Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-07

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Foreign Relations Discussed
in Message Sent to Congress
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tiVes:
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 an impor-
tant 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 disputes
Icy arbitration rather than by war. and in
response to 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 arbl-
tration treaties were negotiated last
spring with Great Britain nd France, the
terms of which were designed. ex-
pressed in the preamble of these treaties.
To extend the scope and obligations of the
policy of arbitration adopted in our pres
ent treaties with those governments. To
pave the way for this treaty with the
United States. Great Britain negotiated
important modification in its 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
awaiting its advice and consent to their
ratification. All the essentials of these
important treaties have long been known.
and it is my earnest hope that they will
receive prompt and favorable action.
Claim of Alsop & Co. Settled.
am glad to report that July last the
American claim of Alsop Il Co. against
the government of Chile was finally dis
posed of by the decision of his Britannia
ma iesty George V. to whom, as anna BILE
comrositeur. the matter had been refer
red for determination His majesty made
al award of nearly SlWV.UO to the
claimants. which promptly paid by
chile The settlement of this controversy
has happily eliminated from the relations
between the Republic of Chile and the
United States the only question which for
two decades had given the two foreign
offices any serious concern and makes
possible the unobStrlcted development of
the relations of friendship which it has
been the aim of this government in every
pos siblc way to further and cultivate
Panama and Costa Rica-Colombia
ana da1t1.
In further illustration of the practical
and bt nefical applca ton of the principle
of arbitration and the underlying broad
spirit of Cancellation. | am happy 10 adj
vert tn the part of the United States in
facilitating amicablc settlement of disputes
which menaced the peace between Pan
anna aud Costa Rica and between Haiti
ana the dominican Republic.
Since the date oil their independence
colombia and Costa Rica had been seek
inG II solution of Il boundary dispute
which came heritage from Colombia
to- the new Republic OF Panama. upon its
beginning life an independent nation.
Although the diSputants had submitted
this question for decision to the President
81 France under the terms of an arbitra-
ton treaty, the exact Interpretation of
the provisions of the award rendered
1ad been matter of serious disagreement
between the two countries, both contend
ng for widely different lines even under
the terms of the decision. Subsequently
and since l!,f; this boundary question had
oeen the subject of fruitless diplomatic
negotiations between the parties. In
January. 1910 at the request of both
governments the agents representing
them met in conference at the Depart
III mt of State and subsequently conclud-
I'd IL protocol submitting this long-pending
controversy to the arbitral 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 APP
pointed and il il expected that the argu-
Icnts will shortly proceed, and that this
long-standing dispute will be honOrably
and satisfactorily terminated.
again. few months ago it appeared
that the Dominican Republic and Haiti
were about To enter upon hostilities be-
cause Of complications growing out of an
acrimonious boundary dispute which the
efforts of many years had failed to solve.
the government of the United States by
friendly interposition of good offices,
succeeded in prevailing upon the parties
70 place their reliance upon some form
u pacific settlement Accordingly. on the
friendly suggestion of this government
ne two governments empowered commits
sicncrs To meet at Washington in confer
succ at the State Departing mt in order To
arrange the terms of submission to arbi-
If r4.1.cr.-..