Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

tirely to the principles contained in the
proposed anti-narcotic legislation which
has been before the last two Congresses.
1t was most unfortunate that this gov
eminent having taken the initiative in
the international action which eventuated
IN the important international opium con-
Vent1on, failed to do it's share in the great
work by neglecting to pass the necessary
Legislation to correct the deplorable mar
cotic evil in the United States as well
as to redeem international pledges upon
which it entered by virtue of the above
mentioned convention. The Congress at
its present session should enact into law
those bills now before it which have been
so carefully drawn up in collaboration
between the Department of State and
the other executive departments, and
which have behind them not only the
moral sentiment of the country, but the
practical support of all the legitimate
trade interests likely to be affected Since
the International convention was signed
adherence to it has been made by sew
eral European states not represented at
the conference at The Hague and also
by seventeen Latin-American republics.
The war between Italy and Turkey
came to close in October last by the
signature of a treaty
Europe and of peace. subse-
~. M.. - quently to which the
the Near East. ottoman empire
renowned sovereignty over Cyrenaica and
Tripolitania in favor Of Italy. During the
past year the near east has unfortunately
been the theater Of constant hostilities.
Almost simultaneously with the conclu-
sion of peace between Italy and Turkey
Pfvyo1 ot &c
the complex questions at issue between
them war broke out between Turkey on
the one hand and Bulgaria, Greece, Mon
tenegro and Servia on the other. The
United States has happily been involved
neither directly nor indirectly with the
causes or questions incident to any of
these hOstilities and has maintained in
regard to them an attitude of absolute
neutrality and of complete political dis
interestedness. In the second war in
which the Ottoman empire has been en-
gagged the loss Of life and the subsequent
distress on both sides have been appall-
ing, and the United States has found oc-
casion, in the interest of humanity. to
carry out the charitable desires of the
American people, to extend a measure of
relief to the sufferers on either side
through the impartial medium of the Red
Cross.
Beyond this the chief care of the gov
to make due provision for the protection
of it's nationals resident in belligerent
territory. In the exercise of my duty in
this matter l have dispatched to Turkish
waters a special-service squadron, con-
sisting of two armored cruisers, in order
that this government may If need be
bear its part in such measures a. it may
be necessary for the interested nations
to adopt for the safeguarding Of foreign
lives and property in the Ottoman en-
mir in, hn fhnf n no cit
uation should develop. In the mean
while the several interested European
powers have promised to extend to Amer
lean citizens the benefit of such pre-
cautionary or protective measures as they
might adopt, in the same manner in
which it has been the practice of this
government to extend it's protection to all
foreigners resident in those countries of
the western hemisphere in which it has
from time to time been the task Of the
United States to act in. the interest of
peace and good order. The early ap-
pearance of a large fleet of European
warships in the Bosporus apparently
assured the protection of foreigners in
that quarter, where the presence OF the
American stationnaire the L. S. S. Scor-
pion sufficed, under the circumstances, to
represent the United States. Our cruisers
were thus left free to act If need be
along the Mediterranean coasts should
any unexpected contingency arise affect
the neigh5orhood of Smyrna and Beirut
1.-THE great preponderance of American
material interests in the subarctic Island
of SpitZbergen, which has
SpitZ- always been regarded politi-
cally as no mans land, I'M
Doi SoA' pels. this government to a
int in no int
national dispositions to be made for the
political goverance and administration of
that region. The conflict of certain claims
of American citizens and others is in a
fair way to adjustment, while the settle
ment of matters of administration,
whether by international conference of
the interested powers or otherwise. con-
tinues to be the subject of exchange of
views between the governments con-
cerned.
LAS a result of the effopts of this gov
Liberia in position to pay
Llberian it's outstanding indebted
ness and to maintain
Hn"AooS' stable and efficient gov
eminent. negotiations for a loan of ST.
nave DSeu successfully SOHCluueu,
and 1t is. anticipated that the payment of
the old loan and the issuance of the bonds
of the 1912 loan for the rehabilitation
of the finances of Liberia will follow at
an early date, when the new receivership
will go into active operation. The new
will consist of a general re-
ceiver of customs designated by the gov
eminent of the United States and three
receivers of customs designated by the
governments of Germany. France and
Great Britain. which countries have COM
mercial interests In the republic of
Liberia.
In carrying out the understanding be-
tween the government of Liberia and that
of the United States, and in fulfilling the
terms of the agreement between the for
mer government and the American bank
ers three competent ex-army officers are
now effectively employed by the Liberian
government in recognizing the police
force of the republic. not only to keep in
order the native tribes in the hinterland,
but to serve as necessary police force
along the frontier. 1t is hoped that these
measures will assure not only the con-
unued existence, but the prosperity and