The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 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---Mexican War Dis
cussed--Merchant Marine Needed

friendship for the neiEhborfng nation.
nltnout regard for party allegiance, has
s,,S,a generally recognized and has re-
suiteu IN an even closer and more SYM
pathstic understanding between the two
republics and a warmer regard one for
sn rS oLner. Action 70 suppress violence
S Sna restore tranquility throughout the
s1e1lcan republic was OF peculiar inter
est 70 this government, in that IL con-
eerned the safeguarding Of American life
=. III, President Diaz resigned, Senior
&c Ia Barra was chosen provisional presi-
1Tnt Elections for president and Vice
out the republic, and Senior Francisco I,
Madero was formally declared elected ON
SSSIoDeF !5' to the chief magistracy. on
upon the duties OF his office.
Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed.
As to the situation in Central America.
nave taken occasion in the past to en-
phasize most strongly the Importance that
shSuio De attributed TO the consumma-
r' GH OF the conventions between the re-
puphcs OF Nicaragua and of Honduras
ana this country. and again earnestly
recommend that the necessary advice and
consent Of the senate be accorded to
pie for these Central American repub-
ms 70 enter upon an era Of genuine eco
monte national development
Psnarn Fela aec,,5. nth the Republic Of
od oongations and the vast interests
created by the canal, have continued in
me usual friendly manner, and we have
been glad to make appropriate express
sion OF our attitude of sympathetic in
terest in the endeavors OF our neIEhbor
N Undertaking the development Of the
Fich resources Of the country.
The Chinese Loans.
The past year has been marked in our
relations with China by the conclusion
- ant frN@a
Tor the construction OF the Hukuang rail-
ways, the other for the carrying out Of
me currency reform to which China was
pledged, by treaties with the United
states, Great Britain and japan. OF
Whlch mention was made in my last an
nual message.
Especially important at the present,
when the ancient Chinese empire Is shak-
en- by civil war incidental to its awaken
ing to the many influences and activity
on moderizadon, are the cooperative pol
tostered by the international projects re-
Ierred to above and the general sym
patty Of view among all the powers in
terested in the far east.
New Japanese Treaty.
The treaty OF commerce and navigation
between the United States and Japan,
signed In 1894, would by a strict inter
probation OF Its provisions have terminal
ed on July Il; 1912 Japan's general
treaties with the other-powers. however
eminent expressed an earnest desire to
conduct the negotiations for a new treaty
with the United States simultaneously
with It's negotiations with the ether pow
ers. There were a number of important
questions involved in the treaty tnciud-
ing the immigration Of laborers, revision
OF the customs tariff and the right of
Americans to hold real estate in Japan
The United States consented to waive all
technicaltties and to enter at once upon
negotiations for a new treaty on the un-
outstanding that fhaFR ha
unuance throughout the life OF the treaty
OF the same effective measures for the
restriction Of immigration of laborers to
American territory which had been in
operation with entire satisfaction TO both
governments since 1903. The japanese
govRnment accepted this basis Of nego-
tiauon, and a new treaty was quickly
concluded, resulting in a highly satisfac-
tory settlement Of the other questions re-
ferred to.
Europe and the Near East.
In Europe and the near east. during the
past twelve-month. there has been at
times considerable political unrest The
Moroccan question. which for some
months was the cause OF great anxiety,
happily appears to have reached stage
with concern. The Ottoman empire was
occupied for a period by strife in Al
6ania and Is now at war with Italy. In
Greece and the Balkan countries the
disQuieting potsntialities Of this situation
have been more or less felt. Persia has
been the scene OF a long internal strug-
gle. These conditions have been the
cause Of uneasiness in European diplo-
macy. but thus far without direct politi-
cal concern to the United States.
In the war which unhappily exists be-
tween Italy and Turkey this government
has no direct political interest, and I
took occasion at the suitable time TO is
sue proclamation Of neutrality In that
steps have been taken to safeguard the
personal interests OF American citizens
and organizations In so far as affected
by the war.
certainties and detriments to commerce,
the United States has gained markedly in
its commercial standing with certain OF
the nations of the near east.
Coronation Of King George v.
The I'd Of June Of the present year
majesty. King George v In honor OF
this suspicious occasion I sent & special
embassy to London. The courteous and
errments representatives by his majesty
and the people Of Great Britain has fur
thrr emphasized the strong bonds OF
friendship happily existing between the
Settlement of Differences With Great
Britain.
As the result Of determined effort on
the part of both Great Britain and the
standing differences q number of treat
les have been entered into between the
two countries in recent years, by which
nearly all OF the unsettled questions be-
tween them Of any Importance have been
adjusted by agreement or arrangements
made for their settlement by arbitration
Recognition Of Portuguese Republic.
The National Constituent assembly. reg
ularly elected by the vote of the PortII-
guese people, having on June Is last
proclaimed q republican gov
eminent. the official recognition Of the
government Of the United States was
given to the new republic In the after
noon Of the same day.
Conventions and Confer
enees.
The supplementary protocol to The
Hague convention for the establishment
OF an international prize court, mentioned
In my last annual message, embodytng
providing for an alternative
procedure which would remove the con
stitutiOnal objection to that part OF The
Hague convention which provides thai
there may be an appeal to the proposed
court from the decisions Of national
courts. has received the signature OF
the governments parties 10 the original
and has been ratified BY the
Of the United States toKeth-
err with the prize court convention.
The deposit Of the rRtincations with
the government OF the Netherlands
awaits action by the powers on the dec
laratien. signed at London on February