Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-12-05
PRERIDENT TAFT'S MESSAGE
Continued from page -.

depends, under the terms of the con-
vention, upon how far If at all it is
necessary for protecting and preserv-
ing the American fur seal herd and for
increasing its number. This is ques
ton requiring examination of the pres
.ent condition Of the herd and the treat
ment which 1t needs in the light Of
actual experience and scientific inves-
tigation.
Final Settlement Of North Atlantic
Fisheries Dispute.
On the Goth of July last an agree
ment was concluded between the Unit
ed States and Great Britain adopting
with certain notifications. the rules
and method of procedure recommend
ed in the award rendered by the North
Atlantic coast fisheries arbitration tri.
bunal on Sept. 7, 1910, for the settle
ment hereafter, in accordance with
the principles laid down in the award,
Of questions arising with reference to
the exercise Of the American fishing
liberties under Article l Of the treaty
of Oct. 20. 1918, between the United
States and Great Britain. This agree
ment received the approval of the SEN
ate on Aug. l and was formally rati-
fed by the two governments on Nov. Is
last.
Opium Conference-Unfortunate Fail
ure Of Our Government.
In my message on foreign relations
communicated to the two houses Of
congress Dec. Z. 1911, l called special
attention to the assembling Of the
opium conference at The Hague, to the
fact that that conference was to review
all pertinent municipal laws relating to
the opium and allied evils and certain
ly all international rules regarding these
evils, and to the fact that 1t seemed to
me most essential that the congress
should take immediate action on the
anti-narcotic legislation before the con-
gress, to which l had previously called
attention by a special message.
The congress ut 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 ex-
ecutive departments and which have
behind them not only the moral senti-
ment of the country, but the practical
support Of all the legitimate trade in.
terests likely to be affected Since the
interna tional convention was signed
adherence to it has been made by sew
eral European states not represented
ut the conference Of The Hague and
also by seventeen Latin-American re-
publics.
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. Dur
ing the past year the near east has un-
fortunately been the theater Of con-
slant hostilities. Almost simultaneous
ly with the conclusion Of peace be-
tween Italy and Turkey and their ar
rival at an adjustment Of the complex
questions at issue between them, war
broke out between Turkey on the one
hand and Bulgaria, Greece, MOntene-
gro and Servia on the other.
In the exercise of my duty in the
matter have dispatched to Turkish
waters a special service squadron. con.
sisting of two arm6red cruisers. in or
der that this government may II need