Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-12-05

The act adopted at the last session
of congress to give effect TO the fur
seal convention Of July Z, 1911. between
Great Britain. Japan, Russia and the
| United States provided for the sus-
| pension of all land killing of seals on
the Pribllof islands for 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 il not the letter OF
the treaty stipulations The justifica
ton for establishing this close season
depends, under the terms of the con
venton, upon how far If at all 1t 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 il 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 | 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. -
last.
Opium Observation-Disclosures Fail
ure of Our Government.
In my message on foreign relations
communicated to the two houses OF
congress Dec. Z. 1911, 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 10
the opium and allied evils and certain
ly all international rules regarding these
evils. and to the fact that 1t seemed Co
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 at its present session
should enact into law those bills now
before it which have been SO carefully
drawn ND i'm collabOra ton between the
department of state and the other eX-
ecutive departments and which have
behind them not only the moral senh-
ment 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 it has been made by sew
eral European states not represented
at the conference Of The Hague and
also by seventeen Latin-A 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
renounced sovereignty over Cyrenaica
and TripOlitania i'm favor of Italy. Dur
ing the past year the near east has un-
fortunately been the theater of con
cfo nf Inn nj 70 no
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 l have dispatched to Turkish
waters a special service squadron, con
sisting of two armored cruisers, In or.
der that this government may If need
be bear its part in such. measures as it
may be necessary for the interested ma
lions to adopt for the safeguarding of
foreign lives and property in the Otto
man empire In the event that danger
Gus situation should develop.
Liberia.
AS a result of the efforts Of this gov
ernment to place the government of
Liberia in position to pay its outstand-
ing Indebtedness and to maintain
stable and efficient government, nego-
tiations for a loan of $1,700,000 have
been successfully concluded, and II is
anticipated that the payment of the
old loan and the issuance of the bonds
Of the 1912 loan for the rehabilitation of
the finances Of Liberia will follow at
an early date. when the new receiver
ship will go into active operation. The
new receivership will consist Of gen
eral receiver of customs designated by
the government of the United States
and three receivers of customs desig
mated by the governments Of Germany.
France and Great Britain, which coun
tries have commercial interests In the
republic Of Liberia.
The Far East.
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