concluded with a western power), I felt constrained at the beginning of
the controversy to tender our good offices to induce an amicable
arrangement of the initial difficulty growing out of the Japanese
demands for administrative reforms in Korea, but the unhappy
precipitation of actual hostilities defeated this kindly purpose.
Deploring the destructive war between the two most powerful of the
eastern nations and anxious that our commercial interests in those
countries may be preserved and that the safety of our citizens there
shall not be jeopardized, I would not hesitate to heed any intimation
that our friendly aid for the honorable termination of hostilities
would be acceptable to both belligerents.
A convention has been finally concluded for the settlement by
arbitration of the prolonged dispute with Ecuador growing out of the
proceedings against Emilio Santos, a naturalized citizen of the United
States.
Our relations with the Republic of France continue to be such as should
exist between nations so long bound together by friendly sympathy and
similarity in their form of government.
The recent cruel assassination of the President of this sister Republic
called forth such universal expressions of sorrow and condolence from
our people and Government as to leave no doubt of the depth and
sincerity of our attachment. The resolutions passed by the Senate and
House of Representatives on the occasion have been communicated to the
widow of President Carnot.
Acting upon the reported discovery of Texas fever in cargoes of
American cattle, the German prohibition against importations of live
stock and fresh meats from this country has been revived. It is hoped
that Germany will soon become convinced that the inhibition is as
needless as it is harmful to mutual interests.
The German Government has protested against that provision of the
customs tariff act which imposes a discriminating duty of one-tenth of
1 cent a pound on sugars coming from countries paying an export bounty
thereon, claiming that the exaction of such duty is in contravention of
Articles V and IX of the treaty of 1828 with Prussia.
In the interests of the commerce of both countries and to avoid even
the accusation of treaty violation, I recommend the repeal of so much
of the statute as imposes that duty, and I invite attention to the
accompanying report of the Secretary of State, containing a discussion
of the questions raised by the German protests.
Early in the present year an agreement was reached with Great Britain
concerning instructions to be given to the naval commanders of the two
Governments in Bering Sea and the contiguous North Pacific Ocean for
their guidance in the execution of the award of the Paris Tribunal of
Arbitration and the enforcement of the regulations therein prescribed
for the protection of seal life in the waters mentioned. An
understanding has also been reached for the payment by the United
States of
$425,000 in full satisfaction of all claims which may be made by Great
Britain for damages growing out of the controversy as to fur seals in
Bering Sea or the seizure of British vessels engaged in taking seal in
those waters. The award and findings of the Paris Tribunal to a great
extent determined the facts and principles upon which these claims
should be adjusted, and they have been subjected by both Governments to
a thorough examination upon the principles as well as the facts which
they involve. I am convinced that a settlement upon the terms mentioned
would be an equitable and advantageous one, and I recommend that
provision be made for the prompt payment of the stated sum.
Thus far only France and Portugal have signified their willingness to
adhere to the regulations established under the award of the Paris
Tribunal of Arbitration.
Preliminary surveys of the Alaskan boundary and a preparatory
examination of the question of protection of food fish in the
contiguous waters of the United States and the Dominion of Canada are
in progress.
The boundary of British Guiana still remains in dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela. Believing that its early settlement on some just
basis alike honorable to both parties is in the line of our established
policy to remove from this hemisphere all causes of difference with
powers beyond the sea, I shall renew the efforts heretofore made to
bring about a restoration of diplomatic relations between the
disputants and to induce a reference to arbitration--a resort which
Great Britain so conspicuously favors in principle and respects in
practice and which is earnestly sought by her weaker adversary.
Since communicating the voluminous correspondence in regard to Hawaii
and the action taken by the Senate and House of Representatives on
certain questions submitted to the judgment and wider discretion of
Congress the organization of a government in place of the provisional
arrangement which followed the deposition of the Queen has been
announced, with evidence of its effective operation. The recognition
usual in such cases has been accorded the new Government.
Under our present treaties of extradition with Italy miscarriages of
justice have occurred owing to the refusal of that Government to
surrender its own subjects. Thus far our efforts to negotiate an
amended convention obviating this difficulty have been unavailing.
Apart from the war in which the Island Empire is engaged, Japan
attracts increasing attention in this country by her evident desire to
cultivate more liberal intercourse with us and to seek our kindly aid
in furtherance of her laudable desire for complete autonomy in her
domestic affairs and full equality in the family of nations. The
Japanese Empire of to-day is no longer the Japan of the past, and our
relations with this progressive nation should not be less broad and
liberal than those with other powers.
Good will, fostered by many interests in common, has marked our
relations with our nearest southern neighbor. Peace being restored
along her northern frontier, Mexico has asked the punishment of the
late disturbers of her tranquillity. There ought to be a new treaty of
commerce and navigation with that country to take the place of the one
which terminated thirteen years ago. The friendliness of the
intercourse between the two countries is attested by the fact that
during this long period the commerce of each has steadily increased
under the rule of mutual consideration, being neither stimulated by
conventional arrangements nor retarded by jealous rivalries or selfish
distrust.
An indemnity tendered by Mexico as a gracious act for the murder in
1887 of Leon Baldwin, an American citizen, by a band of marauders in
Durango has been accepted and is being paid in installments.
The problem of the storage and use of the waters of the Rio Grande for
irrigation should be solved by appropriate concurrent action of the two
interested countries. Rising in the Colorado heights, the stream flows
intermittently, yielding little water during the dry months to the
irrigation channels already constructed along its course. This scarcity
is often severely felt in the regions where the river forms a common
boundary. Moreover, the frequent changes in its course through level
sands often raise embarrassing questions of territorial jurisdiction.
Prominent among the questions of the year was the Bluefields incident,
in what is known as the Mosquito Indian Strip, bordering on the
Atlantic Ocean and within the jurisdiction of Nicaragua. By the treaty
of 1860 between Great Britain and Nicaragua the former Government
expressly recognized the sovereignty of the latter over the strip, and
a limited form of self-government was guaranteed to the Mosquito
Indians, to be exercised according to their customs, for themselves and
other dwellers within its limits. The so-called native government,
which grew to be largely made up of aliens, for many years disputed the
sovereignty of Nicaragua over the strip and claimed the right to
maintain therein a practically independent municipal government. Early
in the past year efforts of Nicaragua to maintain sovereignty over the
Mosquito territory led to serious disturbances, culminating in the
suppression of the native government and the attempted substitution of
an impracticable composite administration in which Nicaragua and alien
residents were to participate. Failure was followed by an insurrection,
which for a time subverted Nicaraguan rule, expelling her officers and
restoring the old organization. This in turn gave place to the existing
local government established and upheld by Nicaragua.
Although the alien interests arrayed against Nicaragua in these
transactions have been largely American and the commerce of that region
for some time has been and still is chiefly controlled by our citizens,
we can not for that reason challenge the rightful sovereignty of
Nicaragua over this important part of her domain.
For some months one, and during part of the time two, of our naval
ships have been stationed at Bluefields for the protection of all
legitimate interests of our citizens. In September last the Government
at Managua expelled from its territory twelve or more foreigners,
including two Americans, for alleged participation in the seditious or
revolutionary movements against the Republic at Bluefields already
mentioned; but through the earnest remonstrance of this Government the
two Americans have been permitted to return to the peaceful management
of their business. Our naval commanders at the scene of these
disturbances by their constant exhibition of firmness and good judgment
contributed largely to the prevention of more serious consequences and
to the restoration of quiet and order. I regret that in the midst of
these occurrences there happened a most grave and irritating failure of
Nicaraguan justice. An American citizen named Wilson, residing at Rama,
in the Mosquito territory, was murdered by one Arguello, the acting
governor of the town. After some delay the murderer was arrested, but
so insecurely confined or guarded that he escaped, and notwithstanding
our repeated demands it is claimed that his recapture has been
impossible by reason of his flight beyond Nicaraguan jurisdiction.
The Nicaraguan authorities, having given notice of forfeiture of their
concession to the canal company on grounds purely technical and not
embraced in the contract, have receded from that position.
Peru, I regret to say, shows symptoms of domestic disturbance, due
probably to the slowness of her recuperation from the distresses of the
war of 1881. Weakened in resources, her difficulties in facing
international obligations invite our kindly sympathy and justify our
forbearance in pressing long-pending claims. I have felt constrained to
testify this sympathy in connection with certain demands urgently
preferred by other powers.
The recent death of the Czar of Russia called forth appropriate
expressions of sorrow and sympathy on the part of our Government with
his bereaved family and the Russian people. As a further demonstration
of respect and friendship our minister at St. Petersburg was directed
to represent our Government at the funeral ceremonies.
The sealing interests of Russia in Bering Sea are second only to our
own. A modus vivendi has therefore been concluded with the Imperial
Government restrictive of poaching on the Russian rookeries and of
sealing in waters which were not comprehended in the protected area
defined in the Paris award.
Occasion has been found to urge upon the Russian Government equality of
treatment for our great life-insurance companies whose operations have
been extended throughout Europe. Admitting as we do foreign
corporations to transact business in the United States, we naturally
expect no less tolerance for our own in the ample fields of competition
abroad.
But few cases of interference with naturalized citizens returning to
Russia have been reported during the current year. One Krzeminski was
arrested last summer in a Polish province on a reported charge of
unpermitted renunciation of Russian allegiance, but it transpired that
the proceedings originated in alleged malfeasance committed by
Krzeminski while an imperial official a number of years ago. Efforts
for his release, which promised to be successful, were in progress when
his death was reported.
The Government of Salvador having been overthrown by an abrupt popular
outbreak, certain of its military and civil officers, while hotly
pursued by infuriated insurgents, sought refuge on board the United
States war ship Bennington, then lying in a Salvadorean port. Although
the practice of asylum is not favored by this Government, yet in view
of the imminent peril which threatened the fugitives and solely from
considerations of humanity they were afforded shelter by our naval
commander, and when afterwards demanded under our treaty of extradition
with Salvador for trial on charges of murder, arson, and robbery I
directed that such of them as had not voluntarily left the ship be
conveyed to one of our nearest ports where a hearing could be had
before a judicial officer, in compliance with the terms of the treaty.
On their arrival at San Francisco such a proceeding was promptly
instituted before the United States district judge, who held that the
acts constituting the alleged offenses were political and discharged
all the accused except one Cienfuegos, who was held for an attempt to
murder. Thereupon I was constrained to direct his release for the
reason that an attempt to murder was not one of the crimes charged
against him and upon which his surrender to the Salvadorean authorities
had been demanded.
Unreasonable and unjust fines imposed by Spain on the vessels and
commerce of the United States have demanded from time to time during
the last twenty years earnest remonstrance on the part of our
Government. In the immediate past exorbitant penalties have been
imposed upon our vessels and goods by customs authorities of Cuba and
Puerto Rico for clerical errors of the most trivial character in the
manifests of bills of lading. In some cases fines amounting to
thousands of dollars have been levied upon cargoes or the carrying
vessels when the goods in question were entitled to free entry. Fines
have been exacted even when the error had been detected and the Spanish
authorities notified before the arrival of the goods in port.
This conduct is in strange contrast with the considerate and liberal
treatment extended to Spanish vessels and cargoes in our ports in like
cases. No satisfactory settlement of these vexatious questions has yet
been reached.
The Mora case, referred to in my last annual message, remains
unsettled. From the diplomatic correspondence on this subject which has
been laid before the Senate it will be seen that this Government has
offered to conclude a convention with Spain for disposal by arbitration
of outstanding claims between the two countries, except the Mora claim.
which, having been long ago adjusted, now only awaits payment as
stipulated, and of course it could not be included in the proposed
convention. It was hoped that this offer would remove parliamentary
obstacles encountered by the Spanish Government in providing payment of
the Mora indemnity. I regret to say that no definite reply to this
offer has yet been made and all efforts to secure payment of this
settled claim have been unavailing.
In my last annual message I adverted to the claim on the part of Turkey
of the right to expel as persons undesirable and dangerous Armenians
naturalized in the United States and returning to Turkish jurisdiction.
Numerous questions in this relation have arisen. While this Government
acquiesces in the asserted right of expulsion, it will not consent that
Armenians may be imprisoned or otherwise punished for no other reason
than having acquired without imperial consent American citizenship.
Three of the assailants of Miss Melton, an American teacher in Mosul,
have been convicted by the Ottoman courts, and I am advised that an
appeal against the acquittal of the remaining five has been taken by
the Turkish prosecuting officer.
A convention has been concluded with Venezuela for the arbitration of a
long-disputed claim growing out of the seizure of certain vessels the
property of citizens of the United States. Although signed, the treaty
of extradition with Venezuela is not yet in force, owing to the
insistence of that Government that when surrendered its citizens shall
in no case be liable to capital punishment.
The rules for the prevention of collisions at sea which were framed by
the maritime conference held in this city in 1889, having been
concurrently incorporated in the statutes of the United States and
Great Britain have been announced to take effect March 1, 1895, and
invitations have been extended to all maritime nations to adhere to
them. Favorable responses have thus far been received from Austria,
France, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
In my last annual message I referred briefly to the unsatisfactory
state of affairs in Samoa under the operation of the Berlin treaty as
signally illustrating the impolicy of entangling alliances with foreign
powers, and on May 9, 1894, in response to a resolution of the Senate,
I sent a Special message and documents to that body on the same
subject, which emphasized my previously expressed opinions. Later
occurrences, the correspondence in regard to which will be laid before
the Congress, further demonstrate that the Government which was devised
by the three powers and forced upon the Samoans against their
inveterate hostility can be maintained only by the continued presence
of foreign military force and at no small sacrifice of life and
treasure.
The suppression of the Mataafa insurrection by the powers and the
subsequent banishment of the leader and eleven other chiefs, as recited
in my last message, did not bring lasting peace to the islands.
Formidable uprisings continued, and finally a rebellion broke out in
the capital island, Upolu, headed in Aana, the western district, by the
younger Tamasese, and in Atua, the eastern district, by other leaders.
The insurgents ravaged the country and fought the Government's troops
up to the very doors of Apia. The King again appealed to the powers for
help, and the combined British and German naval forces reduced the
Atuans to apparent subjection, not, however, without considerable loss
to the natives. A few days later Tamasese and his adherents, fearing
the ships and the marines, professed submission.
Reports received from our agents at Apia do not justify the belief that
the peace thus brought about will be of long duration. It is their
conviction that the natives are at heart hostile to the present
Government, that such of them as profess loyalty to it do so from fear
of the powers, and that it would speedily go to pieces if the war ships
were withdrawn. In reporting to his Government on the unsatisfactory
situation since the suppression of the late revolt by foreign armed
forces, the German consul at Apia stated:
That peace will be lasting is hardly to be presumed. The lesson given
by firing on Atua was not sufficiently sharp and incisive to leave a
lasting impression on the forgetful Samoan temperament. In fact,
conditions are existing which show that peace will not last and is not
seriously intended. Malietoa, the King, and his chiefs are convinced
that the departure of the war ships will be a signal for a renewal of
war. The circumstance that the representatives of the villages of all
the districts which were opposed to the Government have already
withdrawn to Atua to hold meetings, and that both Atua and Aana have
forbidden inhabitants of those districts which fought on the side of
the Government to return to their villages, and have already partly
burned down the latter, indicates that a real conciliation of the
parties is still far off.
And in a note of the 10th ultimo, inclosing a copy of that report for the information of this Government, the German ambassador said:
The contents of the report awakened the imperial Government's
apprehension that under existing circumstances the peace concluded with
the rebels will afford no assurance of the lasting restoration of
tranquillity in the islands.
The present Government has utterly failed to correct, if indeed it has not aggravated, the very evils it was intended to prevent. It has not stimulated our commerce with the islands. Our participation in its establishment against the wishes of the natives was in plain defiance of the conservative teachings and warnings of the wise and patriotic men who laid the foundations of our free institutions, and I invite an expression of the judgment of Congress on the propriety of steps being taken by this Government looking to the withdrawal from its engagements with the other powers on some reasonable terms not prejudicial to any of our existing rights.
The Secretary of the Treasury reports that the receipts of the
Government from all sources of revenue during the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1894, amounted to $372,802,498.29 and its expenditures to
$442,605,758.87, leaving a deficit of $69,803,260.58. There was a
decrease of $15,952,674.66 in the ordinary expense of the Government as
compared with the fiscal year 1893.
There was collected from customs $131,818,530.62 and from internal
revenue $147,168,449.70. The balance of the income for the year,
amounting to $93,815,517.97, was derived from the sales of lands and
other sources.
The value of our total dutiable imports amounted to $275,199,086, being
$146,657,625 less than during the preceding year, and the importations
free of duty amounted to $379,795,536, being $64,748,675 less than
during the preceding year. The receipts from customs were
$73,536,486.11 less and from internal revenue $13,836,539.97 less than
in 1893.
The total tax collected from distilled spirits was $85,259,250.25, on
manufactured tobacco $28,617,898.62, and on fermented liquors
$31,414,788.04.
Our exports of merchandise, domestic and foreign, amounted during the
year to $892,140,572, being an increase over the preceding year of
$44,495,378.
The total amount of gold exported during the fiscal year was
$76,898,061, as against $108,680,444 during the fiscal year 1893. The
amount imported was $72,449,119, as against $21,174,381 during the
previous year.
The imports of silver were $13,186,552 and the exports were $50,451,265.
The total bounty paid upon the production of sugar in the United States
for the fiscal year was $12,100,208.89, being an increase of
$2,725,078.01 over the payments made during the preceding year. The
amount of bounty paid from July 1, 1894, to August 28, 1894, the time
when further payments ceased by operation of law, was $966,185.84. The
total expenses incurred in the payment of the bounty upon sugar during
the fiscal year was $130,140.85.
It is estimated that upon the basis of the present revenue laws the
receipts of the Government during the current fiscal year, ending June
30, 1895, will be $424,427,748.44 and its expenditures $444,427,748.44,
resulting in a deficit of $20,000,000.