Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-12-05
tIsements. They Money Record Readers.

people was appropriately expressed i'm
q concurrent resolution Of congress on
April IT. 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 o stable republican form
Of government capable Of fulfilling its
international obligations. the United
States is, according to precedent, main
taining full and friendly de facto re-
lations with the provisional govern
ment.
The new condition Of affairs thus
created has presented many serious
and complicated problems, both Of in
ternal reha biltation and Of interna-
tional relations, whose solution 1t was
realized would necessarily require
much time and patience. From the
beginning of the upheaval last autumn
1t 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
situation already complicated. pol
Of int
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 impartiality 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
ernment Of China was assured. the
United States joined in a favorable
consideration Of that governments re-
quest for advances needed for imme-
date administrative necessities and
later for a loan to effect a 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 hed to
be essential, not only to secure reason
able protection for the foreign invest
ors. but also to safeguard and strength
en- Chna's credit by disc0uraging indis-
criminate borrowing and by insuring
the application of the funds toward the
establishment of the stable and effec-
tive government necessary to China's
welfare
In June last representative banking
groups OF the United States, France,
Germany, Great Britain. japan and
Russia formulated, with the general
sanction OF their respective govern
ments, the guarantees that would be
expected in relation to the expenditure
and security Of the large reorganization
loan desired by China. which, however,
have thus far proved unacceptable to
the provisional government.
The Cuban Situation.
The republic of Cuba last May was in
the throes of a lawless uprising that
for a time threatened the destruction
Of a great deal of valuable property
much Of it owned by Americans and
other foreigners-aS well as the exist
ence Of the government itself. The
armed force of Cuba being inadequate
to guard property from attack and at
the same time properly to operate
against the rebels, a force of American
marines was dispatched from our naval
station atGuantanamo into the province
of Oriente for the protection of Ameri-
can and other foreign life and property
The Cuban government was thus able
to use all its forces in putting down the
outbreak which it succeeded In doing
In period of six weeks. The presence
Of two American warships In the har-
bor of Havana during the most critical
period of this disturbance contributed
In great measure to allay the fears OF
the inhabitants, including a large for
eign colony.
Necessity For Retention and Expan-
sion of Our Foreign Trade.
1t is not possible to make to the con
gress a communication upon the pres
ent foreign relations Of the Omitted
States so detailed as to convey an
adequate impression Of the enormous
increase in the Importance and activi
ties of those relations. If this govern
ment is really to preserve to the Amer
lean people that free opportunity in
foreign markets which will soon be in
dispensable to our prosperity, sven
greater efforts must be made.
Conclusion.
Congress should fully realize the
conditions which obtain In the world
as we find ourselves at the threshold
Of our middle age as a nation. We
have emer0ed full grown M n n>Ar ~