New-York tribune., 1911-12-08
Hopes to Settle Passport Question.

Re- direction OF the state Department
our Ambassador 70 Russia has recently
been having n series or onleTehceS WIZ
tbe Minister Of Foreign Affairs or Russia
with a view 10 securing clearer unueIe
standing and construction of tho treaty OF
1S22 between Russia and the United states
and the modification Of any eKlsthg rus
sian regulations which ma az ~ }1,, ECO Tecozni
tion OF the rights Of American cltZens
under this treaty 7 believe that tIe
government OF Russia Is addressing itseia
seriously 10 the need or changlIIg Ldt
nreeent nractice under the treaty ana tnat
sufficient progress has been made TO war
rant the continuance Of those conferences
I'm the hope that there may soon ne re-
moved any justification or the conlpIaiIIltss 9
~ treaty violation now prevalent in TINS
expect that Immediately after tho
Christmas recess 7 shall he able 10 make
a further communication to congress ."
Eegotiations for the amelioration OF
condftions found TO exist in Liberia by
the American commission. undertaken
through the Department of state, nave
heen concluded and il is only necessary
for certain formalities to be arranged IN
Securing the loan which IL Is hoped VII,
place that republic on practical hnahci"l
and economic footing. .,.,,,
The National Constituent Asscmpiy,
regularly elected by the vote Of. the
Portuguese people, having on June ~ ,. last
unanimously proclaimed Lepuo1,C9iil pudog,'il
ton of the government OF the I,i Hni'fa iS
states was given to the new republic III
tho afternoon OF the same dav.
Negotistions for the betterment or con
ditions existing In tho Spitzbcrgen ISL
snds and the adjustment or conhlCI,l,E N,l,''
claims of American citizens and Nor
veeian subjects 10 lands In that archI-
pclago are still I'm progress.
international Prize Court. .,.--..
The supplementary protocol OF The
Hague convention for The cstahllshmeHI
OF an International prize court nthllonHcu
in my last annual message, embooylhe
stinmiations providing for an alternative
rroceoure which would remove the consul
tutiona objection ~ that part ot me l'ague
convention which provides that there may
bc an appeal to the proposed court from
thc decisions Of national courts, has re-
r.iyod tile signatures Of the governments
parties to the original convention anu ~ IL
been ratified by the government OF iIa we
United states. together with lle Pil~'
court convention. A.,
THE deposit of the ratifications with the
government Of the Netherlands aWalts
action by the powers on me dado ~
Sioned al London on February 2b. 1903. OF
thc rules Of international law 10 be reCog
nized within the meaning OF Article, II on
tho Hague convention for the establishment
Of an international prize court.
Fur Seal Treaty.
Tho fur seal controversy. which for near
.Iv tvyentv-hye years has been the source
of serious friction between the tHlt'u
states and the powers bordering upon tllr
North Pacific Ocean, whose supJects nav
hcou permitted 20 engage IN pelaSlc Sedi
inc against the fur seal herds haNlnE th'l
hrccding grounds within the Jurisdiction
of tho United states. has AT last heen SstiS-
factorily adjusted by the CONCLUSION or INC
Norih Pacific sealing convention entered
into between the United states. Great BRIT
ain. JauAn and Russia on the dh OF JnN
last This convention is a conservation
measure of very great importance. ana II IL
is carried ont i'm the spirit Of reciprocal con
cession and advantage upon which " Is
based there Is every reason TO believe tnat
moi only will n result in preserving tho Iur
seal herds of the North Pacinc ocean ana
restoring them To their former Valuo l9r
,I,, rtrpoecs of commerce. but also that II
viii afford a permanently satisfactory set-
,iaunsnt Of a question the only other sou
ton of which seemed 10 he the total destIuc-
tiou Of the tur seals. In an"thel dspe,I
also this convention ls OF lmpcr'su.e w
that n furnishes an illustration of me
Feasibility Of securing general interla
Uoual game law for the protection "t "th'g
tna,niusl9 Of tho ses. the preservation OF
which IS of Importance to AN th' hdtoH'
Of the world ,-,,
called to III" necessity for legiSia'iou on
tho part Of the United states for the pur,
pose Of fuhllinE Tho obligations a"sulh'p
under this convention. to which the Sehh'"
cavc it's advice and consent on the'4th DAY
Of July last. .
Tie conference Of the international Union
for the Projection or industrial Proportl'
which under tho authority % congress
convened al Washington on May 10. iAli,
closed its labors on June .. 1911 by the
signature Of three acts, follows.
- \ convention revising the Paris con