The Detroit times., 1911-12-08

latt submitted special message to
congress today on the relations of the
United States with foreign countries.
He says the past year has marked an
important general movement for
broader arbitration and point to the
feet that new arbitration treaties
were negotiated last spring with
Great Britain and France, the terms
OF which were designed as expenses
in the preamble of these documents
To extend the scope OF the policy of
arbitration.
To pave the way for this treaty.
the president says, Great Britain ne
gotiated an important modification In
It's alliance with japan and the French
government also expedited the negoti-
atoms with signal good will Presi-
dent Taft urges the senate. to which
the treaties have been submitted, to
ta&e prompt and favorable action.
He refers to the efforts that are be-
ing made by the United States to
promote the peace and welfare OF the
South American countries by urging
them to settle their disputes by ar
bitration, and deals especially in this
connection with the action this coun-
try took during the revolution In Mex
leo to preserve strict neutrality, say
ing the rushing of a large army Of
United States troops 10 the Mexican
border was based upon an earnest
friendliness for the Mexican people
as whole, notwithstanding the spe-
cihc purpose was to safeguard Am
,erican life and property in that coun-
The message dismisses the Turko-
Italian war briefly, saying a proclama-
ton OF neutrality has been issued and
steps taken to safeguard the person
al interests of American citizens and
organizations insofar as they are af-
fected by the war
The communication says in part:
The presence OF large military
end naval force available for prompt
action. near the Mexican border,
proved to be most fortunate under the
somewhat trying conditions present
ed by this invasion OF American
rights. Had no movement there
tofore taken place, and because
OF these events II had been
necessary then to bring about
the mobilization, IL must have had
sinister significance. On the other
hand. the presence of the troops be.
fore and at the time OF the unfortun-
ate killing and wounding of American
citizens at Douglas, made clear that
the restraint exercised by our gov
Crnmeht in regard to this occurrence
was not due to lack OF force or
power TO deal with II promptly and
aggressively, but was due to a real
desire to use every means possible to
avoid direct intervention in the af-
fairs Of our neighhor. whose friend
ship we valued and were most anxi-
Gus to retain.
THE policy and action Of this gov
eFpment were based upon an earnest
frfendliness for the Mexican people
rs a whole and Z. is a matter of graft
tication to note that this attitude OF
strict impartiality as to all factions
IL Mexico and OF sincere friendship
for the neighboring nation, without
regard for party allegiance. has been
generally recognized and has resulted
IN an even closer and more sympa-
thetic understanding between the
tko Republics and a warmer regard
one for the other.
"As the result OF determined ef-
fort on the part Of both Great Britain
and the United States to settle all OF
their outstanding differences a num-
Der OF treaties have been entered into
between the two countries In recent
years, by which nearly all OF the I'M
settled questions between them of
any importance have either been ad-
justed by agreement or arrange
ments made for their settlement by
arbitration.
1, In a special message transmitted
to the congress on the It'll OF Janu-
airy, 1914, In which | concurred In the
recommendations made by the secre-
tary OF state in regard to certain
needful legislation for the control OF
our interstate and foreign traffic In
opium and other menacing drugs.
quoted from my annual message OF
Dec. z, 1909, in which | announced
that the results OF the International
Opium commission held at Shanghai
in February, 1909, at the invitation OF
the United States, had been laid be-
fore this government: that the re-
port OF that commission showed that
China was making remarkable pro.
gress and admirable efforts toward
the eradication of the opium evil
that the interested governments had
not permitted their commercial In