Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-12-15
President Taft Sends in Special Message
Reviewing Our Relations With
Other Countries.
Important General Movement for Broader Arbitration On
Part of Powers is Noted--Mezican War Dis.
cussed-- Merchant Marine Needed

deHt lat s promised special messages
was read In congress today. It deals en-
tlrely with foreign affairs. The message
IN part follows:
The relations of the United States with
other countries have continued during the
past twelve months upon a basis of the
usual good will and friendly intercourse.
Arbitration.
The year just passed marks i'm
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 a 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,
the terms OF which were designed, as
expressed in the preamble Of these treat
les. 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 negotiated
an important modification in it's alliance
with Japan and the French government
also expedited the negotiations with sig
nal good will The new treaties have
been submitted to the senate and are
ratification. All the essentials of these
important treaties have long been known,
and 1t is my earnest hope that they will
receive prompt and favorable action.
Nid!m OF AsSOp o. 20 Stllicu'
am glad to report that on July last
the American claim of Alsop & Co.
against the government of Chile was
finally disposed of by the decision of his
as amiable compositeur, the matter had
been referred for determination His
majesty made an award of nearly $1,000
900 to the claimants, which was promptly
paid by Chile. The settlement of this
controversy has happily eliminated from
the relations between the republic Of
TT~s% t,4A thn
question which for two decades had CIV
On the two foreign Offices any serious
concern and makes possible the unooc
structed development of the relations of
friendship which IT. has been the aim or
this government in every possible way TO
further and cultivate.
AFFILIATIONS.
In further illustration of the practical
and beneficent application of the princi-
pie Of arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit of Cancellation, / am happy
to advert to the part of the United States
In facilitating amicable settlement OF dis
putes which menaced the peace between
Panama and Costa RIGA and between
Haiti and the Dominican republic.
Since the date Of their independence.
Colombia and Costa Rica had been seek
Ing solution of boundary dispute,
which came heritage from Colombia
to the new republic of Panama, upon it's
beginning life Independent ma
ton. In January, 1910, at the request or
both governments the agents represent
ment of state and subsequently conclud-
ed a protocol submitting this long pend
Ing controversy to the arbtral judgment
OF the chief justice of the United States,
who consented to act in this capacity. A
boundary commission, according to the
international agreement. has now been
appointed, and it is expected that the ar
guments will shortly proceed and that
this iongstandng dispute will be honor
ably and satisfactorily terminated.
Again, few months ago it appeared
Dominican
were about to enter upon hostilities be-
cause of complications growing out OF an
efforts of many years had failed to solve.
The government of the United States, by
friendly interpretation of good offices,
succeeded in prevailing upon the parties
to place their reliance upon some form of
pacific settlement.
Mexico.
The recent political events in Mexico
received attention from this government
because Of the exceedingly delicate and
difficult situation created along our south
ern border and the necessity for taking
measures properly to safeguard Ameri-
United States. in its desire to secure
proper observance and enforcement of
The so-called neutrality statutes of the
federal government, issued directions to
the appropriate officers to exercise dlll-
gent and vigilant regard for the require
ments of such rules and laws. Although
q condition of actual armed conflict ex-
listed there was official recognition of
belligerency involving the technical neu-
trality obligations of international law.
On the 9Th Of March last. in the alb
Bence Of the secretary, of state, / had
personal interview with Mr.. Wilson, the
ambassador of the United States to Mex
leo in which he reported to me that the
conditions in Mexico were much more
critical than the press dispatches dis
closed; that President Diaz was vol
cano OF popular uprising, that the small
outbreaks which had occurred were only
symptomatic of the whole condition; that
In sympathy with the instruction; that a
general explosion was probable at any
time. in which case he feared that the
100000 or more American residents IN
Mexico might be assaiied, and that he
very large American investments might
be injured or destroyed
After a conference with the secretary
of war and the secretary of the navy, L
thought 1t wise to assemble an army
division Of full strength at San Antonio,
Tex, brigade Of three regiments at
Galveston, a brigade of infantry In the
Los Angeles district of southern Call
fornia, together with a squadron OF bat
tleships and cruisers and transports at
Galveston, and small squadron of ships
at San Diego. At the same time, through
our representative at the City OF Mexico
j expressed to President Diaz the hope
that no apprehensions might result from
unfounded conjectures as to these mill
sary maneuvers, and assured him that
they had no significance which should
cause concern to his government.
I am more than happy to here record
the fact that all apprehenSfonS as TO the
effect of the presence Of so large a mill
tary force in Texas proved groundless;
no disturbances occurred.
From time to time communications
were received from Ambassador Wilson,
who had returned to Mexico, confirming
the view that the massing of American
troops in the neighborhood had had good
effect.
The instruction continued and resulted
in engagements between the regular
Mexican troops and the insurgents, and
this along the border, so that in several
Instances bullets from the contending
forces struck American citizens engaged
In their lawful occupations American
soil.
Proper protests were made against
these inyasions Of American rights to the
Mexican authorities.
The presence of a large military and
naval force available for prompt action,
near the Mexican border, proved to be
the most fortunate under the somewhat
trying conditions presented by this inva-
eion of American rights.
The policy and action of this govern
snent We're based upon an earnest friend
illness for the Mexican people as a whole,
and 1t is matter of qualification to note
that this attitude of strict impartiality as
10 all factions in Mexico and Of sincere
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