Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-12-13

with the United States simultaneously
with its negotiations with the other pow
ers There were a number of important
questions involved in the treaty, includ-
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 a new treaty on the I'M
derstan6ing that there should be a con-
tinuance throughout the life of the treaty
of the same effective measures for the
restriction of immigration OF iaborers to
American territory which had been in
operation with entire satisfaction to both
governments since 1903. The Japanese
government accepted this basis of nego-
tiaton, and a new treaty was quickly
concluded, resulting in a 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 twelve-month. there has been at
Moroccan question, which for some
months was the cause of great anxiety
happily appears to have reached stage
at which it need no longer be regarded
occupied for a period by strife in Al
bania and is now at war with Italy. In
Greece and the Balkan countries the
disquieting 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
macy, but thus far without direct politi-
cal concern to the United States.
In the war which unhappily exists be-
tween Italy and Turkey this government
has no 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.
Fur-Seai 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 bordering
upon the north Pacific ocean, whose sub
jects have been permitted to engage IN
pelaSic sealing against the fur-seal herds
having their breeding grounds within the
jurisdiction of the United States, has at
last been satisfactorily adjusted by the
conclusion Of the North Pacific sealins
convention entered into between the
United States. Great Britain, Japan and
Russia on the seventh of July last.
The attention of congress is especially
called to the necessity for legislation on
the part of the United States for the pur--
under this convention, to which the sen
ate gave its advice and consent on the
twenty-fourth day of July last.
international Opium Commission.
In a special message transmitted to the
congress on the seventh of January. 1911
lions made by the secretary of state In
regard to certain needful legislation Tor
the control of our interstate and foreign
trathc In opium and other menaclng
drugs, l quoted from my annual mes
sage of December T. 1909 in which l an
nounced that the results of the Interna-
uonal Opium commission held at Shang-
hal in February, 1909, at the invitation OF
the United States, had been laid before
thlS government: that the report or tnat
commission showed that China was MAX
nd
efforts toward the eradication of the
opium evil; that the Interested govern
ments had not permitted their CONNER
clal interests to prevent their co-ooera-
ton in this reform; and, as a result OF
Collateral Investigations Of the opium
question in this country. +! recommendeo
opium in the United States should be
more vigorously controlled by Legislation
Prior to that time and in continuation
OF the policy of this government to Sc
cure the cooperation of the interested
nations, the United States proposed an
international opium conference with tuli
the force of international law the reso,,
lutions adopted by the aforementioned
commission, together with their essen
tial eorolloTies The other powers tb con con
posal of this government, and, l am gao
TO be able to announce, representatives
OF all the powers assembled in conference
at The Hague on the first of this month.
U OiSt9u iTdQG nCtdtlOHS w bttS Ot"NN~
States.
In my last annual message I referred
to the tariff negotiations of the depart
ment of state with foreign countries N
connection with the application, by Sc
ries of proclamations. of the minimum
tariff of the United States to importa-
tons from the several countries, and
stated that in its general operation. sec
ton of the new tariff law had proved
a guaranty of continued commercial
peace. although there unfortunate
ly instances where foreign governments
dealt arbitrarily with American interests
within their jurisdiction in a manner in.
furious and inequitable. During the past
year some instances of discriminatory
treatment have been removed, but | re-
greet to say that there remain a few
cases of differential treatment adverse to
the commerce of the United States. While
none of these instances now appears TO
amount to undue discrimination in the
sense of section of the tariff law or
August s. 1909. they are all exceptions to
that complete degree of equality of tar
If treatment that the department Of
state has consistently sought to obtain
for American commerce abroad
While the double tariff feature of the
tariff law Of 1909 has been amply jusd-
fed by the results achieved in removing
former and preventing new. undue dis
ordinations against American commerce,
it is believed that the time has come for
In such way as to provide graduated
means of meeting varying degrees of
discriminatory treatment of American
commerce in foreign countries as well as
to protect the financial interests abroad
of American citizens against arbitrary
and injurious treatment on the part or
foreign governments through either leg
isiatiVe or administrative measures.
1t would seem desirable that the maxi
mum tariff of the United States should
embrace within its purview the free list.
which is not the case at the present time.
in order that it might have reasonable
significance to the governments or those
countries from which the importa tons
into the United States are confined vfr-
tuaIly to articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 80, 1911,
shows great progress in the development
Of American trade It was noteworthy
as marking the highest record of exports
of American products to foreign coun-
tries, the valuation being in excess of
50 900 100000 These exports showed
gain over the preceding year OF more
than $500 100000.
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
I need hardly reiterate the conviction
that there should speedily be built up an
American merchant marine. This is nee
essary to assure favorable transporta
ton facilities to our great ocean borne
commerce as well as to supplement the
navy with an adequate reserve of ships
and men. 1t would have the economic ad-
vantage of keeping at home part Of the
vast sums now paid foreign shipping for
carrying American goods. All the great
commercial nations pay heavy subsidies
TO their merchant marine. so that ii Is
obvious that without some wise aid from