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About Semi-weekly news-herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1895-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1899)
nuTTiorfzo tin invitation to Germany, in arfoi il:iin ( Willi impending rcclproe ity negotiations, for scientific cxpe-rts and practical nie-n of affairs to conduct, u ki itrcliiiiK investlgat ion of food pro duction ami i'.iortatiou in both coun tries ami report to tlieir respective, legislatures for tint adoption of such remeiliiil measures as they might rec ommeiirl for e-itlier, tlie way might lie opened for the desirable result indi cated. Efforts to obtain for American life Insurance companies a full bearing as to their business operations in Prus sia linve. after several y 'lis of patient representation, liappily succeeded, and one of I lie most important American com; : 1 1 1 i ' s has been granted a eonccs sion lo continue business in tliat King dom. I am also glad to announce that the C-ima;i insurance companies have been reiidmited by I he superintendent of insurance to do business in the .state of New York. Subsequent t the exchange of our peace treaty with Spain, Germany ac quired the Caroline islands by purchase paying therefor $5,000.01)0. Assurarees have been received from the German government that the rights of Ameri ca n missionaries and traders there will be considerately observed. DIFFERENCES WITH CANADA. In my last annul message I referred to the pending negotiations .vith Great Britain in respect to the Domin ion of Canada. By means of an execu tive agreement a joint high commis sion had been created for the purpose of adjusting all unsettled questions be tween the United States and Canada, embracing- twelve subjects, among vhi'h were the questions of the fur seals, the fisheries of the coast and contiguous inland waters, the Alaskan boundary, the transit of mercha.iilise in bond, the alien labor laws, mining rights, reciprocity in trade, revision of the agreement respecting naval ves sels in the great laKos, a more com plete marking of parts of the bound ary, provision for the conveyance of criminals and for wrecking and al vage. Much progress had been made by the commission toward the adjustment of man j' of these questions wnen it be came apparent that an irreconcilable difference of views was entertained re specting the delimitation of the Alas kan boundary. In the failure of an agreement as to the meaning of arti cles lii and iv of the treaty of 1825 be tween Russia and Great Hritain. wnich defined the boundary between Alaska and Canada, the American commis sioners proposed that the subject of Doundary be laid aside and that the re maining questions of difference be pro ceeded with, some of which were so far advanced as to assure the probability of a settlement. This being declined by the British commissioners, an adourn nient was taken until the boundary should be adjusted by the two govern ments. The subject has been receiving the careful attention which its im portance demands, with the result that a modus Vivendi for provisional de marcations in the region about the head of Lynn canal has been agreed ip on and it is hoped that the negotia tions now in progress between the two governments will end in an agreement of a permanent boundary. Apart from these questions grov, ing out of our relationship with our north ern neighbor, the most friendly dispo sition and ready agreement have mark ed the discussion of numerous matters arising out of the vast and intimate in tercourse of the united States with Great Britain- NEUTRAL IN THE BOER WAR. This government has maintained an attitude of neutrality in the unfortu nate contest between Great Britain and the Boer states of Africa. We have remained faithful to the precept of avoiding entangling alliances as to af Jairs not of our direct concern. Had circumstances suggested that the par ties to the quarrel would have wel comed any kindly expression of the hove of the American people that war might- be averted, good offices would have been gladly tendered. The Unit ed States' representative at Pretoria w:w oin-lr i n s 1 1 n i teil lit spp thnt nil I neutral American interests be respect ed by the combatants. This has been an easy task, in view of the positive- declarations of both British and Bee.- authorities that the personal and pr ;. c:ty rights of our citizens should be observed. Upon the withdrawal of the British afc'-ii;. from Pretoria the United States ci :!s::l was authorized, upon the re quest of the Brtish government and with the asstiit of the South African and Orange Free State governments, to exercise the customary good offices of s. neutral for the care of British inteie??t3. In the discharge of this function I am happy to say that abun dan opportunity has b:en afforded to show the impartiality of this govern ment toward both the combatants. LYNCHING OF THE ITALIANS. For the fourth time in the present decade question has arisen with the government of Italy in regard to the lynching of Italian subjects. The lat est of these deplorable events occurred at Tallulah. La., whereby five unfortu nates of Italian origin were taken from jail and hanged. The authorities of the state and a representative of the Italian embassy having separately investigated the oc currence, with discrepant results, par ticularly as to the alleged citizenship of the victims, and it not appear ing that the state had been able to discover and punish the violators of the law, an independent investigation has been set on foot through the agency of the Department of State and is still in progress. The result will enable the executive to treat the question with the government of Italy in a spirit of fairness and justice and a satisfactory solution will doubtless be reached. The recurrence of these distressing manifestations of blind mob fury di rected at dependents or natives of a foreign country suggests that the con tingency has arisen for action by congress in the direction of conferring upon the federal courts jurisdiction in this class of international cases where the ultimate responsibility of the fed eral government may be involved. The suggestion is not new. In his annual message of December 9, 1S91, my pre decessor, President Harrison, said: "It would, I believe, be entirely com petent for congress to make offenses against the treaty rights of foreigners domiciled in the United States cog nizable in the federal courts. This has not, however, been done, ami the fed eral officers and courts have no power in such cases to intervene, either for the protection of a foreign citizen or for the punishment of his slayers. It seems to me to follow, in tins state of the law, that the officers of the state charged with police and judicial pow ers in such cases must, in the consid eration of international questions growing out of such incidents be re garded in such sense as federal agents as to make this government answera ble; for their acts in eases where it would bo answerable if the United State-s had used its constitutional pow er tej define and punish crimes against treaty rights." A bill to provide fur the punishment ef violations of treaty rights ef aliens was in troduced in the senate March I. 1S92, and reported favorably March '.',(). Having doubtless in view the lan guage of that part of article iii of the treaty of February 25, 1K71, between the United States and Italy, which stipulates that "the citizens of each of the high contracting parties shall receive, in the states and territories of the other, most constant protection and security for their persons and property, and shall enjoy in this re spect the same rights and privileges as are or shall be granted to the na tives, on their submitting themselves to the conditions imposed upon the natives." '1 lie bill so introduced and reported provided t hat any act com mitted in any state or teiritory of the United States in violation of the rights ot a citizen or subject of a foreign country, secured to such citizen or subject by treaty between the United States and such foreign country and constituting a crime under the laws of the state or territory, shall con stitute a like crime against the United States and be cognizable in the federal courts. No action was taken by con gress in the matter. I earnestly recommend that the sub ject be taken up anew and acted upon during the present session. The neces sity for some such provision abundant ly appears. Precedent for constitut ing a federal jurisdiction in criminal cases where aliens are sufferers is ra tionally deducible from the existing statute, w-hich gives to the district and circuit courts of the United States jurisdiction of civil suits brought by aliens where the amount involved ex ceeds a certain sum. If such jealous solicitude be shown for alien rights in cases of merely civil and pecuniary import how much greater should be the public duty to take cognizance of matters affecting the life and the rights of aliens under the settled principles of international law, no less than un der treaty stipulation, in cases of such transcendant wrongdoing as mob mur der, especially when experience has shown that local justice too ofen helps rather than punishes the offenders? After many years o endeavor on the part of this government to that end the Italian government has con sented to enter into negotiations for a naturalization convention, having for one of its objects the regulation of the status of Italians (except those of an age for active miiltary service), who, having been naturalized in the United States, may revisit Italy. It is hoped that with the mutually conciliatory spirit displayed a successful conclusion will be reached. JAPANESE TREATY OPERATIC. The treaty of commerce and naviga tion between the United States and Japan on Novvember 22, 1894, took effect in accordance with the terms of its sixth article on the 17th of July last, simultaneously with the enforce ment of like treaties with the other powers, except France, whose conven tion did not go into operation until August 4, the United States being, however, granted up to that date all the privileges and rights accorded to French citizens under the old French treaty. By this notable conventional reform Japan's position as a fully m dependent sovereign power is assured, control being gained in taxation, cus toms revenues, judicial administra tion, coasting trade and all other do mestic functions of government and foreign and extra territorial rights be ing renounced. Comprehensive codes of civil and criminal procedure according to west ern methods, public instruction, pat ents and copyrights, municipal admin istration, including jurisdiction over the form of foreign settlements, cus toms tariffs and procedure. public health and other administrative meas ures have been proclaimed. The work ing of the new system has given use to no material complaints on the part of the American citizens or interetsts, a circumstance which attests the ripe consideration with which the change has been prepared. Wuiable assistance was rendered by the Japaneses authorities to the United States transport ship Morgan City, while stranded at Kobe. Permission has been granted to land and pasture army horses at Japanese ports of cah on the way to the Philippine islands. These kindly evidences of good will are highly appreciated. The Japanese government has shown a lively interest in tne propo sition of the Pacific Cable company to add to its projected cable lines to Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines a branch connecting with the coast of Japan. It would be a gratifying con summation were tne utility of the contemplated scheme enhanced by bringing Japan and the United States into direct telegraphic relation. Without repeating the observations of my special message of February 10, 1S99, concerning tue necessity of a cable to Manila. I respectfully In ite attention to it. I recommend that in case the con gress should not take measures to bring about this result by direct ac tion of the government, the postmas ter general be authorized to invite competitive bids for the establishment of a cable, the company making the best iespousible bid to be awarded the contract, the successful company to give ample bonds to insure the com pletion of the work withta a reasona ble time. MEXICO A GOOD NEIGHBOR. The year has been marked by con stant increase in the Intimacy of our relations with Mexico, and in the magnitude of mutually advantageous interchanges. This government has omitted no opportunity to show its strong desire te develop and perpet uate the ties of cordiality now so long happily unbroken. Following the termination on Jan uary 20, 1899, by Mexico of the con vention of extradition of December 11, 1801, a ne w treaty more in accord ance with the ascertained needs of both countries was signed February 22, 1X9!), and exchanged in the City of Mexico on the 22d of April last. Its operation thus far has been effec tive and satisfactory. A recent case lias served to test the application of its fourth article, which provides that neither party shall be bound to de liver up its own citizens, but that the executive authority of each shall have the power to deliver them up if in its discretion it be deemed proper to do so. The extradition of Mrs. Mattie Rich, a citizen of the United oiates. charged with homicide committed in Mexico, was after mature considera tion, directed by me, in the convic tion that the ends of justice would there by subserved. Similar action on ap propriate occasion by the Mexican ex ecutive will not only tend to accom plish th desire of both governments that grave crimes go not unpunished, bur. Efj fj repress the lawlessness along the border line of the two coun tries. The new treaty stipulates that neith er government shall assume jurisdic tion in the punishment of crimes com mitted exclusively within the terri tory of the other. They will obviate in futuie the embarrassing controversies which have heretofore arisen througti Mexico's assertion of a claim to try and punish an American citizen for an offense committed within the juris diction of the United States. The International Water Boundary commission, organized by the conven tion of March 1, 18S9, for the adjust ment of questions affecting the Rio Grande frontier, has not yet complet ed its labors. A further extension of its term for one year, until December 24, 1899, was effected by a convention signed December 2, 1898, and ex changed and proclaimed in February last. An invitation extended to the pres ident of Mexico to visit Chicago In October on the occasion of laying the cornerstone of the United States gov ernment building in that city was cor dially accepted by him with the nec ssary consent of the Mexican con gress, but the illness of a member of his family prevented his attendance. The minister of foreign relations, however, e-ame as the personal repre sentative of President Diaz, and in that high character was duly honored. Claims growing out of the seizure of American sealing vessels In Bering sea have been under discussion with the government of Russia for several years, with the recent happy result of an agreement to submit them to the decision of a single arbitrator. By this act Russia affords proof of its ad herence to the beneficent principle of arbitration which its plenipotentiary conspicuously favored at The Hague disarmament conference when it was advocateu by the representatives of the United States. A suggestion for a permanent expo sition of our products and manufac tures in Russia, although not yet fully shaped, has been so cordially wel comed by the imperial government that it may not inaptly taking a fitting place in whatever legislation the con gress may adopt looking to enlarge ment of our commercial opportunities abroad. KEEPING FAITH WITH CUBA. My anual message of last year was necessarily devoted in great part to a consideration of the Spanish war and of the results it wrought and the con ditions it imposed for the future. I am gratified to announce that the treaty of peace has restored friendly relations between the two powers. Effect has been given to its most important pro visions. The evacuation of Porto Ri co having already been accomplished on the 18th of October, 1898, nothing remained necessary there but to con tinue the provisional military control of the island until the congress should enact a suitable government for the ceded territory. Of the character and scope of the measures to that end I shall treat in another part of this mes sage. J'he withdrawal of the authority of Spain from the island of Cuba was effected by January 1, so that the full re-establishment of peace found the re linquished territory held by us in trust for the inhac.ants maintaining, under the direction of the executive, such government and control therein as should conserve public order, restore the productive conditions of peace so long disturbed by the instability and disorder which prevailed for the great er part of the three preceding decades, and bund up that tranquil development of the domestic state whereby alone can be realized ue high purpose as proclaimed in the joint resolution adopted by the congress on April 19, 1898, by which the United States dis claimed any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction of control over Cuba, except for the paci fication thereof, and declared its inten tion when that was accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people. The pledge contained in this resolution is of the highest honorable obligation and must be sacredly kept. I believe that substantial progress has been made in this direction. All the administrative measures adopted in Cuba have aimed to fit it for a re generated existence by enforcing the supremacy of law ana justice; by plac ing wherever practicable the machin ery of administration in the hands of the inhabitants; by instituting sanitary reforms; by spreading education; by fostering industry and trade; by incul cating public morality and, in short, by taking every rational step to aid the Cuban people to attain to that plane of self conscious respect and self reli ant unity which fits an enlightened community for self government witfiin its own sphere, while enabling it to fulfill all outward obligations. This nation has assumed before the world a grave responsibility for the future good government of Cuba. We have accepted a trust the fulfillment of which calls for the sternest integrity of purpose and the exercise of the high est wisdom. The new Cuba yet to ar ise from the ashes of the past must needs be bound to us by ties of sin gular Intimacy and strength if its en during welfare is to be assured. Wheth er those ties shall be organic or con ventional, the destines of Cuba are in some rightful form and manner irre vocably linked with our own. but Low ami how far is for the- future to de termine in the ripeness of events. Whatever be the outcome, we must see to it that free Cuba be a reality, not a name, a pert'ei t entity, not a hasty ex periment bearing within itself the ele ments of failure. Our mission, tej ac complish which we teok up the wages of battle is not to be fulfilled by turn ing adrift any loosely framed com monwealth to face the vicissitudes that i ioo oiien auenu weaKer scales we.ose natural wealth and abundant resoure-es are offset by the incongruities of their political organization and the recur ring occasions for international rival ries to sap their strength and dissipate their energies. The greatest blessing which can come to Cuba is the restora tion cjf her agricultural and industrial prosperity which will give employment to idle men and re-establish the pur suits of peace. This is her chief and immediate need. On the 19th of August, last, an oreler was made for the taking of the census in tlie island, to be completed on t he 30th of November. By the treaty of peace tne Spanish people on the islmd have until April 11, 900. to elect : whether they will remain citizens of bpain or become citizens of Cuba. Un til then it cannot be definitely a.scer taineel who shall be entitled to partici pate in the formation of the govern ment of Cuba. By that time the re sults of the census will have been tab ulated and we shall proceed to provide for elections which will commit th- mu nicipal governments of tlie island to the officers elected by the people. The experience thus acquired will prove of great value in the formation of a rep resentative convention of the people to draft a constitution and establish a general system of independent eov ernment for tlie island. In the moan time and so long as we exercise con trol over the island the products of Cuba should have a market in the United States on as good terms and with as favorable rates of duty as are given to the West India islands under treaties of reciprocity which shall be made. For the relief of the distressed in the island of Cuba tne war department has Issued supplies to destitute peisons through the officers of the army, which have amounted to 5.493,000 rations, at a cost of $1,417,554.97. To promote the disarmament of the Cuban volunteer army and in the In terest of public peace and the welfare of the people, the sum of $75 was paid to each Cuban soldier borne upon the authenticated rolls, on condition that he should deposit his arms with the au thorities designated by the United States. The sum thus disbursed ag gregated $2,547,750, which was paid from the emergency fund provided by the act of January 8, 1899, for hat purpose. Out or the Cuban islands revenues during the six months ending June 30 1899, $1,712,014.20 was expended for sanitations, $293,881.70 for charities and hospitals and $88,944.03 for aid of the destitute. SETTLE SAMOAN QUESTION. Important events have occurred in the Samoan islands. The election, ac cording to the laws and customs of Samoa, of a successor to the late King Malietoa Laupepa developed a contest as to the validity of the result, which issue, by the terms of the general act, was to be decided by the chief justice. Upon his rendering a judgment in favor of Malietoa Tanu, the rival chief. Mataafa, took up arms. The active intervention of American and British war ships became imperative to re store order, at the cost of sanguinary encounters. In this emergency a joint commission of representatives of the United States, Germany and Great Britain was sent to Samoa to investi gate the situation and provide a tem porary remedy. By its active efforts a peaceful solution was reached for the time being, the kingship being abolish ed and a provisional government es tablished. Recommendations unani mously made by the commission for a permanent adjustment of the Sa moan question were taken under con sideration by the three powers par ties to the general act. But the more they were examined the more evident it became that a radical change was necessary in the relations of the pow ers to Samoa. The inconveniences and possible perils of the tripartite scheme of su pervision and control in the Samoan group by powers having little interest in common in that quarter beyond commercial rivalry has been once more emphasized by the recent events. The suggested remedy of the joint commission, like the scheme it aimed to replace, amounted to what has been styled a tridominium, being the exer cise of the functions of sovereignty by an unanimous agreement of three powers. The situation had become far more intricate and embarassing from every point of view than it was when my predecessor in 1894 summed up its perplexities, and condemned tlie par ticipation in it of the United States. The arrangement under which Sa moa was administered had proved im practicable and unacceptable to all the powers concerned. To withdraw from the agreement and abandon the islands to Germany and Great Britain would not be compatible with our in terests in the archipelago. To relin quish our rights in the harbor of Pago Fago, the best anchorage in the Pacific, the occupancy of which had been leased to the United States in 1878 by the first foreign treaty ever concluded by Somoa, was not to be thought of either as regards the needs of our navy or the interests of our growing commerce with the east. We would not have considered any proposition for the abrogation of the tripartite control which did not confirm us in all our rights and safeguards of all our na tional interests in the islands. Our views commended themselves to the other powers. A satisfactory ar rangement was concluded between the governments of Germany and of Great Britain by which we retired from Sa moa In view of compensations in other directions and both powers renounced in favor of the United Sttes all their rights and claims over and in respect to that portion of that group lying to the east of the 171st degree of west longitude, embracing the islands of Tutuila, Ofoo, Olosenga and Manau. I transmit to the senate for its consti tutional action thereon a convention, which, besides the provisions above mentioned, also guarantees us the same privileges and conditions in respect to commerce and commercial vessels In all oT the lsl:ind:s of Samoa as those possessed by Germany. Claims have been preferred by white residents of Samoa on account of In juries ulbged to have been suffered through the acts of the treaty gov ernme'iits in putting; clown the late disturbances. A convention has been made between the three powers for the investigation and settlement of these claims by a neutial arbitrator, to which the att"ntion of he senate will be in vited. NOW AT PEACE WITH SPAIN. Following the exchange of ratifica tions of the treaty of peace the two governments accredited ministers to each other. Spain sending to Wash ton the duke of Arcos. an eminent dip lomatist, previously stationed in Mex ico, while the United States transferred to Madrid Hon. Bellamy Ste.rer. its minister at Brussels. This was follow ed by respective appointment of eon nils, thereby fully resuming th" rela tions interrupted by the war. In addi tion to its consulai repre-sentat ion in the United States the Spanish govern ment has appointed consuls for Cuba, who have bren provisionally recogniz ed during the military administration of the affairs of that island. Judicial intercourse between the courts of Cuba and Porto Kico and of Spain lias been established as provided by the treaty of peace. The Cuban political prisoners in Spanish penal stations have been and are being re leased anel being returned to their homes in accordance with article vi of ! the treaty. Negotiations are about to be had for defining the conventional relations between the two countries, which fell into abeyance by reason of the war. I trust that those will in clude a favorable arrangement for com mercial reciprocity under tlie terms of sections 3 and 4 of the current tariff act. In these, as in all matters of international concern, no effort will be spared to respond to the good disposi tion of Spain and to cultivate in all practicable ways the intimacy which should prevail between the two nations whose past history has so often and in so many ways been marker by sin cere friendship and by community of interests. I would recommend appropriate leg islation in order to carry into execu tion article vii of the treaty of peace with Spain, by which the United States assured the payment of certain claims for indemnity of Its citizens against Spain. TURKEY A POOR PAYMASTER. The United States minister to Tur key continues under instructions to press for a money payment in satis faction of the just claims for injuries suffered by American citizens in the disorders of several years past anel for wrongs done to them by the Otto man authorities. Some of these claims are of many years standing. This government is hopeful of a general agreement in this regard. In the Turkish empire the situation of our citizens remains unsatisfactory. Our efforts during nearly forty years to bring about a convention of natur alization seem to be on the brink of failure through the announced policy of the Ottoman porte to refuse rec ognition of the alien status of native Turkish subjects naturalized abroad since IStie. Our statutes do not allow this government to admit any distinc tion between the treatment of native and naturalized Americans abroad, so that ceaseless controversy arises in cases where persons owing, in the eye of international law, a dual allegiance arc- prevented from entering Turkey or are expelled after entrance. Our lawin this regard contrasts with that of the European states. The British act, for instance, does not claim ef fect for the naturalization of an alien in the event of his return to his native country, unless the change be recog nized by the law of that country, or stipulated by .treaty between it and the naturalizing state. Tne arbitrary treatment, in some in stances, of American productions in Turkey has attracted, attention of late, notably in regard to our flour. Large shipments by the recently opened di rect steamship line to Turkish ports have been denied entrance on the score that, although of standard composition nd unquestioned purity, the flour was pernicious to neaitn necause oi defi cient "elasticity" as indicated by an tiquated and untrustworthy tests. Up on due protest by the American minis ter and it appearing that the act was a virtual discrimination against our product, the shipments in question were admitted. In these, as in all in stances, wherever occurring, when American products may be subjected in a foreign country upon specious pre texts to discrimination compared with the like products of another country, this government will use its earnest ef forts to secure fair and equal treat ment for its citizens and their goods, bailing this, it will not hesitate to ap ply whatever corrective may be pro vided by the statutes. The international commission of ar bitration appointed under the Anglo Venezuelan treaty of 1897 rendered an award on October 3, last, whereby the boundary line between Venezuela and British Guiana is determined, thus ending a controversy which has existed for the greater part of the century. The award, as to which the arbitrators were unanimous, while not meeting the extreme contention of either party, gives to Great Britain a large share of the interior territory in dispute and to Venezuela the entire mouth of the Orinoco, including Barima point and the Caribbean littoral for some distance to the eastward. The decision appears to be equally satisfactory to both parties. Venezuela has once more undergone a revolution. The insurgents under General Castro after a sanguinary en gagement, in which they suffered much loss, rallied in the mountainous inter ior and advanced toward the capital. The bulk of the army having sided with the movement, President And rade quitted Carracas, where General Castro set up a provisional govern ment, with which our minister and the representatives of other powers en tered into diplomatic relation on the 20th of November, 1899. TREATIES OF RECIPROCITY. The fourth section of the tariff act approved July 24, 1897. appears to pro vide only for commercial treaties which should be entered into by the within two years from its passage. Owing to delays irn-vltablc In nego tiations of this nature, none of the treaties initiated under that sect ion could be concluded In time for ratifica tion by the senate prior to its adjoiirn- I incut on the 1th of Man h last. Some i of the pending negotiations, however, were near conclusion at that time and the resulting conventions have since been signed by the plenipotentiaries. Others within both the thiid and fourth sections of the art are still un der consideration. Acting under the constitutional power of the executive ! in respect to treaties. I have dee-ined it my duty, while observing the limita tions of concessions provided by the) fourth ticction, to bring to a conclu sion all pending negotiations ami sub mit them to the senate for its advice ind consent. Conve nt ions of reciju oc-ity have been signed during the congressional recess with Great Britain for the respect i vtj colonies of British Guiana, Ita rliadoes, Bermuda. Jamaica and Turks and Cai-c-os islands and with the republic of Nicaragua. Important reciprocal conventions have- also been concluded with Franco and with the Agentine Republic. In my last annual message progress was noted in tlie work of tin diplo matic and consular officers in collecting information as to the industries and commerce of other countries, and the care anu promptitude with which their reports are printed and distributed has continued during the last year with increasingly valuaole results in sug gesting new sources of demand for American products and in pointing out the obstacles still to be overcome in fa cilitating the remarkable expansion of our foreign trade. It will doubtless be gratifying to congress to learn that the various agencies cjf tlie department of state are co-operating in these; en deavors with a zeal and effectiveness which are not only receiving the cor dial recognition of our business inter ests, but are? being emulated by other governments. In any re-arrangement of the great and complicated work of obtaining official data of an economic character which congres may under take it is most important, in my judg ment, that the results already seciireel by the efforts of the department of state should be carefully considered with a view to a judicious development and increased utility te our export trade. ALL AMERICAN REPUBLICS IN. The interest taken by the various states forming the International Union of American Republics in tlie woi k of organic bureau is evidenced by tlie fact that for the first time since its crea tion in 1890 alf the republics of South and Central America are now repre sented in it. The unanimous recommendation of the International American conference, providing for the International Union of American Republics, stated that it should continue in force during a term of ten years from the date of its or ganization, anel no country be-corning a member of the union should cease to be a member until the end of taid period of ten years, and, unless twelve months before tlie expiration of paid period a majority e;f the members of the union had given to the secretary of state of the United States official notice of their wish to terminate the union at the end of its first period, that the union should continue to be maintained for another perioel cjf ten j'ears, and thereafter, under the same conditions, for suc-c-essi ve; periods ef ten years each. ri he period for noti fication expired on July 14, 1899, with out any of the members having given the necessary notice of withdrawal. Its maintenance is, therefore, assured for the next ten years. In view of this fac t, anel the num erous questions of general interest and common benefit to all of the re publics of America, some of which were considered by the first Interna tional American conference, but not finally settled, and others which have since then grown tej impejrtance, it would seem expedient that the various republics constituting the union should be invited tej hold at an early date a conference in the capital cjf one of the countries other than the United States, which has already enejyed this honor. The purely international character of the work being done by the bureau and the appreciation of its value are further emphasizeel by the ae-tive co operation which the various govern ments of the chief Latin-American republics and their diplomatic repre sentatives in this capital are now ex hibiting and the zealous efforts they are making to extend the field of its usefulness, to promote through it com mercial intercourse, and strengthen the bonds of amity and confidence be tween its various members and the na tions of this continent. TWO GREAT EXPOSITIONS. The act to encourage the holding of the Panamerican exposition on the Niagara frontier, within the county of Erie or Niagara, in the state of New York, in the year 1901, was ap proved on March 3, 1899. The exposition, which will be held in the city of Buffalo, in the near vi cinity of the great Niagra cataract and within a day's journey of which reside 40,000,000 of our people, will be con fined entirely to the western hemi sphere. Satisfactory assurances have already been given by the diplomatic representatives of Great Britain, Mex ico and Central and South American iepublics and most of the states of the United States that their countries and states will make an unique, in teresting and instructive exhibit pe culiarily illustrative of their material progress during the century which is about to close. The law provides an appropriation of $500,000 for the purpose of making en exhibit at the exposition by the government of the United States from its executive department, and from the Smithsonian institution and National museum, the United States Commis sion of Fish and Fisheries, the Depart ment of Labor and the Bureau of the American Republics. To secure a com plete and harmonious arrangement of this government exhibit a board of management has already been created and charged with the selection, pur chase, preparation, transportation, ar rangement and safekeeping of the articles and materials to be exhibited. This board has been organized and has already entered upon the perform ance of its duties as provided for by the law. I have every reason to hope and be-
