The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-12-05

treaty liberties on those coasts, and
also for determining the delimitation
of Jays on such coasts more than 10
miles wide in accordance with the
definition ADOPTED by the tribunal of
the meaning of the word bays as
used in the treaty.
imperial Valley and Mexico.
In order to make possible the more
effective performance of the work nee
essary for the confinement in their
present channel Of the waters of the
lower Colorado river, and thus to pro-
tect the people of the Imperial Val
hey, as we'll as in order TO reach with
the government Of Mexico an under
standing regarding the distribution of
the waters OF the Colorado river, in
which both governments are much
interested, negotiations are going for
ward with view to the establish
ment of a preliminary Colorado river
commission, which shall have the
powers necessary to enable 1t to do
the needful work and with authority
to study the question of the equitable
distribution of the waters. There Ia
every reason to believe that an I'M
Outstanding upon this point will be
reached and that an agreement will
be signed in the near future
The message told what the govern
ment has done in connection with the
Balkan war and in placing the gov
eminent of Liberia in position to pay
it's debts. The new condition of af-
fairs in China was set forth, and
then our relations with Central and
South American governments were
set forth in more detail. 1t concluded
as follows:
Congress should fully realize the
conditions which obtain in the world
as we find ourselves at the threshold
of our middle age as nation. We
have emerged full grown as s. peer in
the great concourse of nations. We
have passed through various forma-
tive periods We have been self-cen-
tered in the struggle to develop our
domestic resources and deal with our
domestic questions. The nation is
now too mature to continue In its for
eign relations those temporary expe-
dents natural to people to whom do
nestle affairs are the sole concern.
In the past our diplomacy has often
consisted, in normal times, in a mere
assertion Of the right to international
existence. We are now in larger
relation with broader rights of our
own and obligations to others than
ourselves. A number of great guild
ing principles were laid down early in
the history Of this government. The
recent task of our diplomacy has been
to adjust those principles to the con-
ditions of today, to develop their corol-
laries, to find practical applications OF
the old principles expanded to meet
new situations. Thus are being
evolved bases upon which can rest
the superstructure of policies which
must grow with the destined progress
of this nation. The successful con-
duct Of our foreign relations demands
broad and q modern view. We can
not meet new questions nor build for
the future if we confne ourselves to
outworn dogmas OF the past and to
the perspective appropriate at our
emergence from colonial times and
conditions. The opening Of the Pana-
ma canal will mark a new era In our
international life and create new and
worldwide conditions which, with
their vast correiations and conse-
quences, will obtain for hundreds OF
years to come We must not wait for
events to overtake ug uIawares. With
continuity Of purpose we must deal
with the problems Of our external re-
lations by a diplomacy modern, re-
sourceful magnanimous, and 1ttfngly
expressive of the high ideals of
great nation.
VIII. II. TAFT.
The White House,
December 3, 1919.