Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-08
ARBITRATION THE GREAT ISSUE
General Movement Toward Further
Recognition Of Principle.
RUSSIAN TREATY TOUCHED ON
President Believes Progress is Be-
ing Made in Negotiations.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CONGRESS
Review of Years transactions
with other Countries Gives Mo-
lions for Farther Activity
of state Departments.

WASHINGTON, Dec. president Taft
sent TO the congress this morning a mes
sage dealing with the relations of tho
United states with other nations OF the
world and giving in detail some OF the
more important transactions of the State
department during the year. The mes
sage touches ON the Russian treaty ques-
tlon. the mobilization OF troops on the
Mexican border and other events Of In.
terest. Its text:
The relations of the United states with
other countries have continued during
the last twelve months upon basis OF
the usual good win and friendly inter-
course.
The year just passed marks an Inn
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
putes by arbitration rather than by war.
and In response to 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,
tho terms of which were designed, as ex-
pressed In the preamble OF these treaties,
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 negotia-
ted an important modification In its al
lance with japan, and the French gov
ernment also expedited the negotiations
with signal good will. The new treaties
have been submitted TO the senate and
are awaiting It's advice and consent to
their ratification. All the essentials of
these important treaties have long been
known. and II is my earnest hope that
they Will receive prompt and favorable
action.
~ Arbitration.
I'm further Illustration OF the practical
And bcneficent application OF the pripci-
pie. OF arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit OF concliatlon. am happy 10
advert to the part of the United States In
facilitating amicable settlement OF dis
putes which menRced the peace between
Panama and Costa Rica and between
Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
rO1r arbitration OF the Chamizal boun-
dary question with Mexico was unfortu-
nately abortlve, but with the earnest ef-
forts on the part OF both governments
which It's Importance commands, II is felt
that an early practical adjustment should
prove possible.
Mexico.
"The recent political events in Mexico
received attention from this government
because OF the exceedingly delicate and
difficult situation created along our
southern border aud the necessity for
taking measures properly to safeguard
American interests. The government OF
the United states. in it's desire to secure
q proper observance and enforcement OF
the so-called neutrality statutes OF the
federal government, issued directions TO
the appropriate officers to exercise n
diligent and vigiiant regard for the ro-
quirements of such rules and laws. Al
though a condition OF actual armed con-
flict existed, there was no official recog-
milton OF belligerency involving tho
technical neutrality obligations of inter-
national law.
ION tho 9th OF March last. in the alb
sence of the secretary OF state. l had a
personal interview with Mr.. Wilson, the
of tho United states TO
Mexico, In which he reported to me that
the conditions IN Mexico were much more
critical than the press dispatches dis
closed; that the small outbreaks which
had occurred were only symptomatlc OF
the whole condition; that a very large
per cent OF the people were In sympathy
with the insurrection that a general ex-
ploslon was probable at any time m
which case no feared that the 10000 or
moro American residents Ia Mexico might
be assalled, and that the very large
American investments might be injured
or destroyed.
After conference with the secretary
OF war and the secretary OF the navy.
thought It 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 the
Los Angeles district OF southern Cali
tornia, together with a squadron OF battle
ships and cruisers and transports at
Continued on Fourth Page.)
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