The Chanute times., 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.

| suited in an even closer and more SYM
pathetic understanding between the two
| republics and warmer regard one for
| the other Action to suppress violence
and restore tranquility throughout the
Mexican republic was of peculiar inter-
est to this government, in that 1t con-
cerned the safeguarding of American life
and property in that country. On May
%, 1911, President Diaz resigned, Senor
de la Barra was chosen provisional presi-
dent Elections for president and vice.
| president were thereafter held through
out the republic, and Senior Francisco 1.
Madero was formally declared elected on
| october 15, to the chief magistracy. On
| November President Madero entered
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
should be attributed to the consumma-
| tlon OF the conventions between the re-
| pupncs OF Nicaragua and of Honduras
| and this country. and 1 again earnestly
| recommend that the necessary advice and
| consent of the senate be accorded to
these treaties, which will make 1t posi-
BILE for these Central American repub-
lies to enter upon an era of genuine eco
nomiC national development.
| Our relations with the Republic of
Panama, peculiarly important, due to mu-
| tual obligations and the vast interests
| created by the canal, have continued in
tilc usual lIltHuly UdUIltl' anu Wt lih'N
| been glad to make appropriate express
| sion of our attitude of sympathetic In
terest In the endeavors OF our nelghpor
| In undertaking the development Of the
| rich resources of the country.
The Chinese Loans.
| The past year has been marked in our
| relations with China by the conclusion
| of two important International loans, one
| for the construction OF the Hukuang rail-
| ways, the other for the carrying out OF
| the currency reform to which China was
| pledged, by treaties with the United
| States Great Britain and Japan, OF
| which 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
| of moderization, are the cooperative pol
Icy of good understanding which has been
| fostered by the International projects re-
ferred to above and the general sym
pathy 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-
ed on July II, 1912. Japan's general
treaties with the other powers, however,
terminated in 1911. and the japanese gov
ernment expressed an earnest desire to
with the United States simultaneously
with It's negotiations with the other pow.
ers. There were a number of important
questions involved in the treaty, includ-
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
technicalties and to enter at once upon
negotiations for a new treaty on the un-
derstanding that there should be con-
tinuance throughout the life Of the. treaty
Of hn n1n off f11a
restriction Of immigration of laborers to
American territory which had been In
operation with entire satisfaction to both
governments since 1908. The japanese
government accepted this basis of nego-
tiation, 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
at which II 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
dsquieting potentialities Of this situation
have been more or less felt. Persia has
been the scene of long internal strug-
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 a proclamation OF neutrality in that
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.
In spite of the attendant economic un-
certainties and detriments to commerce.
the United States has gained markedly in
It's commercial standing with certain Of
the nations of the near east.
Coronation of King George v.
The 22d of June of the present year
marked the coronation Of his Britannia
this auspicious occasion / sent a special
embassy to London. The courteous and
cordial welcome extended to this gov
errment's representatives by his majesty
and the people Of Great Britain has fur
ther emphasized the strong bonds of
friendship happily existing between the
two nations.
Settlement of Differences With Great
Britain.
As the result of a determined effort on
the part of both Great Britain and the
United States to settle all of their out
standing differences a 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 Portu-
guese people. having on June 10 last
unanimously proclaimed a republican gov
ernment the official recognition OF the
government of the United States was
given to the new republic in the after
noon of the same day.
International Conventions and Confer
ences.
The supplementary protocol to The
Hague convention for the establishment
of an International prize court, mentioned
in my last annual message. embodying
stipulations providing for an alternative
procedure which would remove the con-
stitutional 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 received the signature OF
the governments parties TO the original
convention and has been ratified by the
government OF the United States. togeth-
er with the prize court convention.
The deposit OF the Publications with
the government OF the Netherlands
awaits action by tho powers on the dec
- - ae