The Springfield herald., 1912-12-06

how far, II at all, II is necessary lor
protecting and preserving the Ameri-
ami fur-seal herd and for increasing
its number This is question re-
Quiring examination of the present
condition of the herd and the treat
ment which 1t needs in the light OF
actual experience and scientific inves-
tigation. A careful examination OF
the subject is now being made, and
this government will soon be in pos
session 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 ques-
ton; and if 1t should appear that
there is any uncertainty rs to the
real necessity for imposing close
season at this time. l shall take
an early opportunity to address
a special message to congress on this
subject, In the belief that this govern
ment should yield on this point rather
than give the slightest ground for the
charge that we have been in any way
remss in observing our treaty obliga-
tions.
Final Settlement of North Atlantic
Fisheries Dispute.
On the goth of July last an agree
ment was concluded between the
United States and Great Britain
adopting, with certain modifica
tions, the rules and method OF
procedure recommended in the
award rendered by the North Atlantic
Coast Fisheries Arbitration Tribunal
on September 7. 1910. for the settle
ment hereafter, In accordance with
the principl. laid down In the award,
of questions arising with reference to
the exercise of the American fishing
liberties under Article | of the treaty
of October 20. 1918, between the
United States and Great Britain. This
agreement received the approval of
the senate on August l and was for
mally ratified by the two governments
on November Is last. The rules and
method Of procedure embodied in
the award provided for determining
by an impartial tribunal the reason
ableness of any new fishery regula
tions on the treaty coasts of New
foundland and Canada before such
regulations could be enforced against
American fishermen exercising their
treaty liberties on those coasts. and
also for determining the delimitation
of bays on such coasts more than 10
miles wide, in accordance with the
definition adopted by the tribunal of
the meaning of the word bays" as
used in the treaty.
Imperial Valley and Mexico.
In order to make possible the more
effective performance of the work nee
essary for the confinement in their
present channel of the waters of the
lower Colorado river, and thus to pro-
tect the people OF the Imperial Val
ley, as well as in order to reach with
the government of Mexico an under.
standing regarding the distribution of
the waters of the Colorado river, In
which both governments are much
interested. negotiations are going for
ward with a view to the establish
ment of a preliminary Colorado river
commission, which shall have the
powers necessary to enable it to do
the needful work and with authority
to study the question of the equitable
distribution of the waters. There is
every reason to believe that an un-
derstanding upon this point will be
reached and that an agreement will
be signed in the near future.
The message told what the govern
ment has done in connection with the
Balkan war and in placing the gov
ernment of Liberia in position to pay
its debts. The new condition of af-
fairs in China was set forth, and
then our relations with Central and
South American governments were
set forth in more detail. 1t concluded
as follows:
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 emerged full grown as peer in
the great concourse of nations. We
have passed through various forma-
tive periods. We have been self-cen-
tered in the struggle to develop our
domestic resources and deal with our
domestic questions. The nation Is
now too mature to continue in Its for
eign relations those temporary expe-
dients natural to people to who
mestic affairs are the sole CT
In the past our diplomacy ha
consisted, in normal times, In
assertion of the right to iuternatiC
existence. We are now In larger
relation with broader rights of our
own and obligations to others than
ourselves. A number of great guild
ing principles were laid down early In
the history of this government. The
recent task of our diplomacy has been
to adjust those principles to the con-
ditions of today, to develop their corol-
laries. to find practical applications OF
the old principles expanded to meet
new situations. Thus are being
evolved bases upon which can rest
the superstructure of policies which
mast grow with the destined progress
of this nation. The successful CON
duct of our foreign relations demands
a broad and modern view. We can
not meet new questions nor build for
the future If we confine ourselves to
outworn dogmas of the past and to
the perspective appropriate at our
emergence from colonial times and
conditions The opening of the Pana-
ma canal will mark new era In our
international life and create new and
worldwide conditions which, with
their vast correlations and conse-