The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-12-14
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-Mercha Marine Needed.

was read in congress today. II deals en-
tireiS with foreign affairs. The message
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.
fhe year Just passed marks an i'm
portant general movement on the part OF
the powers for broader arbitration. In
the recognition of the manifold oenentS
10 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 or
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 Its alliance
with Japan and the French government
also expedited the negotiations with sig
nal good viii. The new treaties nave
been submitted TO the senate and are
awaiting its advice and consent 70 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 G. Co. Settled.
I am glad to report that on July . last
the American claim of Alsop, q Co.
against the government OF chile was
finally disposed Of by the decision or MS
Britannia majesty George v, TO whom;
as amiable COmpOsiteur, the matter nau
been referred for determination. HIS
majesty made an award OF nearly Sl,VOy,-
900 to the claimants, which was promptly
paid by Chile. The settlement or TINS
controversy has happily eliminated from
the Tpl1flanC hpTNREn the gDLDl OF
Chile and the United states the only
question which for two decades had CIV
en- the two foreign offices any serious
concern and makes possible the uhob--
stTuCted development Of the relations o!
friendship which K has been the aim or
this government in every possible way 10
further and cultivate.
Affiliations.
In further illustration of the practical
and benehcent application Of the pr!nci-
pie Of arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit Of COnCiliatIOn, | am happy
TO advert TO the part of the. United states
in facilitating amicable settlement OF DIS
putes which enaCe the peace between
Panama and Costa RlCa and between
Haiti and the Dominican republic.
Since the date Of their independence,
Colombia and Costa RiCa had been seek
Ing a solution of a boundary dispute,
which came as a heritage from Colombia
TO the new republic of Panama, upon It's
~Seginning me as ,a an IN Po fbe reauest Of
both governments the agents represent
ing them met in conference at the depart
ment of state and subsequently conclud-
ed a protocol submitting this long-pend-
ing controversy to the arbitral udgme
OF the chief justice Of the United states,
who consented TO act in this capacity. "A
boundary commission, according 10 the
international agreement, has now been
appointed, and 1t is expected that the ar
guments will shortly proceed and that
this long-standing dispute will be honor
Rb1y and satisfactorily terminated.
Again, a few months ago II appeared
that the Dominican republic and Haiti
were about to enter upon hostilittes be-
cause of complications growing out or an
acrimonious boundary dispute which the
efforts of many years had failed TO solve.
The government of the United States, by
q friendly interposition 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-
can interests; The government en- OF .he
proper observance and enforcement OF
the so-called neutrality statutes or the
federal government Issued dlrecaons 70
the appropriate officers to exercise a dill
gent and vigilant regard for the require
ments OF such rules and laws. Although
a condition OF actual armed confilct ex..
listed. there was no official recognition or
belligerency involving the technical neu-
trality obligations of International law.
On the 9Th OF March last, in the alb
sence of the secretary OF state, l had a
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
,lnsa1. that President DiaZ WAS on a vol
cano OF popular uprising; that the small
outbreaks which had occurred were only
s~ymptomatic Of the whole condition; that
a very large per cent. of the people were
in sympathy with the Instruction; that a
general explosion was probable at any
time, in which case he feared that the
I4O. 900 or more American residents in
Mexico might be assailed. and that the
very large American investments might
be Injured or destroyed.
After a conference with the secretary
of war and the secretary of the navy, i
thought 1t wise to assemble an army
division Of full strength at San Antonio,
Tex, q brigade of three regiments at
Galveston, a brigade OF infantry In the
Los Angeles district OF southern Cali
fornia. together with a squadron Of bat
tleships and cruisers and transports at
Galveston, and a small squadron OF ships
at San Diego. At the same time, through
our representative at the City OF Mexico
I expressed TO President DiaZ the hope
that no approximations might result from
~unfounded conjectures as to these mill
tary maneuvers, and assured him that
they had no significance which should
cause concern to his government.
am more than happy to here record
the fact that all apprehensions 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 tina 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 c~ontending
forces struck American citizens engaged
In their lawful occupations on American
Boii.
Proper protests were made against
these invasions 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-
hon of American rights.
The policy and action of this govern
ment were based upon an earnest friend
"a aa N NVhnIA