Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-07
DISCUSSES
HISTORY OF YEAR
Message to Congress on Foreign
Relations Touches on Rus
sian Passport TangIe.


the present session President Taft to-
United States with foreign govern
ments during the past year. In this
message the President gave the first
official explanation OF the post-haste
movement OF 1000 Federal troops to
Mexico nine months ago; urged the
United States Senate to ratify the gen
era1 arbitration treaties with Great
Britain and France and the conven-
ions with Nicaragua n Honduras.
and suggested legislation that he de
clared would strengthen this nations
world trade and position among the
other powers. The message was read
in Congress today.
Discusses Huss.en Passports.
on tvo subjects included under
Foreign Relations the President
spoke only in brief fashion. He in
formed Congress of the conferences be
gun by American Ambassador Guild at
st. Petersburg in regard to the qUes-
ton of passports in Russia for Amer
lean Jews and explained that after the
Christmas holidays he expected to send
a special message on this subject.
Although not brought ont in today's
message, it was understood that the
brief mention of the arbitration
treaties will be followed later by a
special message to the Senate. before
which they are pending, urging at
length their ratification.
The Presidents reference to the
passport question was added after the
other parts of the message had been
written.
Russia 10 Take Action.
BY direction of the state depart
ment.' 1t read Our ambassador TO
Russia has recently been having a Sc
ries of conferences with the minister of
foreign affairs of Russia, with "A view
10 securing a clearer understanding
end construction of the treaty of 1882
between Russia and the United States,
and the modification of n existing
Russian regulations which may be
found TO interfere in IN way with
the full recognition of the rights of
American citizens under the treaty. ]
believe that the government of Rus
STA. is addressing itself seriously to the
treaty, and that sufficient progress has
been made to warrant the continuance
of these conferences in the hope that
there may be soon removed n justifi-
cation of the complaints of treaty VIC
Iation now prevalent in this country. !
expect that Immediately after the
Christmas recess I shall be able TO
make a further communication to Con-
gress on this subject
recommends New Laws.
Aside from his review of the world
history for the past year. i'll which
the United States particularly figured,
the President recommended to Congress
the following legislation: The enact
ment of a Law providing for the fulfill
ment of obligations assumed by the
United States in connection with the
settlement of the fur-seal controversy;
the passage of a law to forbid the car
riage of opium and other "habit-form-
ing drugs in interstate commerce; the
formation of a central organization in
the nature of q national chamber of
commerce that would keep all such or
CARNATIONS in touch with commercial
developments abroad and the enact
nent into law of executive regula-
tions providing for advancement in the
diplomatic and consular service upon
q merit basis instead of through po-
litical preferment.
Suggestion also was made by the
President that the present tariff act
should be amended so that it's maxi
mum and minimum features, designed
TO prevent undue determinations
against American commerce could be
graduated to meet varying degrees OF
discrimination such as have been en-
countered since the present law was
passed.
Urges FlexibiIlty of Tariff.
ut is increasingly Clear said the
President in this connection. that to
obtain and maintain that equity and
substantial equality of treatment es-
sential to the hourishing foreign trade,
which becomes year by year more i'm
portant to the industrial and
cial welfare of the United states, We
should nave a f~exibility of tariff suffi-
cient for the give and take of negotis-
ton by the Department of State ON
behalf of our commerce and industry"
Quitting the idea of a central cham
Der OF commerce. Mr.. Taft suggested
that such an organization might be
managed by a committee composed by
a small number of those now actively
engaged in carrying on the work Of
some of the large associations of This
kind with members eX-officio from the
State and and labor depart
ments. In leading up to this suggestion
Mr.. Taft showed that in the fiscal yea
ending June 80. 1911. the value of Amer
lean exports increased $500, OOO, 900 over
the previous year but indicated thai
further increase was possible.
Explains Mnssing of Troops.
The Presidents explanation of the
sudden dispatch of one-quarter of the
army to the Mexican border agreed
with the unofficial reasons for that
troop movement given last spring, but
he showed in a confidential letter to
General Leonard Wood. chief of staff
of the army. that there was no doubt
in his mind as TO what he would do if
he had found American ives and prop
erty in danger.
1T seems my duty as commander
in-chief,' said the President in this
letter, made public for the first time
in today's message, Ito place troops in
sufficient number where. if Congress
shall direct that they enter Mexico to
save American lives and property. an
effective movement may be promptly
made
The outcome of the troop movement,
Mr.. Taft declared, was entirely salts
focto,,- Tho raapnf aftan1pf to ,n.da.