The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-12-14

I WHTvE
technicalities and to enter at once upoi
negotiations for a new treaty on the un
Outstanding that there should be con
tnuance throughout the life OF the treat,
of the same effective measures for thu
restriction of immigration OF laborers Il
American territory which had been II
operation with entire satisfaction to both
governments since 1908 The japanese
government accepted this basis of nego
tiation, and n new treaty was quickly
| concluded resulting in 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 al
times considerable political unrest The
| Moroccan question. which for some
happily appears to have reached stage
| at which It need no longer be regarded
with concern. The Ottoman empire was
occupied for a period by strife IN Al
| Greece and the Balkan countries the
disquieting potentialities OF this situation
have been more or less felt. Persia has
eeeh These Conditions have been tbe
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 tnat
conflict. AT the same time all necessary
| steps have been taken to safeguard the
| personal interests Of American citizens
and organizations in so far as affected
| by the war.
Fur-Seal Treaty.
| The fur-sea controversy, which for
| nearly twenty-five years has been the
| source OF serious friction between the
United States and the powers bordering
! upon the north Pacific ocean. whose sup,
jects have been permitted to engage IN
| pelagic sealing against the fur-seal herds
| having their breeding grounds Wltnih the
| jurisdiction OF the United States, has az
last been satisfactorily adjusted by me
| conclusion OF the North Pacific sealing
| convention entered into between the
| United States, Great Britain Japan and
Russia on the seventh of July last
The attention of congress is especially
| called. TO the necessity for legislation on
| The part of the United States for the pur,
| pose Of fulfilling the obligations assumed
| under this convention. to which the SEN
ate gave its advice and consent on 'he
| tWenty-fourth day of July last
international Opium Commission.
| In special message transmitted to the
| congress on the seventh of January, 1911
| in which | cOncurred in the rccomnenda-
| uons made by the secretary OF state IN
| regard to certain needful legislation Tor
| the control of our interstate and foreign
| traffic in opium and other menacinS
| drugs, / quoted from my annual mes
sage OF December Z. 1909, in which | an
| nonnced that the results OF the Interha-
uonal Opium commission held at Shang-
| hal In February, 1909 at the invitation or
! the United States. had been laid before
| This government: that tho report OF that
commission showed that China was max
| Ing remarkable progress and admlrabIe
| eTorts toward the eradication or the
| opium evil: that the interested govern
| nents had not permitted their CONNER
| ca! interests TO prevent their co-ooera-
! callateral Investigations OF the OPIUM
| question In this country, ! recommendeu
| that the manufacture, sale and use or
| opium In the United States should be
| more vigorously controlled by legislation,
| Prior to that time and in continuation
| OF the policy OF this government to Sc.
cure the cooperation OF the interested
| nations the United states proposed an
| International opium conference with run
| powers for the purpose OF clothing with
| the force 81 international law the reso.
| commission. together with their essen
| ta corollories The other powers con-
| cerned cordially responded TO the pro,
posal OF this government. and am glad
| 10 be able to announce. representatives
OF all the powers assembled In conference
Mt The Hague on the first OF this month
Foreign Trade Relations Of the United
States.
| In my last annual message I referred
| to the tariff negotiations of the depart
| ment Of state with foreign countries In
| connection with the application, by Sc
rics OF proclamatops, of the minimum
| tariff Of the United States 10 mporta-
| tons from the several countries and
| stated that. In Its general operation. sec
| tion OF the new tariff law had proved
| guaranty OF continued commercial
| peace, although there were, unfortunate
| ", instances where foreign governments
| dealt arbitrarily with American interests
! within their jurisdiction In a manner in
| ri n nj In. fnl1 l..
| year some instances OF dlscrimina tory
! treatment have been removed but re-
| gret to say that there remain few
| cases OF dlffercntal treatment adverse to
| the commerce OF the United States. While
| none OF these instances now appears to
| amount to undue discrimination in the
| sense OF section of the tariff law or
| August 8. 1900. they are all exceptions to
that complete degree Of equality OF tar
| IN treatment that the department or
| state has consistently sought to obtain
| for American commerce abroad.
| While the double tariff feature OF the
| tariff law OF 1909 has been amply justi-
| fed by the results achieved In removing
| former and preventing new, undue dis
| examinations against American commerce,
| II is believed that the time has come for
| the amendment OF this feature OF the law
| IN such way as to provide n graduated
! means OF meeting varying degrees OF
| discriminatory treatment OF American
| commerce In foreign countries as well az
| 10 protect the financial interests abroad
of American citizens against arbitrary
| and injurious treatment on the part OF
| foreign governments through either leg
| lslntive or administrative measures.
| II would seem desirable that the maxi
| mum tariff Of the United States should
embrace within its purvew the free list,
| which is not the case AT the present time.
| In order that II might have reasonable
! Significance to the governments OF those
| countries from which the importations
| into the United States are confined Nir-
| 10 IN 10, an hn fro
| The fiscal year ended June 20. 1911,
! shows great progress In the development
| ~ American trade. II was noteworthy
as marking the highest record OF exports
| Of American products TO foreign coun-
| tries the valuation being In excess OF
2Oo0C0 .0o0 Thes" exports showed n
gain over the preceding year OF more
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
need hardly rolterate the conviction
| that there should speedily be built up an
American merchant marine. This Is nee
pssary 90 assure favorable uansporta-
| ton facilities TO our great ocean-borne
commerce as well ms TO supplement the
| navy with an adequate reserve OF ships
and men. 1t would have the economic ad-
vantage OF Keeping NJ home part OF the
| vast sums now paid foreign shipping for
carrying American goods. All the great
| commercial nations pay heavy subsidies
| to their merchant marine, so that II IL
obvious that without some wise aid from
| the congress the United States must lag
| behind IN the matter OF merchant marine
| IN rs present anomalous position.
Improvement Of the Foreign Service.
The entire forciEn-scrvice organization
| IL being improved and developed with
| especial regard TO the requirements OF
the commercial interests OF the country.
The rapid growth Of our foreign trade
makes N OF the utmost Importance that
governmental agencies through which
That trade is to be aided and protected
should possess n high degree OF eff
cheney Not only should the foreign rep