Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
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two army officers to study at the
Coast Artillery School at Fort Mon
roe. The long-standing Alsop claim,
which had been the only hndranCe to
the healthy growth OF the most friend
ly relations between the United
States and Chile. having been elimin-
ated through the submission OF the
question OF His Britannia Majesty
King George v as "amiable compost
teuh," It is a cause of much eratiica-
ton to NE that our relations with
Chile are now established upon a firm
basis Of growing friendship. The
Chilean Government has placed an
officer Of the United States Coast Ar
tillery in charge Of the Chilean Coast
Artillery School. and has shown APP
probation of American methods OF
coutiding to an American firm impor-
tant work for the Chilean coast de
lenses.
In pursuance Of a request made
some time ago by the Ecuadorian Gov
eminent, the Department of State has
given much attention TO the problem
of the proper sanitation of Guayaquil
to recommend measures that will
lead to the complete permanent SAM
tation of this plague and fever infect
ed region of that Republic which has
for so long constituted a menace to
health conditions in the Canal Zone.
Central America and the Caribbean
During the past summer the revo-
luton against the administration
which followed the assassination of
President Caceres year ago last No
yember brought the Dominican Re
public to the verge of administrative
chaos, without offering any guaran-
ties of eventual stability in the ulti-
mate success of either party In pur-
suance of the treaty relations of the
United States with the Dominican Re
public. which were threatened by the
necessity of suspending the operation
under American administration of the
customhouses on the Haitian frontier
it was found necessary to dispatch
special commissioners to the island
with a guard sufficient to insure need
ed protection to the customs admins
tration. The efforts which have been
made appear to have resulted in the
restoration of normal conditions
throughout the Republic The good
offices which the commissioners were
able to exercise We're instrumentaly in
bringing the contending parties to-
sether and in furnishing a basis of adj
justment which il is hoped will result
in permanent benefit to the Dominican
people.
The Republic of Cuba last May was
in the throes of lawless uprising
that for a time threatened the destruc
ton of a great deal of valuable prop
erty-much of it owned by Americans
and other foreigners-as well as the
existence of the Government itself
The armed forces of Cuba being mad
equate to guard property from attack
and at the same time properly operate
against the rebels, a force of Amert-
can marines was dispatched from our
naval station at Guantanamo into the
Province of Oreinte for the protection
of American 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 a period of six
weeks, The presence of two Ameri-
can warships in the harbor of Habana
during the most critical period of this
disturbance contributed in great meas
ure to allay the fears of the inhabi-
tants, including large foreign colony.
There has been under discussion
with the Government of Cuba for some
time the question of the release by
this Government of its leasehold
rights at Bahia Honda, on the north
ern coast of Cuba, and the enlarge
ment in exchange therefor, Of the nav
al station which has been established
at Guantanamo Bay, on the south. As
the result of the negotiations thus car
ried on an agreement has been reach
ed btween the two Covenants pro-
viding for the suitable enlargement of
the Guantanamo Bay station upon
terms which are entirely fair and
equitable to all parties concerned.
In the recent revolution in Nicar-
aqua. which, it was generally admit
ted, might well have resulted in a gen
eral American conflict but for the in
tervention of the United States, the
Government of Honduras was espec
tally menaced; but fortunately peace
tul conditions We're maintained with
in the borders of that Republic.
Necessity for Greater Governmental
Effort in RetentiOn and Expan-
sion Of Our Foreign Trade
1t is not possible to make to the
Congress a communication upon the
present foreign relations of the Unit
ed States so detailed as to convey an
adequate impression of the enormous
increase in the Importance and activ-