Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-07

umuer existing customs rates ~ ~
very necessary that the Americas
Government should be equipped with
I weapon Of negotiation adapted TO
( modern economic conditions, In order
rilat we may at ali times be in POI
sition 10 gain not only technically just
but actually equitable treatment for
our trade. and also for American en-
( terpTise and vested interests abroad
+ Business Secured TO Our Country BY
Direct Official Effort.
4 AS illustrating the commercial ben
eiits to the Nation derived from the
new diplomacy and its effectiveness
upon the material as well as the more
ideal side, it may be remarked that
/ through direct official efforts alone
theW have been obtained in the
course of this administration, con
I tracts from foreign Governments in
! yolving an expenditure of $4,000, 600
+ in the factories of the United States.
I Consideration of this fact and some
reflection upon the necessary effects
4 of a scientific tariff system and for
4 eign service alert and equipped to CO.
operate with the business mon OF
America carry the conviction that the
gratifying increase in the export trade
Of this country is. in substantial
amount, due to our improved govern
mental methods of protecting and
stimulating it, It is germahe TO these
I observations to remark rat in the
two years that have elapsed since the
successful negotiation of our new
treaty with Japan, which at the time
seemed to present so many practical
difficulties, our export trade to that
country has increased a. the rate Of
over $1,000,000 a month. Our exports
to Japan for the year ended June 80
1 1910, wero S4l,959,310, while for the
year ended June 30, 1919, the exports
were $50 41S,e4C, net increase in the
sale of american products OF II ,arly
$50 per cent.
Special Claims Arbitration With
Great Britain.
| Under the special agreement enter
ed into between the United STATES and
Great Britain on August IS, 1919, fer
the arbitration of outstanding pecun-
larry claims, a schedule Of claims and
the terms of submission have been
agreed upon by the two Governments.
and together with the special agree
ment were approved BY the Senate
on July 10, 1911, but in accordance
with the terms of the agreement they
did not go into effect until confirmed
by the two governments by an ex-
change o. notes, which WAS done on
April &c last. Negotiations are still
ill Irogress for supplemental SEIZED
ule of claims TO be submitted to ar
bitrat;en under this agreement, and
meanwhile the necessary prepara-
tons fer the arbitration. of the claims
included in the first schedule have
been undertaken and are being car
ried on under the authority of an APP
preparation made for that purpose at
the last session of Congress- 1t is
anticipated that the two Governments
will be prepared to call upon the arbi-
tration tribunal, established under
this agreement, to meet at Washing
ton early next year to proceed with
this arbitration.
Fur Seal Treaty and Need For
Amendment of Our Statute.
The act adopted at the last session
of Congress TO give effect to the fur
seal convention of July 7, 1911, be-
tween Great Britain, Japan, Russia,
and the United States provided for
the suspension of all land killing of
seals on the Pribilof Islands for a
period of five years, and an objection
has now been presented to this prov
ision by the other parties in interest,
which raises the issue as to whether
or not this prohibition of land killing
is inconsistent with the spirit, if not
the letter. of the treaty stipulations.
rhe justification for establishing this
close season depends, under the terms
of the convention, upon how far, if at
all, 1t is necessary for protecting and
preserving the American furseal herd
and for increasing its number This
- question requiring examination of
the present condition of the herd and
the treatment which il needs In the
light of actual experience and seien-
tific investigation. A careful exami-
nation of the subject is now being
made, and this Government will soon
be in possession of a considerable
amount of new information about the
American seal herd, which has been
secured during the past season and
will be of great value in determining
this question; and if it should appear
that there is any uncertainty as to
the real necessity for imposing "a
close season at this time | shall take
an early opportunity to address a spe-
cial message to Congress on this sub
ject, in the belief that this Govern
ment should yield on this point rath-
er than give the slightest ground for
the charge that we have been in any
way remiss in observing our treaty