Show IalKISER AND JOHN BULL Relations with Germany and Great Britain Very Pleasant Good will prevails In our relations with the Gorman Empire An amicable adjustment of the longpend ing question of the admission of our life Insurance companies to io business in Prussia bas been reached One of the principal companies has already been readmitted and the way Is opened for the others to share the privilege The sentiment of the Samoan problem prob-lem to which I adverted In my last message has accomplished good re suIts Peace and contentment prevail In the Islands e especially in Tutulla where n conservative administration that has won tIme confidence and esteem es-teem of tho kindlydisposed natives has been organized under the direction of tho commander of the United States naval station at PagoPago MEAT INSPECTION LAW An Imperial meat i Inspect l law has > been enacted forGcrmany Vhllo It IL may simplify the Inspections it prohibits pro-hibits certain products heretofore admitted ad-mitted There Is still great uncertainty uncer-tainty as to whether our itdnigh extinguished ex-tinguished German trade In meat products pro-ducts can revive under Its > new burdens Much will depend upon regu i I latlons not yet promulgated which we confidently hope will be free from the I discriminations which attended the enforcement en-forcement of the old statutes v Tho remaining link In the new lines of direct telegraphic communication between the United States and the I German Empire has recently been completed j I com-pleted affording a gratifying occasion for exchange of friendly congratulations congratula-tions with the German Emperor Our friendly relations with Great Britain continue The war In Southern South-ern Africa Introduced Important questions i ques-tions A condition unusual In International I Interna-tional wars was presented In that while one belligerent had control of I I the seas the other had no ports shipping ship-ping 0 direct trade but was only ac cessible through the territory of a I neutral Vexations arose through I Great Britains action in respect to 1 I neutral cargoes not contraband In I their own nature shipped to Portuguese Portu-guese South Africa on lie score of 1 probable or suspected ultimate dcsll nation to the Boer Slates naton Suclrcon I slgnments In British ships by which i alone direct trade is kept up between our ports and Southern Africa wore seized In application of I law prohibiting prohibit-ing British vessels from trading with tho enemy without regard to any contraband con-traband character of the goods while cargoes shipped to Delogoa bay In neutral bottoms were arrested on the ground of alleged destination to enemys country Appropriate representation repre-sentation on our part resulted in the British Government agreeing to purchase pur-chase outright all surh goods shown to be the actual property of American citizens thus closing the Incident to the satisfaction of the Immediately Interested parties although unfortunately unfortu-nately without a broad settlement of the question of a neutrals right to send goods not contraband per HC to a area neutral port adjacent to a belligerent ALASKAN BOUNDRY The work of marking certain provisional pro-visional boundary points for convenience conven-ience of administration around tho head of Lynn canal in accordance with the temporary arrangement Qf October Octo-ber 1S99 was completed by a Joint survey in July last The modus vlvendi has so far worked without friction fric-tion and the Dominion Government has provided rules and regulations for securing to our citizens the benefit ot the reciprocal stipulation that the cit I Izons or subjects of either power found by that arrangement within the temporary tem-porary Jurisdiction of the other shall buffer no diminution of rights and privileges priv-ileges they have hitherto enjoyed But however necessary such an expedient expe-dient may have been to tide over the grave emergencies of the situation It is at best but an unsatisfactory makeshift make-shift which should not be Buffered to delay ihe speedy and complete establishment estab-lishment of the frontier line to which we are entitled under the RussoAmcr lean treaty for the cession of Alaska NEED DEFINITE BOUNDARY LINE In this relation I may refer again to the need oC definitely marking the Alaskan boundary where it follows the ono hundred and fortyfirst meridian A convention to that end has been before conventon fore the Senate for some two years but as no action has been taken I contemplate negotiating a new convention conven-tion for C Joint determination of the meridian by telegraphic observations These it is believed will give more accurate accu-rate and unquestionable results than the sidereal muthods heretofore Independently Inde-pendently followed which as Is known proved discrepant at several points on the line although not varying at anyplace any-place more than 700 fet CLAIMS AGAINST GUATEMALA CLA1S I The pending claim of R I May against the Guatemalan Government has been settled by arbitration George F B Jenncr British MlnJfilor aj Guatemala who was chosen as sole arbitrator having awarded 14375073 in gold to the claimant Various claims against Haiti have been or are being advanced to tho resort re-sort of arbitration As the result of negotiations withthe Government of Honduras In regard to the Indemnity demanded for the murder mur-der of Frank II Pears In Honduras that Government has paid 10000 in settlement of the claims of the heirs I KING HUMBERTS MURDER I The assassination of King Humbert called forth sincere expressions of sorrow row from this Government and people II and occasion was fitly taken to testify to the Italian nation the high regard here felt for the memory of the lamented I lament-ed ruler |