The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1913-01-03

tdnt INTERNATIONAL opium cOnVeuIoH,
failed to do its share in the great work
by neglecting to pass the necessary
legislation to correct the deplorable
narcotic evil in the United States as
well as to redeem international pledges
upon which it entered by virtue of the
above mentioned convention.
The congress at its present session
should enact into law those bills now
before it which have been so carefully
drawn up in collaboration between the
department of state and the other ex-
ecutive departments and which have
behind them not only the moral senti-
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-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
renowned sovereignty over Cyrenaica
and Tripolitania in favor of Italy.
During the past year the near east has
unfortunately been the theater of con-
slant hostilities. Almost simultaneous
~ 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.
The United States has happily been
involved neither directly nor indirectly
with the causes or questions incident
to any of these hostilities and has
maintained in regard to them an atti-
tude of absolute neutrality and Of COM
plete political disinterestedness In the
second war I'M which the Ottoman en-
pire has been engaged the loss of life
and the consequent distress on both
sides have been appalling, and the
United States has found occasion in
the interest Of humanity to carry out
the charitable desires of the American
people to extend a measure of relief to
the sufferers on either side through the
| impartial medium of the Red Cross.
Beyond this the chief care of the gov
eminent of the United States has been
to make due provision for the protec-
ton of it's nationals resident in bellig
erent territory.
In the exercise of my duty in this
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 1t
may be necessary for the interested
nations to adopt for the safeguarding
of foreign lives and property in the
Ottoman empire In the event that a
dangerous situation should develop.
In the meanwhile the several inter
ested European powers have promised
to extend to American citizens the ben
eft of such precautionary or protective
measures as they might adopt in the
same manner in which it has been the
practice of this government to extend
its protection to all foreigners resident
IN those countries of the western hemi-
sphere in which it has from time to
time been the task of the United States
to act In the interest of peace and good
order.
The early appearance of large feet
OF European warships in the Bosporus
apparently assured the protection Of
| foreign erS i'm that quarter where the
presence of the American stationnaire
the U. S. S. Scorpion sufficed, under
the circumstances, to represent the
United States. Our cruisers were thus
left free to act If need be along the
Mediterranean coasts should any unex-
numerous American interests in tue
neighborhood of Smyrna and Beirut.
Spitzbersen.
The great preponderance of Ameri'
can material interests in the subarcttc
island of Spitzbergen, which has al
ways been regarded politically as mo
mans land" impels this government
to a continued and lively interest in
the international dispositions to be
made for the political governance ano
administration of that region. The
conflict of certain claims of American
citizens and others is in Il fair way tc
adjustment. while the settlement OF
matters of administration, whether by
international conference Of the inter
ested powers or otherwise, continues tt
be the subject of exchange of views