieabls Set.
element Of Dispdtes-Events Con
nected With the Mexican Rsvolu-
tionNeed for Merchant Marine.
Washington. Dec. Z--Foreign afraars
are the sole subject OF President Tafts
special message which was submitted
to Congress- today. In part the docu-
ment says;
The relations OF the United States with
other countries have continued during the
usual good will and friendly Intercourse
r. Arbitration.
The year just, passed marks an Inn
portant general movement on the part Of
the powers for broader arbitration In
to mankind In the extension OF the policy
OF the settlement Of International dis
putes 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
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 of
present treaties with those governments.
TO paws, 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 have
been submitted to the senate and are
ratification. All the essentials OF these
important treaties have long been known,
and It - my earnest hope that they Will
receive prompt and favorable action
- Arbitrations.
In further illustration Of the practical
and @benef1cent application of the prtnci-
pie OF arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit of concniation. ! am happy
to advert to the part OF the United States
In facilitating amicab1e 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.
ing solution of 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 cOnciud-
ed 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
International agreement, has now been
appointed and 1t Is expected that the ar
guments win shortly proceed and that
ably and satisfactorily terminated.
Again, a few months ago 1t appeared
that the Dominican republic and Haiti
cause Or 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
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
measures properly to safeguard Ameri-
United States, in its desire to secure q
proper observance and enforcement OF
the so-called neutrality statutes of the.
the appropriate officers to exercise a dilt-
gent and vigilant regard for the require
ments of such rules and laws. Although
listed. there was no official recognition Of
-belligerency involving the technical neu-
.trality obligations of international law.
Il After a EOHIGESuS0 WIFI tlAC HSCEclATy
Of war and the secretary OF the navy, /
Thought 1t wise to assemble an army
division OF full strength at San Antonio,
Galveston. a brigade Of infantry in the
Los Angeles district Of southern Cali
fornia, together with squadron of bat
Galveston. and a small squadron Of ships
at San Diego. At the same time. through
our representative at the City Of Mexico
/ expressed to President Diaz the hope
hot No a pnPnhonSf0nQ might result from
unfounded tconjectureS as to these mill
tary maneuvers, and assured him that
they had no Significance which should
cause concern to his government.
/ am more than happy to here record
the fact that all apprehensions as to the
effect OF the presence OF SO large MILL
tary force In Texas proved groundless:
no disturbances occurred.
The fnsurrection 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
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
thu. most fortunate under the somewhat
trying conditions presented by this inva-
sion of American rights.
The policy and action of this govern
ment were based upon an earnest friend
illness for the Mexican people as a whole.
and It is matter of qualification to note
that this attitude of strict impartiality as
to all factions in Mexico and OF sincere
friendship for the neighboring nation,
without regard for party allegiance, has
been generally recognized and has re-
suited in an even closer and more SYM
pathetic understanding between the two
republics and warmer regard one for
& the other. Action to suppress violence
Mexican republic was of peculiar inter-
est to this government. in that 1t con-
cerned the safeguarding of American life
Is. 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
October Is, to the chief magistracy. On
November 8 President Madero entered
upon the duties of his office.
Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed.
As to the situation In Central America.
have taken occasion in the past to en-
phasize most strongly the Importance that
should pc attributed to the consumma-
tlon OF the conventions between the re-
publics Of Nicaragua and of Honduras
and this country, and / again earnestly
recommend that the necessary advice and
consent OF the senate be accorded to
these treaties. which will make 1t posi-
BILE for these Central American repub-
lies to enter upon an era OF genuine eco
nonlic national development
Our relations with the Republic of
Panama, peculiarly Important due to n1u-
tual obligations and the vast interests
created by the canal. have continued in
the usual friendly manner. and we have
been glad to make appropriate express
M anf kSoffr In.