Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-05


mcnt Of the country. but the psa...-
support Of all the legitimate trade In.
terests likely to be affected. Since the
international convention was signed
adherence to II has been made BY ssv.
eral European states not represented
at the conference Of The Hague and
also by seventeen Latin. American re-.
pubiics.
Europe and ths Near EAST.
The war between italy and Turkey
came to a close in October last by the
signature Of a treaty Of peace, subse-
Quently to which the Ottoman empire
renounced 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.
~ 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 ono
hand and Bulgaria, Greece, Montene.
gro and servia on the other.
In the exercise Of my duty In the
matter I have dispatched to Turkish
waters special service squadron. con.
sisting Of two armored cruisers, in or.
der that this government may II need
be bear its part in such measures a. II
may Be necessary for the interested ma.
lions to adopt for the safeguarding Of
foreign lives and property ia the Otto.
man empire IN the event that a danger.
Gus situation should develop.
Liberia.
As a result Of the efforts Of this GOV.
eminent to place the government Of
Liberia in petition to pay its outstn nd
ing indebtedness and TO maintain a
stable and eficient government. nego-
tistions for loan OF S1.700,O0o have
been successfully concluded. and II Is
anticipated that the payment Of the
old lonn and the issuance Of the bonds
Of the 1912 loan for the rehabilitation Of
the finances Of Liberia will follow ut
an early date. when the new receiver
ship will go into active operation. The
new receivervhlp will consist Of q gen.
eral receiver Of customs designated by
the government Of the United States
and three receivers Of customs desig.
France and Grent/ Brtain. which coun.
tries have commercial interests In the
republic OF Liberia.
The Far East.
The political disturbances in China
IN the autumn and winter OF 1911-12
resulted in the abdlcntion Of the Man.
chu rulers on Feb. -. followed by the
formation Of a provisional republican
government empowered to conduct the
affairs of the nation until permanent
government might be regularly estab.
lished The natural sympathy OF the
American people with the assumption
NJ republican principles by the Chinese
people was appropriately expressed in
concurrent resolution Of congress on
April II, 1912.
A constituent assembly. composed OF
representatives duly chosen by the
people Of China in the elections that
are now being held, has been called
to meet in January next to adopt
permanent constitution and organize
the government Of the nascent repub-
lie. During the formative constitutional
stage and pending definite action by
the assembly. as expressive Of the
popular will, and the hoped for estab.
lishment OF a stable republican form
Of government capable of fulfilling It's
international Obligations tie United
Etates Is. according to precedent. main
tanning full and friendly de facto re-
lationS with the provisional govern.
mcnt
The new condition OF affairs thus
created has presented many serious
and complicated problems, both Of In.
ternal rehabilitation and OF interna.
tional relations. whose solution 1t was
realized would necessarily require
much time and patience. From the
beginning VI the upheaval last autumn
it was felt by the United States. In
common with the other powers having
large interests In China. that indie
pendent action by the foreign govern.
ments In their own individual inter.
ests would add further confusion to q
situation already complicated. A pol.
Icy OF international cooperation was
accordingly adopted In an understand
ing. reached early In the disturbances
to act together for the protection of
the lives and property Of foreigners IL
menaced. to maintain an attitude Of
strict impartiallty as between the con.
tending factions and to abstain from
any endeavor to influence the Chinese
In their organization of a new form of
government.
1t was futher mutually agreed. in
the hope Of fastening an end to hos.
tilities. that none Of the interested pow
ers would approve the making Of loans
by its nationals to either side AS soon.
however. as a united provisional gov
eminent OF China was assured. the
United States Joined In favorable
consideration Of that governments re.
quest for advances needed for imme-
date administrative necessities and
later for loan to effect permanent
national reorganization. The interested
governments had already. by common
consent. adopted. in respect to the pur-
poses expenditure and security Of any
loans to China made by their nationals.
certain conditions which were held to
% essential. not only to secure reason
able protection for the foreign invest.
ors. but also to safeguard AID strength
en- China's credit by diseoura ging indis.
criminate borrowing and by insurins