Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1898, Page 19

THE EVENING STAR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1898-20 PAGES. > - — === promotien has rewarded the more conspic uous tors—t nation’s profoundest grat- ftude to all of these brave men who by 1 and devotion in a few short he the sea power of Spain and w 1 triumph whose decisiveness and | f consequences can searcely be n H r can we be unmindful of the fo builders, mechani a r skill in the conStru astrophe of Santiago Spain's e . virtually ceased. = u Tort tow i of June to send her Medt under Admiral Com te re . was abandoned, the expelit « recalled after it had passed thro: Suez Canal. The capitulation of Santiago followed. Th y was closely besieged by ‘ang, the ntrance of ur ships into the ut off all relief on that side. After te allow of the removal of non-com- s prot:ected negotiations continued y 3d until July 15th, when, under immediate assault, the prelim- wrender were agreed upon. On al Shafter occupied the city. 1 embraced the entire east- 1 of Cuba. The number of Spanish surrendering was 22,000, all of were subsequently conveyed to Spa:n harg the United States. The nis suc ful campaign is told ta rt of the Secretary of War, which fs laid before you. The individual of officers and soldiers was nev y shown than in the several leading to the surrender ot Sanuago, while the prompt movements and successive victories won instant and univer- sal applause. To those who gained this triumph, which established the ney of the United States upon land ngnt off San » had fixed our su- y on the seas, the earnest and last- the nation is unsparing.y we remember the ne living; the dead claim our losses by battle and disease exultation at the result and weigh the awful cost of wat, ntful the the alone cause or signal co. occupation bs ne: Fategic Miles had previously » organize an expedition for Fortunately he was already where he had arrived on the n reinforcements for Gen- ng of 3,415 in- , two companies of en- and company of the signal neral Miles left Guantanamo on having asports, convoyed ider Captain Higginson, with usetts (flagship), Dixie, Glou- ‘clumbia and Yale, the two latter he expedition landed at ich port was entered ition. Here the fleet was one joimcd by the Annapolis and the Wasp, w the Puritan and Amphitrite went to Sen Juan and joined the New Orleans, ockading that port. nding was subse- by General Schwan’s Army Corps, by General 1 part of his division, and also Brooke with a part of his corps, and men. . one of the island, from ected operations for encounters with the Hormigueros, Coamo ack on a force lande Ss re- secuted h of Au- 1 was in our posses- m of the remainder a short time. At most sland our troops were comed. Protestations of i gratitude for deliv- mec our com manders nce to- Porto Rican consequence and 1 is due to those who sts War was enact ry of the Ist of May, To General Merritt, neompiaining ir gallantry y's viet " : sincerely grateful. r long voyage was made with singular success conduct of the f - without previous ex; rvice, deserves sured 5 The total casualties in killed and wounded in Army during the war with Spain Officers ki 23; enlisted men kille: 280; officers wounded, 11 men wounded, 1,464; total, 1, oft hi avy: Killed, wounded, 7 died as result of wounds, 1; invalided from service, al, 1 will be obs was ¢ ved that while our Navy two great battles and in rtakings in blockade 8 perilo nd bombardment, and more than 50,000 of our troops were transported distant wer aged in assault and battle and many skirmishes in territory, lost in both arms of the service a of 1,685 killed and wounded; and in the entire campaign by land and sea w ot lose a gun or a flag or a tr ort or a ship, and with t erew of the Merrimac not r ov Was taken prisoner August 7th, days from the Shafter’ eneral antiag troops menced embarkation for home, and our entire force was returned to United States as early as August They were absent f the United States only two months. It is fitting th to the patriot I should bear testimony m and devotion of that large Portion of our Army which, although eager to be ordered to the post of greatest ex- fortunatly was not required out e United States. They did their juty, and like their comrades at the have ed the gratitude of the In like manner, th: officers and the Army and of the Navy who re- Mained in their departments and stations faithfully performing most important duties @onneoted with the war, and whose r2- @vests for aseignment in the field and at sea I was compelled to refuse because their services were indisp:nsable here, are en- Utled to the highest commendation. It is my regret that there seems to be no pro- vision for their suitable recognition. In this connection it is a pleasur> for me to mention in terms of cordial appreciation the timely and useful work of the American National Red Cross both in relief measures Preparatory to the campaigns, in sanitary assistance at several of th: camps of as- semblage, and later, under the able and ex- Perienced leadership of the president of the gociety, Miss Clara Barton, on the fields of battle and tm the hospitals at the front in Cube. Working in conjunction with the Governmental authorities and under their fanction and approval, and with the en- thusiastic co-operation of many patriotic women and societies in the various states, the Red Cross has fully maintains its al- yeady high reputation for intense earnest- Bese and ability to exercise the noble pur- ea peses of its international organization, thus Justifying the confidence and support which it has reczived at the hands of the Amefi- an people. To the members and officers of society and all who aided them in ir philanthropie work, the sincere and lasting gratitude of the soldiers and the public is due and is fresly accorded. In tracing these events we are constantly reminded of cur obligations to the Divine Master for His watchful care over us and His safe guidance, for whica the Nation makes reverent acknowledgment and offers Aumble prayer for the continuance of His favor. Overture of Peace. The annihilation of Admiral Cervera’s fleet, followed by the capitulation of San- ago, having brought to the Spanish gov- ernment a realizing sense of the hopeless- ness of continuing a struggle now become wholly unequal, 1t made overtures of peace through the French Ambassador, who with the assent of his Government had acted as the friendly representative of Spanish in- terests during the war. On the 26th of July, M. Cambon presented a communica- tion signed by the Duke Almodovar, the Spanish Minister of State, inviting the United States to state the terms upon which it would be willing to make peace. On the 30th of July, by a communication addressed to the Duke Almodovar and handed to M. Cambon, the terms of this government were announced, substantially as Mi the protocol afterward signed. On the 10th of August the Spanish reply, dated August 7th, was handed by M. Cambon to the Secretary of State. It accepted uncon- ditionally the terms imposed as to Cuba, Porto Rico, and an island of the Ladrones group, but appeared to seek to introduce in- admissible reservations in regard to our demand as to the Philippine Islands. Con- celving that discussion on this point could neither be practical nor profitable, I di- rected that in order to avoid misunder- standing the matter should be forthwith losed by proposing. the embodiment in a formal protocol of the terms upon which the negotiations for peace were to be under- taken, The vague and inexplicit suggestions of the Spanish note could not ne accepted, the only reply being to present as a virtual ultimatum a draft of protocol embodying the precise terms tendered to Spain in our note of July 30th, with added stipulations of de- tail as to the appointment of commissioners to arrange for the evacuation of the Span- ish Antilles. On August 12th, M. Cambon announced his receipt of full powers to sign the protocol so submitted. Accord- ingly, on the afternoon of August 12th, M. Cambon, as the Plenipotentiary of Spain, and the Secretary cf State. as the Plenipo- tentiary of the United States, signed a pro- tocol providing— Article I. Spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over the title to Cuba. Article Il. Spain will cede to the United States the Isiand of Porto Rico and other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and also an island in the Ladrones to be selected by the United States. Article III. The United States will oc- cupy and hold the city, bay and harbor ef Manila pending the conc:usion of a treaty of peace which shall determine the con- trol, disposition and government of the Philippines. The fourth article provided for pointment of joint commissions part of the United States and s the on pain, the to meet in Havana and San Juan, respective- ly, for the purpose of arranging and cay ing out the cetails of the stipulated evac- uation of Cuba, Porto Rico and other Span- ish islands In the West Indies. The fifth article provided for the appoint- ment of not more than five Commissioners on each side, to meet at Paris not later than October Ist, and to proceed to the negotiation and conclusion ef a treaty of peace, subject to ratification according to the respective constitutional forms of the two countries. The sixth and last article provided that upon the signature of the protocol hostil- ities between the two countries should be suspended and that notice to that effect should be given as soon as possible by each Government to the commanders of its mili- tary and naval forces. Immediately upon the conclusion of the protocel I issued a proclamation of August 2th suspending hostilities on the part of the United States. The necessary orders to that end were at once given by telegraph. The blockade of the ports of Cuba and San Juan de Porto Rico was in like manner raised. On the 18th of August the muster out of 100,000 volunteers, or as near that number as was found to be practicable, was ordered. On the Ist of December 101,165 officers and men had been mustered out and dis- charged from the service and 9,002 more will be mustered out by the 10th of this month. Also a cerresponding number of general and general staff officers have been or: ably discharged the service. The military commissions to superintend the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico, and the adjacent islands were forthwith ap- pointed: for Cuba, Major General James F. Wade, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Major General Matthew C. Butler; fer Porto Rico, Major General John R. Brooke, Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schiey, Brigadier General William W. Gordon, who soon afterwards met the Spanish Commissioners at Havana and San Juan, respectively. The Porto Rican Joint Ccmm’ssion spe dily ac- complished its task, and by the 18th of October the evacuation of the island was completed. The United States flag was raised over the island at noon on that day. The administration of its affairs has been provisionally intrusted to a military gov- ernor until the Congress shall otherwise provide. The Cuban Joint Commission has not yet terminated its labors. Owing to the difficulties in the way of removing the large numbers of Spanish troops still in Cuba, the evacuation cannot be completed before the Ist of January next. Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro- tecol, I appointed William R. Day, lately Secretary State; Cushman K. Davis, Wiliam P. Frye and Georg? Gray, Senators of the Unlted States, and Whitelaw Reld, to be the Peace Commissioners on the part of the United States. Proceeding in due season to Paris, they there met on the Ist of October five commissione similarly appointed on the part of Spain. Their ne- gotiations have made hopeful progress, so that [ trust soon to be able to lay a defi- nitive treaty of peace befor? the Senate, with a review of the steps leading to its signature. I do not discuss at this time the govern- ment or the future of the new possessions which will com: to us as the result of the war with Spain. Such discussion will be appropriate after the treaty of peace shall be ratified. In the meantime and until the Congress has legislated otherwise it will be my duty to continue th: military Bov- ernments which have existed since our occupation and give to the people security in life and property and encouragement under a just and ben:ficent rule. oi Independence of Cuba. As soon as we are in possession of Cuba and have pacified the island it will be necessary to give aid and direction to its people to form a government for them- selves. This should b> undertaken at the earliest moment consistent with safety and assured success. It is important that our relations with this people shall be of the most friendly character and our commer- cial relations close and reciprocal. It should bz our duty to assist in every proper way to build up the waste places of the Island, encourage the industry of the people, and assist them to form a government which Shall be free and independent, thus realiz- Ing th: best aspirations of the Cuban peo- ple. | psople | miners were Spanish rule must be replaced by a just, benevolent and humane government, cre- ated by the people of Cuba, capable of per- forming all international obligations and which shall encourag? thrift, industry and prosperity, and promote peace and good will among all of the Inhabitants, what- ever may have been their relations in the past. Neither revenge nor passion should have a plac? In the new government. Until there is complete tranquillity in the Island and a stable government inaugurated mili- tary occupation will be continued. With the one exception of the rupture with Spain the intsrcourse of the United States with the great family of nations has been marked with cordiality, and the close of the eventful year finds most of the issues that necessarily arise in the complex relations of sovereign states adjusted or presenting no serious obstacle to a just and honorable solution by amicable agreement. OTHER FOREIGN RELATIONS. A long unsettled dispute as to the ex- tended boundary between the Argentine Republic and Chile, stretching along the Andean crests from the southern border of the Atacama Desert to Magellan Straits, nearly a third of the length of the South American continent, assumed an acute stage in the early part of the year, and af- forded to this Government occasion to ex- press the hope that the resort to arbitra- tion, already contemplated by existing con- ventions between the parties, might prevail despite the grave difficulties arising in its application. I am happy to say that ar- rangemenis to this end have been perfected, the questions of fact upon which the re- spective commissioners were unable to agree being in course of reference to Her Britannic Majesty for determination. A residual difference touching the northern boundary line across the Atacama Desert, for which existing treaties provided no ade- quate adjustment, bids fair to be settled in like manner by a joint commission, upon which the United States Minister at Buenos Aires has been invited to serve as umpire in the last resort. I have found occasion to approach the Argentine Government with a view to re- moving differences of rate charges imposed upon the cables of an American corporation in the transmission between Buenos Aires and the cities of Uruguay and Brazil of through messages passing from and to the United States. Although the matter is com- plicated by exclusive concessions by Uru- guay and Brazil to foreign companies, there is strong hope that a good understanding will be reached and thet the important channels of commercial communication he- tween the United States and the Atlantic cities of South America may be freed from an almost prohibitory discrimination. In this relation, I may be permitted to express my sense of the fitness of an inter- national agreement whereby the inter- change of messages over connecting cables may be regulated on a fair basis of uni- formity. The world has seen the postal system developed from a congerles of inde- pendent and exclusive services into a well- ordered union, of which all countries enjoy the manifold benefits. It would be strange were the nations not in time brought to realize that modern civilization, which owes so much of its progress to the anni- hilation of space by the electric force, de- mands that this all-important means of communication be a heritage of all peoples, to be administered and regulated in their common behoof. A step in this direction was taken when the International Conven- tion of IS84 for the protection of submarine cables was signed, and the day is, I trust, not far distant when this medium for the transmission of thought from land to land be brought within the domain of In- utional concert as completely as is the terial carriage of commerce and cor- respondence upon the face of the waters that divide them. The claim of Thomas Jefferson Page against Argentina, which has been pending many years, has been adjusted. The sum awarded by the Congress of Argentina was $4,212.35. ‘The sympathy of the American people has justly been offered to the Ruler and the of Austria-Hungary by reason of the affliction that has lately befallen them in the assassination of the Empress-Queen of that historic realm. On the 10th of September, 1897, a conflict took place at Lattimer, Pa., between a body of striking miners and the sheriff of Lu- zerne county and his deputies, in which 22 killed and 44 wounded, of whom 10 of the killed and 12 of the wound- ed were Austrian and Hungarian subjects. This deplorable event naturally aroused the solicitude of the Austro-Hungarian Govern- ment, which, on the assumption that the killing and wounding involved the unjusti- fiable misuse of authority, claimed repara- tion for the sufferers. Apart from the searching investigation and peremptory ac- tion of the authorities of Pennsylvania, th Federal Executive took appropriate steps to learn the merits of the case, in order to be In a position to meet the urgent com- plaint of a friendly power. The sheriff and his deputies, having been indicted for mur- der, were tried, and acquitted after pro- tracted proceedings and the hearing of hun- dreds of witnesses on the ground that the killing was in the line of their official duty to uphold law and preserve public order in the State. A representative of the Depart- ment of Justice attended the trial and re- ported its course fully. With all the facts in its possession, this government expects to reach a harmonious understanding on the subject with that of Austria-Hungary, notwithstanding the renewed claim of the latter after learning the result of the trial, for indemnity for its injured subjects. Despite the brief time allotted for prepa- ration, the exhibits of this country at the Universal Exposition at Brussels in 1897 en- joyed the singular distinction of a larger proportion of awards, having regard to the number and classes of articles entered, than those of other countries. The worth of such @ result In making known our national ca- pacity to“supply the world’s markets is obvious. Exhibitions of this international charac- ter are becoming more frequent as the ex- changes of commercial countries grow more intimate and varied. Hardly a year passes that this Government is not invited to na- tional participation at some important for- eign center, but often on too short notice to permit of recourse to Congress for the power and means to do so. My predeces- sors have suggested the advisability of pro- viding by a general enactment and a stand- ing appropriation for accepting such invi- tations and for representation of this coun- try by a commission. This plan has my cordial approval. I trust that the Belgian restrictions on the Importation of cattle from the United States, criginally adopted as a sanitary pre- caution, will at an early day be relaxed as to their present features of hardship and discrimination, so as to admit live cattle under due regulation of their slaughter af- ter landing. I am hopeful, too, of favor- able change in the Belgian treatment of our preserved and salted meats. The growth of direct trade between the two countries, not alone for Belgian consump- tion and Belgian products, but by the way of transit from and to other continental states, has been both encouraging and ben- eficial. No effort will be spared to enlarge its advantages by seeking the removal of needless impediments and by arrangements for increased commercial exchanges. Events im Central America. The year’s events in Central America deserve more than passing mention. A menacing rupture between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was happily composed by the signature of @ convention between the parties, with the concurrence of the Guste- malan representative as a mediator, the act being negotiated and signed on board the United States steamer Alert, then lying in Central American waters. It is delieved that the good offices of our envoy and of the commander of that vessel contributed toward this gratifying outcome. In my last annual message the situation ‘was presented with respect to the diplo- matic representation of this Government in Central America, created by the association of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Salvador un- der the title of the Greater Republic cf Central America and the delegation of their international functions to the Diet chereof. While the representative character of the Diet was recognized by my predecessor and has been confirmed during my Admin- istration by receiving its accredited envoy and granting exequaters to consuls com- missioned under its authority, that recogni- tion was qualified by the distinct under- standing that the responsibility of ex of the component sovereign Republics toward the United States remained wholly un- affected. This provisdb was needful inasmuch es the compact of the three Republics was et the outset an association whereby certain representative functions were delegated to 4 tripartite commission, rather than e fec- eration possessing centralized powers ctf government and administration. In this view of their relation, and of the relation of the United States to the several Reput lica, a change in the representation of this country in Central America was neither recommended by the Executive nor initiated by Congress; thus leaving one of our en- voys accredited as heretofore separately to two States of the Greater Republic, Nicara- gua and Salvador, and to a third State, Cesta Rica, which was not a party to the compact, while our other envoy was simi- larly aceredited to a union State—Hondu- ras—and a non-union state—Guatemala. The result has been that the one has pre- sented credentials only to the President of Costa Rica, the other having been re- ceived only by the Government of Guate- mala, Subsequently, the three associated Repub- lies entered into negotiations for taking the steps forecast in the original compact. A convention of their delegates framed for them a federa? constitution under the name of the United States of Central America, and provided for a central federal govern- ment and legislature. Upon ratification by the constituent States, the Ist of Novem- ber last was fixed for the new system to go into operation. Within a few weeks thereafter the plan was severely tested by revolutionary movements arising, with a consequent demand for unity of action on the part of the military power of the fed- eral States to suppress them. Under this strain the new Union seems to have been weakened through the withdrawal of its more important members. This govern- ment was not officially advised of tie in- stallation of the federation and has main- tained an attitude of friendly expectancy, while in nowise relinquishing the position held from the outset that the responsibil- ities of the several States toward us re- mained unaltered by their tentative rela- tions among themselves. Mearaguan Canal Commission, The Nicaragua Canal Commission, under the chairmanship of Rear-Admiral John G. Walker, appointed July 24, 1897, under the authority of a provision in the sundry 1 act of June 4 of that year, has nearly coms pleted its labors, and the results of its ex- haustive inquiry inte the proper route, the feasibility, and ihe cost of construction of an interoceanic al by a Nicaraguan route will be laid before you, In the per- formance of its task the Commission re- ceived all possible courtesy and assistance from the Governments of Nicaragua and Cesta Rica, which thus testified their ap- preciation of the importance of giving a speedy and practical outcome to the great Project that has for so many years en- grossed the attention of the respective countries. As the scope of the recent inquiry em- braced the whole subject with the aim of making plans and surveys for a canal by the most convenient route, it necessarily Included a review of the results of previous Surveys and plans, and in particular those adopted by the Maritime Canal Company under {ts existing concessions from Nica- Tagua and Costa Rica. so that to this tent those grants necessarily hold sential a part in the deliberations and con- clusions of the Canal Commission us they have held and must needs hold in tue dis- cussion of the matter by the Congre Under these circumstance overtures made to the Governments cf Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other parties for a new canal concession predicated on the assumed approaching lapse of the © tracts of the Maritime Canal Company with those States, I have not hesitated to ex- press my conviction that considerations of expediency and international policy as be- tween the several governments interested {n the construction and control of an inter- oceanic canal by this route require the maintenance of the status quo until the Canal Commission shall have reported end the United States Congress shall nave had the opportunity to pass finally upon the whole matter during the present session, without prejudice by reason of any change in the existing conditions. Nevertheless, it appears that the govern ment of Nicaragua, as one of its last sover- eign acts before merging its powers in thos of the newly formed United States of Cen- tral America, has granted an optional con- cession to another association, to become effective on the expiration of the present grant. It does not appear what surveys have been made or what route is proposed under this contingent grant, so that an ex- amination of the feasibility of its plans Is necessarily not embraced in the report of the canal commission. All these circum- stances Suggest the urgency of some defi- nite action by the Congress at this session if the labors of the past are to be utilized and the linking of the Atlantic and Pacitic oceans by a practical waterway is to be re- alized. That the construction of such a maritime highway is now more than ever indispensable to that intimate and ready in- tercommunication between our eastern and western seaboards demanded by the annex- ation of the Hawaiian Islands and the pros- pective expansion of our influence and com- merce in the Pactfic, and that our national policy now more imperatively than ever calls for its control by this government, are propositions which I doubt not the Con- gress will duly appreciate and wisely act upon. A convention providing for the revival of the late United States and Chilean claims commission and the consideration of claims which were duly presented to the late com- mnisrion but not considered because of the expiration of the time limited for the dura- tion of the commission, was signed May 24, 1897, and has remained unacted upon by the Senate. The term therein fixed for ef- fecting the exchange of ratifivations having elapsed, the convention falls unless the time be extended by amendment, which 1 am en- deavoring to bring about, with the friendly concurrence of the Chilean government. - ‘The Eastern Question. The United States has not been an indif- ferent spectator of the extraordinary events transpiring in the Chinese empire, whereby portions of its maritime provincés are pass- ing under the control of varfous European powers; but the prospect that the vast com- merce which the energy of our citizens and the necessity cf our staple'production’ for Chinese uses has built up in those regions may not be prejudiced through any exclu- sive treatment by the new occupants has obviated the need of our country becoming an actor J1 the scene. Our posttion among nations, having a large Pacific coast and a constantly expanding direct trade with the farther orient, gives us the equitable claim. to consideration and friendly treatment in this regard, ca as e | ley of our government. and in view of | serve our lacge interests fn that quarter b: all reans appropriate to the constant pol- The territories of Kiac-chow of Weil-hai-wai and of Port Ar- thur and Talienwan, leased to Germany, Great Britain and Russia, respectively, for terms of years, will, it is announced, be open to international commerce during such aliex, occupation; and if no discriminating treatment of American citizens and their trade be found to exist, or he hereafter de- veloped, the desire of this government would appear to be realized. In this relation,as showirg the volume and value of our exchanges with China and the peculiarly favorable-conditions which exist for the expansion in the normal course of trade, I refer to the communication ad- dressed to the Speaker of the House of Rep- reentatives by the Secretary of the Treas- ury on the 14th of last June, v@h its ac- companying letter of the Secretary of State, recommending an appropriation for a com- mission to study the commercial and in- dustrial conditions in the Chinese Empire and report as to the opportunities for and obstacles to the enlargement of markets in China for the raw products and man- ufactures of the United States. Action was not taken thereon during the late session. I cordially urge that the recommendation receive at your hands the consideration which its importance and timeliness merit. Meanwhile, there may be just ground for disquietude in view of the unrest and re- vival of the old sentiment of opposition and prejudice to alien people which pervades certain of the Chinese provinces. As in the case of the attacks upon our citizens in Szechuan and at Kutien in 18%, the United States Minister has been instructed to secure the fullest measure of protection, both local and imperial, for any menaced American interests, and to demand, in case of lawless injury to person or property, in- stant reparation appropriate to the case. War ships have been stationed at Tientsin for more ready observaiion of the disorders which have invaded even the Chinese cap- ital, su as to be in a position to act should need arise, while a guard of marines has been sent to Peking to afford the Minister the same measure of authoritative prote tion as the representatives of other natio: have been constrained to employ. Following close upon the rendition of the award of my predecessor as arbitrator of the claim of the Italian subject, Cerruti, against the Republic of Colombia, diff ences arose between the parties to the ar- Witration In regard to the scope and ex- tension of the award, of which certain ar- ticles were contested by Colombia, while Italy claimed their literal fulf!iment. The award having been made by the President of the United States, as an act of friendly consideration, and with the sole view to an impartial composition of the matter fn dispute, I could not but feel deep concern at such a miscarriage, and, while unable to accept the Colombian theory that I, in my official capacity, possessed continuing functions as arbitrator, with power to in- terpret or revise the terms of the award, my best efforts were lent to bring the par- tles to a harmontous agreement as to the execution of its provisions. A naval demonstration by Italy resulted in an engagement to pay the abilities claimed upon their ascertainment; but this apparent disposition of the controversy was followed by a rupture of diplomatic inter- course between Colombia and Italy which stil continues, although fortunately with- out acute symptoms having supervened Notwithstanding this, efforts are reported to be ccntinuing for the ascertainment of Colombia's contingent Mability on account of Ceruti's debts, under the fifth article of the award. A claim of an American citizen against the Dominican Republic for a public bridge over the Ozama River, which has been diplomatic controversy for several years, has been settled by expert arbitration and an award in favor of the claimant amount- ing to about $90,000. It however remains ubpaid despite urgent demands for !ts s tlement according to the terms of the com- pact. The Parix Exposition. There fs now every prospect that the par- ation of the United States in the Unt- al Exposition to be held in Paris in 100 will be on a seale commensurate with the advanced position held by our products and industries in the world’s chief :marts. | The preliminary report of Mr. Moses P. | Handy, who, under the act approved July 1807, was appointed Special Commi sioner, with a view to securing all atta able information necessary to a full and complete understanding by Congress in re- gard to the participation of this Govern ment In the Paris Exposition, was laid be- | fore you by my message of December 6, | 1807, and showed the large opportunities opened to make known our national pro gress in arts, seience, and manufactures, as vell as the urgent need of immediate and adequate provision to enable due advan- tage thereof to be taken. Mr. Handy death soon afterwards rendered it necessa vers ry for another to take up and complete his un- finished work, and on January 11 last Mr. Thomas W. Cridler, Third Assistant Secre- tary of State, was designated to fulfill that task. His report was laid before you by my message of June 14, 1808, with the gratify- ing result of awakening renewed interest in the projected display. By @ provision in the sundry civil appropriation act of July J, 1898, a sum not to exceed $650,000 was al- lotted for the organization of a commission to care for the proper preparation and 11 stallation of American exhibits, and for tae display of suitable exhibits by the several Executive Departments, particularly by the Department of Agriculture, the Fish Com- missiow, and the Smithsonian Institution, in representation of the Government of the United States. Pursuant to that enactment I appointed Mr. Ferdinand W. Peck, of Chicago, Com- missioner-General, with an Assistant Com- missioner-Gencral and a Secretary. Mr. Peck at once proceeded to Paris, where his success in enlarging the scope and variety of the United States exhibit has been most gratifying. Notwithstanding the compara- tively limited area of the Exposition site— less than One-half that of the World's Fair at Chicago—ihe space assigned to ine United States has been increased from the absolute allotment of 157,403 square feet reported by Mr. Handy to some 202,000 square feet, with corresponding augmenta- tion of the fieid for a truly characteristic representation of the various important branches of our country’s development. Mr. Peck’s report will be laid before you. In my judgment its recommendations will call for your early consideration, especially as regards an increase of the appropria- tion to at least one million dollars in all, so that not only may the assigned space be fully taken up by the best possible ex- hibits In every class, but the preparation and installation be on so perfect a scale as to rank among the first in that unpar- alleled competition of artistic and inventive production, and thus counterbalance the disadvantage with which we start as com- pared with other countries whose appro- priations are on a more generous scale and whose preparations are in a state of much greater forwardness than our own. Where our artisans have the admitted capacity to exeel, where our inventive genius “has initiated many of the grandest discoveries of these later days of the century, and where the native resources of our land are as limitiess‘as they are valu- able to supply the world’s needs, it is our province, as it should be our earnest care, to lead in the march of human progress and not rest content with any secondary place. Moreover, if this be due to our- seives, it is no“less due to the great French nation. whose guests we becorhe, and which has in so many ways testified its wish and and it will be my aim to sub-! bope that our participation shall befit the place the two peoples have won in the field of universal development. The commercial arrangement made with France on the 28th of May, 1898, under the provisions of section 3 of the Tariff Act of 1897, went into effect on the Ist day of June following. It has relieved. a portion of our export trade from serious embar- rassment. Further negotiations are now pending under section 4 of the same act, with a view to the increase of trade be- tween the two countries to their mutual advantage. Negotiations with other ernments, in part interrupted by the war with Spain, are in progress under both sec- tions of the Tariff Act. 1 hope to be able to announce some of the results of these negotlations during the present session of Congress. Negotiations to the same end with Ger- many have been set on foot. Meanwhile no effort has been relaxed to convince the Im- perial Government of the thoroughness of our Inspection of pork products for exporta- tion and it is trusted that the efficient ad- ministration of this measure by the Depart- ment of Agriculture will be recognized as @ guarantee of the healthfulness of the food staples we send abroad to countries where their use is large and necessary. I transmitted to the Senate, on the 10th of February last, information touching the prohibition against the importation of fresh fruits from this country, which had then recently been decreed by Germany on the ground of danger of disseminating the San Jose scale insect. This precautionary meas- ure was justified by Germany on the score of the drastic steps taken in several States of the Union against the spread of the pest, the elaborate reports of the Department of Agriculture being put In evidence to show the danger to German fruit-growing tnter- ests should the scale obtain a lodgement in that country. Temporary relief was afford- ed in the case of large consignments of fruit then on the way by inspection and ad- mission when found non-infected. Later the prohibition was extended to dried fruits of every kind, but was reiaxed so as to apply only to unpeeled fruit and fruit waste. AS was to be expected, the alarm reached to other countries, and Switzer- land has adopted a similar inhibition. Et- forts ure in progress to induce the German and Swiss Gobernments to relax the pro- hibition in favor of dried fruits shown to have been cured under circumstances ren- dering the existence of animal life impossi- ble. Our relations with Great Britain have con- tinued on the most friendly footing. Assent- ing to our requesi, the protection of Ameri- cans and their interests in Sp&nish jurisdic- tion was assumed by the diplomatic and con- sular representatives of Great Britain, who fulfilled their delicate and arduous trust with tact and zeal, eliciting high commend- ation. 1 may be allowed to make fitting allusion to the instance of Mr. Ramsden, Her Majesty's Consul at Santiago de Cuba, whose untimely death after distinguished service and untiring effort during the siege of that city was sincerely limented, In the early part of April last pursuant to @ request made at the instance of the Secretary of Staie by the British Ambas- sador at this capital, the Canadian govern- ment granted facilities for the passage of four United States revenue cutters from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast by way of the Canadian canals and the St. rence River. The vessels had reached Lake Ontario and were there awaiting the open- ing of navigation when war was declared between the United States and Spain. Her Majesty’s Government thereupon, by # communication of the latter part of April, stated that the permission granted before the outbreak of hostilities would not be withdrawn provided the United States Gov- ernment Save assurance that the vessels in question would proceed direct to a United States port without engaging in any hos- tile agy operation. This Gevernment promptls d to the stipulated condition, it being understood that the vessels would not be prohivited from resisting any hoetile attack. It will give me especial satisfaction if I hall be authorized to communicate te you a favorable conclusion of the pending nego- tlations with Great Britain in respect to the ominion of Canada. It is the earnest wish of this Government io remove all sources of discord and irritation in our relations with the neighboring Dominion. The trade be- tween the two countries constantly in- creasing, and it is important to both coun- tries that all reasonabie facilities should be granted for its development. The Government of Greece strongly urges the onerousness of the duty here imposed upon the currants of that country, amount- ing to 100 per cent or more of their market value. This fruit is stated to be exclusively product, not coming into competi- tion with any domestic product. The ques- tion of reciprocal commercial relations with Greece, including the restoration of cur- rants to the free list, is under consideration, The long-standing claim of Bernard Campbell for damages for injuries sustain- ed from a violent assault committed against him by military authorities in the Island of Haiti, has been settled by the ugreement of that Republic to pay him $10,000 in Amer- ican gold. Of this sum $5,000 has already been paid. it is hoped that other pending claims of American citizens against that Republic may be amicably adjusted. a Gr GOVERNMENT OF HAWAL Pending the consideration by the Senate of the treaty signed June 16, 1897, by the Plenipotentiaries of the United States and of the Republic of Hawaii, providing for the annexation of the Islands, a joint reso- lution to accomplish the same purpose by accepting the offered cession and incorpor- ating the ceded territory into the Union was adopted by the Congress and approved July 7, 1898. I thereupon directed the U. S. S. Philadelphia to convey Rear-Admiral Miller to Honolulu, and intrusted to his hands this important legislative act, to be delivered to the President of the Republic of Hawaii, with whom the Admiral and the United States Minister were authorized to make appropriate arrangements for trans- ferring the sovereignty of the Islands to the United States. This was simply but impressively accomplished on the 12th of August last, by the delivery of a certified copy of the resolution to President Dole, who thereupon yielded up to the represent- ative of the government of the United States the sovereignty and public property of the Hawaiian Islands. Pursuant to the terms of the joint resolu- tion and in exercise of the authority there- by conferred upon me, I directed that the civil, judicial, and military powers there- tofore exercised by the officers of the Gov- ernment of the Republic of Hawaii should continue to be exercised by those officers until Congress shall provide a government for the incorporated territory, subject to my power to remove such officers and to fill vacancies. The President, officers, and troops of the Republic thereupon took the oath of allegiance to the United State: thus providing for the uninterrupted con- tinuance of all the administrative and mu- nicipal functions of the annexed territory until Congress shall otherwise enact. Following the further provision of the joint resclution, I appointed the Honorables Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, John T. Mor- gan, of Alabama, Robert R. Hitt, of Iili- nois, Sanford B. Dole, of Hawaii, and Wal- ter F. Frear, of Hawaii, as commissioners to confer and recommend to Congress such legislation concerning the Hawaiian Islands as they should deem necessary or proper. The Commissioners having fulfilled the mission confided to them, their report will be laid before you at an early day. It is believed that their recommendations -will have the earnest consideration due to the magnitude of the responsibility resting upon you to gtve such shape to the relationship of those mid-Pacific lands to our home’ Union as will benefit both in the highest degree, realizing the aspirations of the com- elected to share our political heritage, while at the same time justifying the foresight of those who for three-quarters of a cen- tury have looked to the assimilation of Hawaii as a natural and inevitable con- summation, tn harmony with our needs and in fulfillment of our cherished tradi- tions. The questions heretofore pending between Hawai! and Japan, growing out of the a leged mistreatment of Japanese treaty im- migrants, were, I am pleased to say, ad- justed before the act of transfer by the payment of a reasonable indemnity to the Government of Japan. Under the provisions of the joint resolu- tion, the existing customs relations of the Hawatian Islands with the United States and with other countries remain unchanged until legisiation shall otherwise provide. The consuls of Hawaii, here and in foreign countries, continue to fulfill thelr com- mercial agencies, while the United States consulate at Honolulu is maintained for all appropriate services pertaining to trade and the revenue. It would be desirable that all foreign consuls in the Hawaiian Islands should receive new exequaturs from this Government. The attention of Congress ts called to the fact that our consular offices having ceased to exist in Hawali, and being about to cease in other countries coming under the soy- ereignty of the United States, the provisions for the relief and transportation of destt- tute American seamen in these countries under our consular regulations will in con- Sequence terminate. It is proper, therefore, that new legislation should be enacted upon this subject, in order to meet the changed conditions, The interpretation of certain provisions of the extradition convention of December 11, 1861, has been at various times the occasion of controversy with the Govern- ment of Mexico. An acute difference arose in the case of the Mexican demand for the delivery of Jesus Guerra, who, having led @ marauding expedition near the border with the proclaimed purpose of initiating an insurrection against President Diaz, escaped into Texas. Extradition was re- fused on the ground that the alleged of- fense was political in its character and therefore came within the treaty proviso of nonsurrender. The Mexican contention was that the exception only related to pure- ly political offenses, and that as Guerra’s acts were admixed with the common crime of murder, arson, kidnaping, and robbery the option of nondelivery became void, a position which this Government was un- able to admit in view of the received inter- national doctrine and practice in the mat- ter. The Mexican Government, in view of this, gave notice January 24, 1808, of the termination of the convention, to take effect twelve months from that date, at the same time Inviting the conclusion of a new convention, toward which negotia- tions are on foot. In this relation 1 may refer to the neces- sity of some amendment of our existing extradition statute. It is a common stipu- lation of such treaties that neither party shall be bound to give up its own citizens, with the added proviso in on> of our trea- ties, that with Japan, that it may surrender if it see fit. Tt is held in this country by an almost uniform course of decisions that where a treaty negatives the obligation to surrender the President is not invested with legal authority to act. Th2 confer- ment of such authority would be in the tine of that sound morality which shrinks from affording secure asylum io the author of @ heinous crime. Again, statutory proviston might well be made for what is styled ex- a tradition by way of transit, whereby fugitive surrendsred by one foreign ¢ ernment to another may be conveyed across tritory of the United States to the ction of the demanding state. A ommendation in this behalf, made in the President's Message of 1886, was not acted upon. The matter is presented for your consideration. The problem of the Mexican Free Zone hi been often discussed with regard: to its inconvenience as a provocative of smug- sling into the United States along an ex- tensive and thinly guarded land border. The effort made by the joint resolution of March 1. 1895, to remedy the abuse charged by suspending the privilege of free trans- portation in bond across the territory of the United States to Mexico failed of good result, as is stated in Report No. 702 of the House of Representatives, submitted tn the last session, March 11, 1808. As the ques- tion is one to be conveniently met by wine concurrent legislation of the two countries looking to the protection of the revenues by harmonious measures operating equally on either side of the boundary, rather than by conventional arrangements, I suggest that Congress consider the advisability of authorizing and tnviting a conference of representatives of the Treasury Depart- Ments of the United States and Mexico to consider the subject in all its complex bear- ings, and make report with pertinent recommendations to the respective Govern- ments for th? information and considera- tion of their Congresses. The Mexican Water Boundary Commi sion has adjusted all matters submitted to {t to the satisfaction of both Governments save in three important cases; that of the “Chamizai” at El Paso, Texas, where the two Commission2rs falled to agree and wherein, for this case only, thig Govern- ment has proposed to Mexico the addition of a third member; the proposed elimina- tion of what are known as “Bancos,” small isolated islands formed by the cutting off of bends in the Rio Grande, from the opera tion of the Treaties of 1884 and 1889, recom. mended by the Commissioners and ap- proved by this Government, but still under consideration by Mexico; and the subject of the “Equitable Distribution of the Waters of the Rio Grande,” for which the Commis. sioners recommended an international dam and res-rvoir, approved by Mexico, but still under consideration by this Government. Pending these questions it is necessary to extend the life of the Commission which expires December 23d next. The coronation of the young Queen of the Netherlands was made the occasion of fit- ting congratulations, The claim of Victor H. McCord against Peru, which for a number of years has been press:d by this Government and has on several occasions attracted the atiention of the Congress, has been satisfacterily ad- justed. A protocol was signed May 17, 1898, whereby, the fact of Hability being admitted, the question of the amount to bs awarded was submitted to the Chief Justice of Canada as sole arbitrator. His award sets the indemnity due the claimant at $40,- 000. The Government of Peru has given th> prescribed notification of its intention to abrogate the Treaty of Friendship, Com- merce, and Navigation concluded with this country August 31, 1887. As that treaty contains many important provisions neces- sary to the maintenanc> of commerce and good relations, which could with difficulty be replaced by the negotiation of renewed provisions within the brief twelve months intervening before the treaty terminates, I have invited suggestions by Peru as to the particular provisions it is desired to annul, in the hope of reaching an arrangement whereby the r2maining articles may be pro- visionally saved. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. His Majesty the Tsar having ennounced his purpose to raise the Imperial Russian mission at this Capital to the rank of gn Embassy, I responded, under the authority conferred by the act of March 8, 1803, by commissioning and accrediting th> actual representative at St. Petersburg in the ca- pacity of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. The Russian Ambassador to this courtry has since presented his cre- dextials. munity that has cast its lot with us and’ The proposal of the Tsar for a gen>ral ret : .