The Raymer enterprise., 1911-12-14

Hague convention for tho establish.
ment Of an international prize court,
mentioned in my last annual message.
embodying stipulations providing for
an alternative procedure which would
remove the constitutional objection to
that part of The Hague convention
which provides that there may be an
appeal to the proposed court from the
decisions Of national courts, has re-
ceived the signature Of the govern
ments parties to the original conven-
ton and has been ratified by the gov.
eminent of the United States, together
with the prize court convention.
The deposit of the ratifcatlons with
the government of the Netherlands
awaits action by the powers on the
declaration, signed at London on Feb
ruary 2G, 1909. of the rules Of interna-
tional law to be recognized within the
meaning of article seven of The Hague
convention for the establishment of an
International prize court.
FurSeai Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy, which for
nearly twenty-five years has been the
source OF serious friction between the
United States and the powers border
ing upon the north Pacific ocean,
whose subjects have been permitted to
engage in pelagic sealing against the
fur.seal herds having their breeding
grounds within the Jurisdiction Of the
United States. has at last been salts.
factorily adjusted by the conclusion Of
the North Pacific sealing convention
entered into between the United
States. Great Britain, Japan and Rus.
sia on the seventh of July last. This
convention is conservation measure
OF very great Importance, and II 1t Is
carried out In the spirit of reciprocal
concession and advantage upon which
1t Is based, there is every reason to be.
lieve that not only will 1t result in pre-.
serving the fur-seal herds of.the north
Pacific ocean and restoring them to
their former value for the purposes Of
commerce. but also that It will afford
n permanently satisfactory settlement
OF question the only other solution
of which seemed to be the total de.
struction of the fur seals. In another
aspect, also, this convention is of i'm.
portance In that 1t furnishes an illus.
tration OF the feasibility of securing a
general international game law for the
protection OF other mammals OF the
sea, the preservation of which is OF
Importance to all the nations OF the
world.
The attention of congress is especll
ly called to the necessity for legisla.
ton on the part OF the United States
for the purpose Of fulfilling the obiga
tions assumed under this convention
to which the senate gave Its advice
and consent on the twenty.fourth day
of July last.
International Opium Commission.
In a special message transmitted tc
the congress on the seventh OF Janu
ary. 1911, In which | concurred In the
recommendation made by the secre
tary OF state In regard to certain need
full legislation for the control Of oul
interstate and foreign traffic In opium
, and other menacing drugs, quoted
from my annual message Of Decem
Der 7. 1909, In which announced tina
, the results of the International Opium
commission held at Shanghai In Feb
ruary. 1909, at the invitation OF the
United States. had been laid before
this government; that the report o.
that commission showed that Chint
was making remarkable progress anC
admirable efforts toward the eradca
ton OF the opium evil; that the inter
ested governments had not permitted
their commercial interests to prevent
their cooperation In this reform: and
as a result Of collateral investigation.
OF the opium question in this country
recommended that the manufacture
sale md use Of opium In the United
States should be more vigorously con
trolled by legislation.
Prior to that time and In continua
ton Of the policy Of this government
to secure the cooperation of the inter
ested nations, the United States pro
posed an international opium confer
ence with full powers for the purpose
OF clothing with the force OF interna
tional law the resolutions adopted BY
the aforementioned commission. to
, gether with their essential corolaries
! The other powers concerned cordial,
responded to the proposal OF this gov
: ernment, and, am glad to be able t
! announce. representatives of all tn,
, powers assembled In conference a
, The Hague on the first OF this month
Since the passage OF the opum.ey
clusion act. more than twenty state,
have been animated to modify thei
pharmacy laws and bring them In nc
: cord with the spirit OF that act, thu!
stamping out. to a measure, the In
Q trastate traffic In opium and othe,
habit.forming drugs. But, although
, have urged on the congress the pass
age OF certain measures for fedora
| control Of the Interstate and foreign
tratlic In these drugs. no action hai