Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-07

new fishery regulations on the treaty
coasts Of Newfoundland and Canada
before such regulations could be en-
forced against American fishermen
exercising their treaty liberties on
those coasts, and also for determining
the delimitation of bays on such
coasts more than 10 miles wide. in ac-
cordance with the definition adopted
by the tribunal of the meaning OF the
word bays" as used in the treaty. In
the subsequent negotiations between
the two Governments. undertaken for
the purpose of giving practical effect to
these rules and methods of procedure.
il was found that certain modifica-
lions therein were desirable from the
point OF view of both Governments,
and these negotiations have finally re-
suited in the agreement above mem
toned by which the award recommen-
dations as modified by mutual con-
sent of the two Governments are final
ly adopted and made effective. thus
bringing this century-old controversy
to final conclusion, which is equal
ly beneficial and satisfactory to both
Governments.
In my message on foreign relations
communicated to the two Houses of
Congress December z, 1911. | called
especial attention TO the assembling
of the Opium Conference at The Ha-
que, to the fact that that conference
was to review all pertinent municipal
laws relating to the opium and allied
evils, and certainly all international
rules regarding these evils, and to
the fact that it seemed to me most es-
sential that the Congress should take
Immediate action on the antinarcotie
legislation before the Congress, to
which | had previously called atten-
ton by special message
The international convention adopt
ed by the conference conforms al
most entirely to the principles con-
tanned in the proposed antnarcotic
legislation which has been before the
last two Congresses. 1t was unfortu-
nate that this government, having
taken the initiative in the information
al action which eventuated in the i'm
portant international opium conven-
ton, failed to do its share in the great
work by neglecting to pass the neces-
sary legislation to correct the deplor-
able narcotic evil in the United States
as well as to redeem international
pledges upon which it entered by vir-
tue of the aforementioned conven-
ton. The congress at its present SEES
sion 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 ether executive departments, and
which have behind them not only the
moral sentiment of the country, but
the practical support of all the legiti-
mate trade interests likely to be af-
fected Since the international con-
vention was signed, adherence to it
has been made by several European
States not represented at the confer
ence at The Hague and also by seven
teen Latin-American Republics.
Europe and the Near EAST
The war between Italy and Turkey
came to a close in October last by the
signature of treaty of peace, subse-
quently to which the Ottoman Empire
renowned sovereignty over Cyrenaica
and Tripolitania in favor of Italy.
During the past year the Near East
has unfortunately been the theatre of
constant hostilities. Almost simultan
eously with the conclusion of peace
between Italy and Turkey and their
arrival at an adjustment of the COM
pick questions at issue between, war
broke out between Turkey on the one
hand and Bulgaria, Greece, Montenev
gro and Servia on the other. The Unit
ed States has happily been involved
neither directly nor indirectly with
the causes or questions incident to
any of these hostilities and has main
tanned in regard TO them an attitude of
absolute neutrality and of complete
political disinterestedness. In the
second war in which the Ottoman
Empire has been engaged the loss of
life and the consequent distress on
both sides have been appalling, and
in the interest of humanity, to carry
the United States has found occasion,
out the charitable desires of the
American people, to extend measure
of relief to the sufferers on either side
through the impartiaf medium of the
Red Cross. Beyond this the chief
care of the Government of the Unit
ed States has been to make due pro-
vision for the protection of its nation
ais resident in belligerent territory.
In the exercise of my duty in this
matter | have dispatched to Turkish
waters, a specialservice squadron,
consisting of two armored cruisers, in
order that this Government may if
need be bear its part in-such measures
as ii may be necessary for the inter
ested nations to adopt for the safe
guarding of foreign lives and proper