HT
PRESIDENT INFORMS CONGRESS
ABOUT RELATIONS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES.
NEW ARBITRATION TREATIES
United States Helps In Amicable Set
tlement of Disputes Events Con
nected With the Mexican Revolu
tion Need for Merchant Marine.
Washington , Dec. 7. Foreign affair *
lre the sole subjoat of President Tail's
* p cial message , which was submitted
to Congress today. In part the docu
ment says :
The relations of the United States with
.other countries have continued during the
ipast twelve months upon a basis of the
iwroal good will and friendly intercourse.
Arbitration.
The year just passed marks an 1m-
jportant general movement on the part of
fth powers for broader arbitration. In
( the recognition of the manifold benefits
to mankind in the extension of the policy
( Of the settlement of international dis-
jputes by arbitration rather than by war ,
, and in response to a widespread demand
'for an advance in that direction on the
jpart of the people of the United States
and of Great Britain and of France , new
arbitration treaties were negotiated last
spring with Great Britain and France ,
the terms of which were designed , as
expressed in the preamble of these treat-
tea , to extend the scope and obligations of
the policy of arbitration adopted in our
present treaties with those governments.
To pave the way for this treaty with the
United States , Great Britain negotiated
an Important modification in its alliance
with Japan and the French government
iatoo expedited the negotiations with slg-
InaJ good will. The new treaties have
( been submitted to the senate and are
[ Awaiting its advice and consent to their
[ rattflcation. AH the essentials of these
( Important treaties have long been known ,
[ and It Is my earnest hope that they will
lr clve prompt and favorable action.
Arbitrations.
In further Illustration of the practical
fend beneficent application of the princi
ple of arbitration and the underlying
broad spirit of conciliation , I am happy
to advert to the part of the United States
In faclliating amicable settlement of dls-
yates which menaced the peace between
Panama and Costa Rica and between
Haiti and the Dominican republic.
Since the date of their independence ,
Colombia and Costa Rica had been seek
ing a solution of a boundary dispute ,
which came as a heritage from Colombia
to the new republic of Panama , upon Its
( beginning Ufa as an Independent na-
pon. In January , 1910 , at the request of
roth governments the agents represent
ing them met in conference at the depart
ment of state and subsequently oonclud-
a a protocol submitting this long-pend
ing ; controversy to the arbitral judgment
lof the chief justice of the United States ,
who consented to act In this capacity. A
{ boundary commission , according to the
international agreement , has now been
'appointed , and it is expected that the ar-
kumants will shortly proceed and that
this long-standing dispute will be honorAbly -
Ably and satisfactorily terminated.
Again , a few months ago it appeared
Itkat tke Dominican republic and Haiti
tw re about to enter upon hostilities b -
: cause of complications growing out of an
Acrimonious boundary dispute which the
.efforts of many years had failed to solve.
The government of the United States , by
* friendly interposition of good offices ,
succeeded in prevailing upon the parties
to place their reliance upon some form of
" v
"pacific settlement
Mexico.
The recent political events In Mexico
.received attention from this government
because of the exceedingly delicate and
difficult situation created along our south-
em border and the necessity for taking
measures properly to safeguard Ameri
can interests. The government of the
United States , in its desire to secure a
observance and enforcement of
goper - neutrality statutes of the
federal government. Issued directions to
the appropriate officers to exercise a dili
gent and vigilant regard for the require
ments of such rules and laws. Although
a condition of actual armed conflict ex
isted , there was no official recognition of
belligerency involving the technical neu
trality obligations of International law.
After a conference with the secretary
of war and the secretary of the navy , I
thought it wise to assemble an army
division of full strength at San Antonio ,
Tex , a brigade of three regiments at
Galveston , a brigade of infantry in the
'Los ' Angeles district of southern Cali-
ifornla , together with a squadron of bat
tleships and cruisers and transports at
Galveston , and a small squadron of ships
at San Diego. At the same time , through
our representative at the City of Mexico
I expressed to President Diaz the hope
that no apprehensions might result from
unfounded conjectures as to these military -
-tary maneuvers , and assured him that
they had no significance which should
cause concern to his government.
I am more than nappy to here record
the fact that all apprehensions as to the
effect of the presence of so large a mili
tary force in Texas proved groundless ;
BO disturbances occurred.
The insurrection continued and resulted
In engagements between the regular
Mexican troops and the insurgents , and
this along the border , so that in several
'Instances bullets from the contending
forces struck American cltirens. engaged
In their lawful occupations on American
son.
Proper protests were made against
these Invasions of American rights to the
"Mexican authorities.
The presence of a large military and
naval force available for prompt action ,
near the Mexican border , proved to be
the most fortunate under the somewhat
trying conditions presented by this inva
sion of American rights.
The policy and action of this govern
ment were based upon an earnest friend
liness for the Mexican people as a whole ,
and it is a matter of gratification to note
that this attitude of strict impartiality as
to all factions m Mexico and of sincere
friendship for the neighboring nation ,
without regard for party allegiance , has
'been ' generally recognized and has re-
'sulted ' In an even closer and more sym-
'pathetlc understanding between the two
republics and a warmer regard one for
the other. Action to suppress violence
and restore tranquillty throughout the
iMexican republic was of peculiar Inter-
lest to this government. In that it con-
icerned the safeguarding of American life
.and property in that country. On May
| 25 , 1911 , President Diaz resigned , Senor
ide la Barra was chosen provisional presl-
ident Elections for president and vice-
Ipresident were thereafter held throngh-
'out ' the republic , and Senor Francisco L
IMadero was formally declared elected on
October 15 , to the chief magistracy. On
November 6 President Madero entered
( upon the duties of his office.
'Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed.
As to the situation in Central America.
I have taken occasion in the past to em-
tphaslze most strongly the importance that
( should be attributed to the consumma-
'tion of the conventions between the re-
j publics of Nicaragua and of Honduras
land this country , and I again earnestly
recommend that the necessary advice and
consent of the senate be accorded to
these treaties , which will make it possi
ble for these Central American repub
lics to enter upon an era of genuine eco
nomic national development.
Our relations with the Republic of
[ Panama , peculiarly important , due to mu-
Itual obligations and the vast Interests
Created by the canal , have continued in
the usual friendly manner , and we have
been glad to make appropriate expres-
Jslon of our attitude of sympathetic in
terest in the endeavors of our neighbor
jin undertaking the development of the
'rich ' resources of the country.
New Japanese Treaty.
The treaty of commerce and navigation
between the United States and Japan ,
signed in 1894. would by a strict inter
pretation of its provisions have terminat
ed on July 17. 1D12. Japan's general
treaties with the other powers , however
terminated in 1911 , and the Japanese gov
ernment expressed an earnest desire to
conduct the negotiations for a new treaty
with the United States simultaneously
with its negotiations with the other povr-
ers. There were a number of Important
questions involved in the treaty. Includ
ing the Immigration of laborers , revision
of the customs tariff and the right of
Americans to hold real estate in Japan.
The United States consented to waive all
technicalities and to enter at once upon
negotiations for a new treaty on the un
derstanding that there should be a con
tinuance throughout the life of the treaty
of the same effective measures for the
restriction of Immigration of laborers to
American territory which had been in
operation with entire satisfaction to both
governments since 1908. The Japanese
government accepted this basis of nego
tiation , and a new treaty was quickly
concluded , resulting in a highly satisfac
tory settlement of the other questions re
ferred to. .
Europe and the Near East.
In Europe and the near east , during the
past twelve-month , there has been at
times considerable political unrest. The
Moroccan question , which for some
months was the cause of great anxiety ,
happily appears to have reached a stage !
at which It need no longer be regarded1
with concern. The Ottoman empire was
occupied for a period by strife in Al
bania and is now at war with Italy. Ini
Greece and the Balkan countries thei
disquieting potentialities of this situation
have been more or less felt Persia has )
been the scene of a long internal strug-j
gle. These conditions have been the
cause of uneasiness in European diplo-i
maoy , but thus far without direct pollti-l
cal concern to the United States.
In the war which unhappily exists be-i
tween Italy and Turkey this government ]
has no direct political Interest , and 1 }
took occasion at the suitable time to is
sue a proclamation of neutrality in thati
conflict. At the same time all necessary1
steps have been taken to safeguard the-
personal interests of American citlsena.
and organizations in so far as affected' '
by the war.
Fur-Seal Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy , which for
nearly twenty-five years has been the
source of serious friction between the
United States and the powers bordering
upon the north Pacific ocean , whose sub
jects have been permitted to engage inj
pelagic sealing against the fur-seal herdgi
having their breeding grounds within the
Jurisdiction of the United States , has at.
last been satisfactorily adjusted by the
conclusion' the North Pacific sealing
convention entered Into between tne |
United States , Great Britain , Japan and.
Russia on the seventh of July last
The attention of congress is especially' '
called to the necessity for legislation on *
the part of the United States for the pur-t
pose of fulfilling the obligations assumed
under this convention , to which the sen
ate gave its advice and consent on the1
twenty-fourth day of July last
International Opium Commission.
In a special message transmitted to thej
congress on the seventh of January , 1911 ,
In which I concurred in the recommenda-J
tions made by the secretary of state int
regard to certain needful legislation for ]
the control of our Interstate and foreign !
traffic in opium and other menacing ,
drugs , I quoted from my annual mes
sage of December 7 , 1909 , In which I an
nounced that the results of the Interna
tional Opium commission held t Bhangs
hai in February , 1909 , at the Invitation of1
the United States , had been laid beforej
this government ; that the report of that !
commission showed that China was mak
ing remarkable progress and admirable
efforts toward the eradication of the
opium evil ; that the interested governments - !
ments had not permitted their commer
cial interests to prevent their cooperation
tion in this reform ; and , as a result ofj
callateral Investigations of the opium ,
question in this country , I recommended'
that the manufacture , sale and use or
opium in the United States should be
more rigorously controlled by legislation.
Prior to that time and in continuation'
of the policy of this government to secure - ,
cure the co-operation of the interested
nations , the United States proposed an.
international opium conference with fuu1
powers for the purpose of clothing with
the force of international law the reso
lutions adopted by the above-mentioned ,
commission , together with their essen
tial coroll ories. The other powers con
cerned cordially responded to the pro
posal of this government and , I am glad
to be able to announce , representatives
of all the powers assembled in conference
at The Hague on the first of this month.
Foreign Trade Relations of the United
States.
In my last annual message I referred
to the tariff negotiations of the depart
ment of state with foreign countries in
connection with the application , by a se
ries of proclamations , of the minimum
tariff of the United States to Importa
tions from the several countries , and I
stated that , in Its general operation , sec
tion 2 of the new tariff law had proved
a guaranty of continued commercial
peace , although there were , unfortunate
ly , Instances where foreign governments
dealt arbitrarily with American interests
within their jurisdiction In a manner in
jurious and inequitable. During the past
year some Instances of discriminatory
treatment have been removed , but I re
gret to say that there remain a few
cases of differential treatment adverse to
the commerce of the United States. While
none of these instances now appears to
amount to undue -discrimination in the
sense of section 2 of the tariff law of
August B , 1909 , they are all exceptions to
that complete degree of equality of tar
iff treatment that the department of
state has consistently souifht to obtain
for American commerce abroad.
While the double tariff feature of the
tariff law of 1909 has been amply Justi
fied by the results achieved In removing
former and preventing new , undue dis
criminations against American commerce ,
it Is believed that the time has come for
the amendment of this feature of the law
In such way as to provide a graduated
means of meeting varying degrees of
discriminatory treatment of American
commerce In foreign countries as well as
to protect the financial interests abroad
of American citizens against arbitrary
and Injurious treatment on the part of
foreign governments through either leg
islative or administrative measures.
It would seem desirable that the maxi
mum tariff of the United States shouldi
embrace within Its purview the free list ,
which Is not the case at the present time ,
in order that It m'jrht have reasonable
significance to the governments of those
countries from which the Importations
Into the United States are confined vir
tually to articles on the free list
The fiscal year ended June 30 , 1911 ,
shows great progress In the development
of American trade. It was noteworthy
as marking the highest record of exports
of American products to foreign coun
tries , the valuation being in excess of
$2,000.000,000. These exports showed a
gain over the preceding year of more
than $300.000.000.
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
I need hardly reiterate the conviction
that there should speedily be built up an
American merchant marine. This is nec
essary to assure favorable transporta
tion facilities to our great ocean-borne
commerce as well as to supplement the
navy with an adequate reserve of ships
and men. It would have the economic ad
vantage of keeping at home part of the
vast sums now paid foreign snipping for
carrying American goods. All the great
commercial nations pay heavy subsidies
to their merchant marine , so that it is
obvious that without some wise aid from
the congress the United S.tates must lag
behind in the matter of merchant marine
in its present anomalous position.
Improvement of the Foreign Service.
The entire foreign-service organization
is being Improved and developed with
especial regard to . the requirements of
the commercial Interests of the country.
The rapid growth of our foreign trade
makes it of the utmost Importance that
governmental agencies through which
that trade Is to be aided and protected
should possess a high degree of effi
ciency. Not only should the foreign rep
resentatives be maintained upon a gen
erous scale in so far as salaries and es
tablishments are concerned , but the se
lection and advancement of officers
should be definitely and permanently reg
ulated by law. so that the service shall
not fall to attract men of high character
and ability. The experience of the past
few years with a partial application of
civil service rules to the dlpulomatic and
consular service leaves no doubt In my .
mind of the wisdom of a wider and moe ;
permanent extension of those principle ,
to both branches of the foreign service.
"For he's a jolly good fellow
Which nobody can deny.
m
Walnuts
Wonderful Man.
Decem Ginks had the most wonder-
tul control of his features of any man
[ ever knew.
Burr 1 understand he was a mar-
eel.
Decem He was. Why , I've even
seen that man look pleased when he
saw what his wife had bought him
for Christmas.
In Advance.
Mrs. Skinflint Oh , John ! Mary ,
the parlor maid , has just swallowed a
quarter ! What ever shall we do ?
Old Skinflint Do ? Well , I suppose
we'd better let her , keep it She'd
have expected a Christmas present ,
anyhow !
Once Enough.
"Christmas comes but once a year , "
said the cheery citizen.
"No use In its coming twice a year , "
said the morose person. "Must give
a man a chance to save a little money
before he can spend it ! "
Too Late.
Highwayman Halt ! Your money or
your life !
Victim It's no go , stranger. My
wife's in the same line of business al
ways at Christmas time , and she's just
finished with me.
A MYSTERY.
Dudley Nebs Why does Santa al
ways leave valuable presents to rich
folks and cheap ones to poor people ?
Why don't he even things up ?
A Clean Sweep.
Caroline I've been In the Stores all
lay.
lay.Pauline
Pauline So soon after Christmas ,
ind still shopping ?
Caroline Shopping ! I guess not.
Cm exchanging all my presents.
Dudley Nebs Pa , there's one thing
> bout Santa Glaus I never could un-
ierstand
Mr Nohs What is that , my son ?
At the Dinner.
Last Christmas a certain minister
was invited to a big dinner at the
house of one of the leading men in
the town. At the dinner table he was
placed opposite a goose.
The lady of the house was placed
on the minister's left Seeing the
goose he remarked :
"Shall I sit so close to the goose ? "
Finding his words a bit equivocal ,
he turned round to the lady , and said ,
in a most inoffensive tone :
"Excuse me , my lady ; I meant the
roast one. "
OPPORTUNE.
George Ah , Lily , dear , this will be
the jolliest Christmas I've ever spent.
Now that we're engaged I think only
of the future.
Lily Do you ? Well , at this time of
the jear I think only of the present
Christmas Thanks.
When turkey's on the table laid.
And good things I may scan ,
I'm thankful that I wasn't made
A vegetarian.
Trouble and a Turkey.
Brown was boasting of the fine tur
key he had bought for Christmas.
"Biggest bird I ever saw ; cost me
seven-fifty. "
"That's nothing to the turkey I had
last Christmas , " said his friend Jones.
"It cost me $150. "
"One hundred and fifty dollars ! "
positively shrieked Brown , in his in *
credulity.
"Yes , " said Jones , bitterly.
"Turkeys , " said Brown , looking him
straight in the eye , "are generally to
be bought for a quarter a pound. Say
yours was a quarter , then it must
have weighed about 630 pounds ! "
"It only weighed twenty pounds , "
said Jones , sadly ; "but I bought it
alive and tried to kill it myself. It
flew all over the house first and did
$150 worth of damage. "
.
Two Kinds.
There are friends and Christmas
tree friends. The latter take all the
presents they can get and present
you with beautiful boughs.
Cackling.
Mrs. Gramercy She must have been
surprised when her husband gave her
such an expensive present for Chri t-
mas.
mas.Mrs.
Mrs. Park Not surprised , my dear ,
but suspicious.
REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Primarily a Religious Anniversary ,
and Only Secondarily a Festival
of Good Cheer.
As Christmas day draws near the
question arise how far the opportunity
to make others happy has been util
ized. To whom has the essential mes
sage of this season been carried , the
message of good will ?
This Is not a question of what has
been given in form of physical tokens. .
The Christmas spirit is not confined
to the exchanging of gifts. A word , a
letter * , a handclasp may suffice. The
exchange of greetings should never be
perfunctory at such a time. Wishing
another "Merry Christmas" should ex
press the hope that his day may be
in truth a happy one , happy In all its
significance and possibilities , and that
it may be a token of brighter , more
joyous times to come.
A certain veneer of custom has en
vironed this most significant of all
festal days. There is danger that the
real meaning of it may be lost in
the somewhat commercial spirit that
has developed of late years. In the
churches hymns of praise are sung
and sermons are preached to bring
back the thoughts of men to the real
nature of the day , but each individual
may make it a true Christmas by ap
plying the principles of him whose
birth is about to be celebrated. Let It j
not be forgotten that after all Christmas - \
mas is primarily the anniversary of '
the event which forms the foundation .
of the Christian religion , and only secondarily - |
ondarily a festival of good cheer and
personal jubilation
THE FIRST PRESENTS. |
The giving of Christmas - ,
mas presents was
first Introduced by
the early Romans
They exchanged gifts
freely , but In compll- '
ance with a sumptu
ary law they were
never allowed to give
anything very elaborate. The re
ceiver of a present which was judged
too expensive had to offer it up for
auction , when It was knocked dow
to the highest bidder , and the money
appropriated by the national treasurer
of the period. Consequently , although
the Romans continued to distribute
their presents in great numbers , they
had to confine their offerings to such
trifles as jars of olives , napkins , jellied - '
lied fishes , boxes of toothpicks , candies - |
dies , cloaks and swe'etmeats.
Ancestral Christmas Punch. !
"Yes , " said the fair young thing ;
"that Christmas punch you have just
tasted is made from a recipe that has
been treasured in the family for cen
turies The earliest authentic record
we have of it was in the lifetime of
my great-great-ever-so-great-grandfath-
er. whose suit of armor stands in the
hall. "
"If he drank much of that punch. "
observed the young man. who bad
had two glasses of it. "he must have
wished he was wearing that armor
on his inside instead of nis ou'sme'
The Army of
Constipation
l Growing Smaller Every Day.
CARTER'S LITTLE
LIVER PILLS are
responsible they
not only give relief
they perma
nentlycureC ITTLE
itipatioa. Mil IVER
lions use PILLS.
them for
BilioMaess , . ,
Indigestion , Sick Heidacac , SalW Skk.
SMALL PILL , SMALL DOSE , SMALL PRICK.
Genuine must bear Signature
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LOTS OF EXCITEMENT.
Stranger But isn't this town pretty
slow ?
Native Slow ? Say , nearly every
evenin' there's the gel dingest most
excitin' checker game at the store
you ever seen !
Resigned.
The sick man had called his lawyer
"I wish to explain again to you , " said ,
*
he weakly , "about willing my proper
ty. "
The attorney held up his hand reas
suringly. "There , there , " said he ,
"leave that all to me. "
The sick man sighed resignedly. "I
suppose I might as well , " said he ,
turning upon his pillow. "You'll get
it , anyway. "
The Paradox.
"My doctor is a paradoxical one. "
"How so ? "
"The more he reduced the swelling
the higher the bills grew. "
Do your share of work each day ,
pay your debts , have a little money ,
talk only when you have something to
say , and you will assist the world in
growing better.
The fellow who goes around looking
for trouble generally meets somebody
who takes him at his word.
