The Ordway new era., 1911-12-15

| to be recognized within the meaning q
article seven OF The Hague convention
for the. establishment OF an international
| prize court.
Fur-seaI Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy. which fos
nearly nearly twenty-nve years has been ;hs shs
upon the north Pacific ocean. whose sub
Pelakic sealing against the fur-sesi herds
tha
GGfEnyentien Gfn, M entered into between s ths
Russia on the seventh Of July last.
ssllsd sss to ,hs nsss,sy ,Ia on
pose Of fulfilling tho obligations assumed
S,. under this convention. 70 which the sen. e..
hte gave Its advice and consent on the
lwenty-fourth day OF July last.
International Opium Commission.
In n special message transmitted to the
congress on the seventh OF January. lSll.
n which I concurred In the recomlnenda-
MADE &c by the Of tae or
tho control of our Interstate and foreign
traffic In opium and other menacing
sage OF December !. 1909. in which an
niounced that the results Of the lnterna-
ha IN pI Phr.r commss1n 1sa he held a. e.
the United States. had been laid before
this government: that the report OF that
Ing remarkable progress and admirable
Efforts efforts toward the eradication OF the
%ams %n"% nSn x na, .h' the ns
cia! interests to prevent their co-opera.
ton In this reform: and. ns a result OF
question in this country. I recommended
thnt the manufacture. sale and use OF
opium opium IT. In the United States should , be
Prior to that time and In continuation
or the policy Of this government to Sc,
nations. the Tinted States T proposed nm
International opium conference with fuil
powers for the purpose OF clothing with
luti"ns adopted by the above mentioned
commission. together with their essen
The
posnl OF this government. and. I am glad
I" b: able TO announce: representative
mt The IInEue on the FIRST OF this month
Foreign Trade Relations Of the United
In my last annual message I referred
t" the tartT negotiations Of the depart
m"nt Of state with foreign countries In
connection with tho application. by a Sc
ries OF proclamntIons. of the minimum
turin Of the United States to importa.
tinns from the several countries. and
tion . Of the new tnrifr law had proved
guaranty of continued commercial
peace. although there were. unfortunate
". instances where foreign governments
d"nlt arbitrarily with American interests
within their jurisdiction in IA manner In
year some instances OF discriminatory
treatment hnv" been removed. but I re-
grct to say that there remnin few
cRses Of differcntial treatment adverse to
the commerce OF the United States. While
none OF thesc instances now appears to
amount to undue discrimination in the
August 5. 1909. they are all exceptions to
hat c"mpi"," degree Of equality OF tnr,
Ataic Inns consistently sought to obtain
for American commerce abroad.
While the douhl" tnriff feature Of the
,arin law OF 1900 has been amply justi-
fed by the results achieved In removing
former and preventing new. undue dis
ordinations against American commerce.
Il II believed that the time has come for
the amendment OF this feature Of the law
In sh %"n as to pvSHvnr
commerce in foreign countries ms well ns
OF American citizens ngninst arbitrary
md Injurious treatment on the part OF
islntive or administrative measures.
II would seem desirable that the maxi
mum tarim nf the United States should
cnibrnc" within Its purview the free list.
IN order that u mi-ht have reasonable
Significance To tho governments of those
int" the United State. arc confined viz.
tunliv to articles on the free list
Th. fiscal year ended June 10. 1911.
OF American trade. II was noteworthy
marking the highest record of exports
OF American products to foreign coun.
tries, the valuation being in excess of
50 nm. .cfN 90. Thcs" exports showed
gain over IT," preceding year OF moro
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
need hardly rcIterate the conviction
that there should speedily be built up an
essnry 10 assure favorable transportn-
tion facilities to our grent occan-borne
coinmcrr" well ms to supplement the
and men. 1t would have the economic ad-
vantage Of keeping at home part of the
vast sums now paid foreign shinpinE for
carrying American goods. All the great
commercial nations pay heavy subsidies
to their merchant marine. 20 that II is
obvious that without some wise aid from
behind In the matter Of merchant marine
In Its pr"scn, anomalous position.
Legislation t" facilitate the extension
OF American banks to foreign countries Is
another rnattcr In which our foreign
trad. needs assistance.
With these factors and the continuance
of tn" f"rc'Gn- service established depart
GENITAL diplomatic and consulnr) upon
n" high plane where II has been placed
hv the recent renroEanization this gov
in fostering the interests of its foreign
trade. and the rest must be left to tn"
energy and enterprise of our business
men.
Improvement Of the Foreign Service.