The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-12-04

| pension OF all IanO Killing OF seals on
the Pribilof islands for a period of
five years, and an objection has now
been presented to this provision by the
other parties in interest, which raises
the issue as to whether or not this
prohibition of land killing is inconsist-
ent with the spirit If not the letter of
the treaty st%ipulations. The justifca-
ton for establishing this close season
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
| ton requiring examination Of the pres
ent condition Of the herd and the treat
ment which it 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. Z, 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. 1 and was formally rati-
fed by the two governments on Nov. Is
last.
Opium Observation-Disclosures Fall
ure Of Our Government.
In my message OF foreign relations
| communicated to the two houses of
congress Dec. Z, 1911, I 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 it seemed to
me most essential that the congress
should take immediate action on the
a~nti-narcottc legislation before the con-
gress, to which l had previously called
attention by a special message.
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 ex-
ecutive departments and which have
behind them not only the moral senti-
pent Of the country, but the practical
support of all the legitimate trade in
terests likely to be affected. Since the
international convention was signed
adherence to 1t has been made by sew
eral European states not represented
at 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 a treaty of peace, subse-
quently to which the Ottoman empire
EcllOullCcu ooNtIclSply oNCA SSlCldlCd
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, wal
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 l have dispatched to Turkish
waters a special service squadron, cor
sisting of two armored cruisers, in or
der that this government may If neeG
be bear it's part in such measures as il
may be necessary for the interested ma
tons to adopt for the safeguarding o.
foreign lives and property in 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 O
Liberia in position to p-t7 its outstand
ing indebtedness and to maintain
stable and efficient government, nego
tiations for a loan of ST. 900 hav,
been successfully concluded, and it
anticipated that the payment of tn
old loan and the issuance Of the bond
Of the 1912 loan for the rehabilitation o
the finances of Liberia will follow a
an early date, when the new receiver
ship will go into active operation. TIL
new receivership will consist of a gen
eral receiver of customs designated b
the government Of the United State
and three receivers Of customs desil
mated by the governments of Germany
France and Great Britain, which cour
tries have commercial interests in til
republic of Liberia.
The Far East.
The political disturbances in Chin
in the autumn and winter of 1911-1
resulted In the abdication of the Maj