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-