The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-07
On the COuntry's Relations With
Foreign Nations.
ARBITRATION RESULTS
Refers to Settlement of Disputes
in Central America.
Reviews the Movement of Troops
to Mexican Border.


present session. President Taft today
reviewed the relations of the United
States with foreign governments dur
ing the past year In this message
the president gave the first official
explanation of the post haste move
ment of 10000 federal troops to Mex
leo nine months ago; urged the United
States senate to ratify the general
arbitration treaties with Great Britain
and France and the conventions with
Nicaragua and Honduras, and sug-
gested legislation that he declared
would strengthen this nation 5 world
trade and position among the other
pow ers The message was read in
congress today.
on lwo subjects included under
foreign relations the president
spoke only in brief fashion. He in
formed congress of the conferences be
gun by American Ambassador Guild
at St. Petersburg in regard TO the
question of passports in Russia for
American Jews, and explained that
after the Christmas holidays he ex-
pected to send a special message on
this subject Although not brought
out in tOday's message, it was under
stood that the brief mention of the
arbitI alton treaties viii be followed by
a message to the senate. before which
they are pending, urging at length
their ratification
Passport Question.
The presidents reference to the
Rassport question was added after the
other parts of the message had been
BY direction of the state depart
ment il read, ''our ambassador to
r iissia has recently been having a
series of conferences with the minis
ter of foreign affairs Of Russia with
a view of securing a clearer under
standing and construction of the
treaty of 1872 between Russia and the
United States and the modification of
anY existing Russian regulations which
may he found q Interfere in any vvav
with the full recognition of the rights
of American citizens under the treaty /
believe that the government of Rus
Sia is addressing itself seriously to
has been made TO warrant the contin
nance of these conferences in the hope
that there may be soon removed any
Justification of the complaints of treaty
violation now prevalent in this coun
try. I expect that Immediately after
the Christmas recess / shall be able
- make a further communication to
ongress on this subject"
Aside from his review Of the worlds |
history for the past year in which the
United States particularly figured the
president recommended to congress |
the following legislation:
His Recommendations.
The enactment of a law providing /
for the fulfllment of obligations as /
sumed by the United States in connec- I
ton with the settlement of the fur
seal controversy; the passage of law
to forbid the carriage of opium and 4
other "habit-forming drugs in inter |
state commerce: the formation of a (
central organization in the nature of
a rational chamber of commerce that /
would keep all such organizations in t
touch with commercial developme
abroad, and the enactment into law
of executive regulations providing for |
advancement in tho diplomatic and +
consular service upon the merit basis F
instead OF through political prefer
ment
Suggestion also was made by the +
president that the present tariff act
should be amended so that it's maxi
mum and minimum features. designed /
to prevent undue DETERMINATIONS
against American commerce could be
graduated TO meet varying degrees of
discrimination such as have been en-
countered since the present law was
passed.
1T is increasingly clear" said the
president in this connection, that to
obtain and maintain that equity and
equality of treatment es-
sential to the hourishing foreign
m ore important to the industrial and
commercial welfare of the United
States, we should have a hexibility of
tariff sufficient for the give and take
tate on behalf of our commerce and
A&iustry.''
Chamber of Commerce.
Outlining the idea of a central
s'chamb Der of commerce." Mr.. Taft
suggested such an organization might
be managed by committee composed |
of a small number of those now ac-
lively engaged in carrying on the
work of some Of the large associations
Of this kind with members ex- officiO
from the state and CONNIE cree and Ia
bor departments. In leading up to
this suggestion, Mr.. Taft showed that
in the fiscal year ending June 80, 1911,
the value of American exports in
creased .SSOO,O0O,OO0 over the previous
year, but indicated that further in
crease was possible.
The presidents explanation of the
sudden dispatch of one-quarter of the
army to the Mexican border agreed
with the unofficial reasons for that
trooD rnovemen given last spring, but
he showed in a confidential letter to
General Leonard Wood. chief of staff
IN his mind as to what ne would do
# he had found American lives and
property in danger
ssIt seems my duty as commander
n-chfef.' said the president, in this let
-e- made public for the first time in
&dav's message. Ito place troops in
sufficient number, where if congress
shall direct that they enter Mexico to
save American lives and property, an
movement may be promptly
nes de-
The outcome of the troop movement.
Mr.. Taft declared, was entirely salts
-actorv TIE recent attempt to under
nine the NIadero government in Mexico
n. far as If was engineered in the Uni ]
ed States he said, had been met with '