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State of the Union Addresses of William H. Taft

W >> William H. Taft >> State of the Union Addresses of William H. Taft



This eBook was produced by James Linden.

The addresses are separated by three asterisks: ***

Dates of addresses by William H. Taft in this eBook:
December 7, 1909
December 6, 1910
December 5, 1911
December 3, 1912



***

State of the Union Address
William H. Taft
December 7, 1909

The relations of the United States with all foreign governments have
continued upon the normal basis of amity and good understanding, and are
very generally satisfactory. EUROPE.

Pursuant to the provisions of the general treaty of arbitration concluded
between the United States and Great Britain, April 4, 1908, a special
agreement was entered into between the two countries on January 27, 1909,
for the submission of questions relating to the fisheries on the North
Atlantic Coast to a tribunal to be formed from members of the Permanent
Court of Arbitration at The Hague.

In accordance with the provisions of the special agreement the printed case
of each Government was, on October 4 last, submitted to the other and to
the Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, and the counter case of the United
States is now in course of preparation.

The American rights under the fisheries article of the Treaty of 1818 have
been a cause of difference between the United States and Great Britain for
nearly seventy years. The interests involved are of great importance to the
American fishing industry, and the final settlement of the controversy will
remove a source of constant irritation and complaint. This is the first
case involving such great international questions which has been submitted
to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.

The treaty between the United States and Great Britain concerning the
Canadian International boundary, concluded April 11, 1908, authorizes the
appointment of two commissioners to define and mark accurately the
international boundary line between the United States and the Dominion of
Canada in the waters of the Passamaquoddy Bay, and provides for the
exchange of briefs within the period of six months. The briefs were duly
presented within the prescribed period, but as the commissioners failed to
agree within six months after the exchange of the printed statements, as
required by the treaty, it has now become necessary to resort to the
arbitration provided for in the article.

The International Fisheries Commission appointed pursuant to and under the
authority of the Convention of April 11, 1908, between the United States
and Great Britain, has completed a system of uniform and common
international regulations for the protection and preservation of the food
fishes in international boundary waters of the United States and Canada.

The regulations will be duly submitted to Congress with a view to the
enactment of such legislation as will be necessary under the convention to
put them into operation.

The Convention providing for the settlement of international differences
between the United States and Canada, including the apportionment between
the two countries of certain of the boundary waters and the appointment of
commissioners to adjust certain other questions, signed on the 11th day of
January, 1909, and to the ratification of which the Senate gave its advice
and consent on March 3, 1909, has not yet been ratified on the part of
Great Britain.

Commissioners have been appointed on the part of the United States to act
jointly with Commissioners on the part of Canada in examining into the
question of obstructions in the St. John River between Maine and New
Brunswick, and to make recommendations for the regulation of the uses
thereof, and are now engaged in this work.

Negotiations for an international conference to consider and reach an
arrangement providing for the preservation and protection of the fur seals
in the North Pacific are in progress with the Governments of Great Britain,
Japan, and Russia. The attitude of the Governments interested leads me to
hope for a satisfactory settlement of this question as the ultimate outcome
of the negotiations.

The Second Peace Conference recently held at The Hague adopted a convention
for the establishment of an International Prize Court upon the joint
proposal of delegations of the United States, France, Germany and Great
Britain. The law to be observed by the Tribunal in the decision of prize
cases was, however, left in an uncertain and therefore unsatisfactory
state. Article 7 of the Convention provided that the Court was to be
governed by the provisions of treaties existing between the belligerents,
but that "in the absence of such provisions, the court shall apply the
rules of international law. If no generally recognized rule exists, the
court shall give judgment in accordance with the general principles of
justice and equity." As, however, many questions in international maritime
law are understood differently and therefore interpreted differently in
various countries, it was deemed advisable not to intrust legislative
powers to the proposed court, but to determine the rules of law properly
applicable in a Conference of the representative maritime nations. Pursuant
to an invitation of Great Britain a conference was held at London from
December 2, 1908, to February 26, 1909, in which the following Powers
participated: the United States, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and Spain. The conference
resulted in the Declaration of London, unanimously agreed to and signed by
the participating Powers, concerning among other matters, the highly
important subjects of blockade, contraband, the destruction of neutral
prizes, and continuous voyages. The declaration of London is an eminently
satisfactory codification of the international maritime law, and it is
hoped that its reasonableness and fairness will secure its general
adoption, as well as remove one of the difficulties standing in the way of
the establishment of an International Prize Court.

Under the authority given in the sundry civil appropriation act, approved
March 4, 1909, the United States was represented at the International
Conference on Maritime Law at Brussels. The Conference met on the 28th of
September last and resulted in the signature ad referendum of a convention
for the unification of certain regulations with regard to maritime
assistance and salvage and a convention for the unification of certain
rules with regard to collisions at sea. Two new projects of conventions
which have not heretofore been considered in a diplomatic conference,
namely, one concerning the limitation of the responsibility of shipowners,
and the other concerning marine mortgages and privileges, have been
submitted by the Conference to the different governments.

The Conference adjourned to meet again on April 11, 1910.

The International Conference for the purpose of promoting uniform
legislation concerning letters of exchange, which was called by the
Government of the Netherlands to meet at The Hague in September, 1909, has
been postponed to meet at that capital in June, 1910. The United States
will be appropriately represented in this Conference under the provision
therefor already made by Congress.

The cordial invitation of Belgium to be represented by a fitting display of
American progress in the useful arts and inventions at the World's Fair to
be held at Brussels in 1910 remains to be acted upon by the Congress.
Mindful of the advantages to accrue to our artisans and producers in
competition with their Continental rivals, I renew the recommendation
heretofore made that provision be made for acceptance of the invitation and
adequate representation in the Exposition. The question arising out of the
Belgian annexation of the Independent State of the Congo, which has so long
and earnestly preoccupied the attention of this Government and enlisted the
sympathy of our best citizens, is still open, but in a more hopeful stage.
This Government was among the foremost in the great work of uplifting the
uncivilized regions of Africa and urging the extension of the benefits of
civilization, education, and fruitful open commerce to that vast domain,
and is a party to treaty engagements of all the interested powers designed
to carry out that great duty to humanity. The way to better the original
and adventitious conditions, so burdensome to the natives and so
destructive to their development, has been pointed out, by observation and
experience, not alone of American representatives, but by cumulative
evidence from all quarters and by the investigations of Belgian Agents. The
announced programmes of reforms, striking at many of the evils known to
exist, are an augury of better things. The attitude of the United States is
one of benevolent encouragement, coupled with a hopeful trust that the good
work, responsibly undertaken and zealously perfected to the accomplishment
of the results so ardently desired, will soon justify the wisdom that
inspires them and satisfy the demands of humane sentiment throughout the
world.

A convention between the United States and Germany, under which the
nonworking provisions of the German patent law are made inapplicable to the
patents of American citizens, was concluded on February 23, 1909, and is
now in force. Negotiations for similar conventions looking to the placing
of American inventors on the same footing as nationals have recently been
initiated with other European governments whose laws require the local
working of foreign patents.

Under an appropriation made at the last session of the Congress, a
commission was sent on American cruisers to Monrovia to investigate the
interests of the United States and its citizens in Liberia. Upon its
arrival at Monrovia the commission was enthusiastically received, and
during its stay in Liberia was everywhere met with the heartiest
expressions of good will for the American Government and people and the
hope was repeatedly expressed on all sides that this Government might see
its way clear to do something to relieve the critical position of the
Republic arising in a measure from external as well as internal and
financial embarrassments. The Liberian Government afforded every facility
to the Commission for ascertaining the true state of affairs. The
Commission also had conferences with representative citizens, interested
foreigners and the representatives of foreign governments in Monrovia.
Visits were made to various parts of the Republic and to the neighboring
British colony of Sierra Leone, where the Commission was received by and
conferred with the Governor.

It will be remembered that the interest of the United States in the
Republic of Liberia springs from the historical fact of the foundation of
the Republic by the colonization of American citizens of the African race.
In an early treaty with Liberia there is a provision under which the United
States may be called upon for advice or assistance. Pursuant to this
provision and in the spirit of the moral relationship of the United States
to Liberia, that Republic last year asked this Government to lend
assistance in the solution of certain of their national problems, and hence
the Commission was sent.

The report of our commissioners has just been completed and is now under
examination by the Department of State. It is hoped that there may result
some helpful measures, in which case it may be my duty again to invite your
attention to this subject.

The Norwegian Government, by a note addressed on January 26, 1909, to the
Department of State, conveyed an invitation to the Government of the United
States to take part in a conference which it is understood will be held in
February or March, 1910, for the purpose of devising means to remedy
existing conditions in the Spitzbergen Islands.

This invitation was conveyed under the reservation that the question of
altering the status of the islands as countries belonging to no particular
State, and as equally open to the citizens and subjects of all States,
should not be raised.

The European Powers invited to this Conference by the Government of Norway
were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Sweden and
the Netherlands.

The Department of State, in view of proofs filed with it in 1906, showing
the American possession, occupation, and working of certain coal-bearing
lands in Spitzbergen, accepted the invitation under the reservation above
stated, and under the further reservation that all interests in those
islands already vested should be protected and that there should be
equality of opportunity for the future. It was further pointed out that
membership in the Conference on the part of the United States was qualified
by the consideration that this Government would not become a signatory to
any conventional arrangement concluded by the European members of the
Conference which would imply contributory participation by the United
States in any obligation or responsibility for the enforcement of any
scheme of administration which might be devised by the Conference for the
islands.

THE NEAR EAST.

His Majesty Mehmed V, Sultan of Turkey, recently sent to this country a
special embassy to announce his accession. The quick transition of the
Government of the Ottoman Empire from one of retrograde tendencies to a
constitutional government with a Parliament and with progressive modern
policies of reform and public improvement is one of the important phenomena
of our times. Constitutional government seems also to have made further
advance in Persia. These events have turned the eyes of the world upon the
Near East. In that quarter the prestige of the United States has spread
widely through the peaceful influence of American schools, universities and
missionaries. There is every reason why we should obtain a greater share of
the commerce of the Near East since the conditions are more favorable now
than ever before.

LATIN AMERICA.

One of the happiest events in recent Pan-American diplomacy was the
pacific, independent settlement by the Governments of Bolivia and Peru of a
boundary difference between them, which for some weeks threatened to cause
war and even to entrain embitterments affecting other republics less
directly concerned. From various quarters, directly or indirectly
concerned, the intermediation of the United States was sought to assist in
a solution of the controversy. Desiring at all times to abstain from any
undue mingling in the affairs of sister republics and having faith in the
ability of the Governments of Peru and Bolivia themselves to settle their
differences in a manner satisfactory to themselves which, viewed with
magnanimity, would assuage all embitterment, this Government steadily
abstained from being drawn into the controversy and was much gratified to
find its confidence justified by events.

On the 9th of July next there will open at Buenos Aires the Fourth
Pan-American Conference. This conference will have a special meaning to the
hearts of all Americans, because around its date are clustered the
anniversaries of the independence of so many of the American republics. It
is not necessary for me to remind the Congress of the political, social and
commercial importance of these gatherings. You are asked to make liberal
appropriation for our participation. If this be granted, it is my purpose
to appoint a distinguished and representative delegation, qualified
fittingly to represent this country and to deal with the problems of
intercontinental interest which will there be discussed.

The Argentine Republic will also hold from May to November, 1910, at Buenos
Aires, a great International Agricultural Exhibition in which the United
States has been invited to participate. Considering the rapid growth of the
trade of the United States with the Argentine Republic and the cordial
relations existing between the two nations, together with the fact that it
provides an opportunity to show deference to a sister republic on the
occasion of the celebration of its national independence, the proper
Departments of this Government are taking steps to apprise the interests
concerned of the opportunity afforded by this Exhibition, in which
appropriate participation by this country is so desirable. The designation
of an official representative is also receiving consideration.

To-day, more than ever before, American capital is seeking investment in
foreign countries, and American products are more and more generally
seeking foreign markets. As a consequence, in all countries there are
American citizens and American interests to be protected, on occasion, by
their Government. These movements of men, of capital, and of commodities
bring peoples and governments closer together and so form bonds of peace
and mutual dependency, as they must also naturally sometimes make passing
points of friction. The resultant situation inevitably imposes upon this
Government vastly increased responsibilities. This Administration, through
the Department of State and the foreign service, is lending all proper
support to legitimate and beneficial American enterprises in foreign
countries, the degree of such support being measured by the national
advantages to be expected. A citizen himself can not by contract or
otherwise divest himself of the right, nor can this Government escape the
obligation, of his protection in his personal and property rights when
these are unjustly infringed in a foreign country. To avoid ceaseless
vexations it is proper that in considering whether American enterprise
should be encouraged or supported in a particular country, the Government
should give full weight not only to the national, as opposed to the
individual benefits to accrue, but also to the fact whether or not the
Government of the country in question is in its administration and in its
diplomacy faithful to the principles of moderation, equity and justice upon
which alone depend international credit, in diplomacy as well as in
finance.

The Pan-American policy of this Government has long been fixed in its
principles and remains unchanged. With the changed circumstances of the
United States and of the Republics to the south of us, most of which have
great natural resources, stable government and progressive ideals, the
apprehension which gave rise to the Monroe Doctrine may be said to have
nearly disappeared, and neither the doctrine as it exists nor any other
doctrine of American policy should be permitted to operate for the
perpetuation of irresponsible government, the escape of just obligations,
or the insidious allegation of dominating ambitions on the part of the
United States.

Beside the fundamental doctrines of our Pan-American policy there have
grown up a realization of political interests, community of institutions
and ideals, and a flourishing commerce. All these bonds will be greatly
strengthened as time goes on and increased facilities, such as the great
bank soon to be established in Latin America, supply the means for building
up the colossal intercontinental commerce of the future.

My meeting with President Diaz and the greeting exchanged on both American
and Mexican soil served, I hope, to signalize the close and cordial
relations which so well bind together this Republic and the great Republic
immediately to the south, between which there is so vast a network of
material interests.

I am happy to say that all but one of the cases which for so long vexed our
relations with Venezuela have been settled within the past few months and
that, under the enlightened regime now directing the Government of
Venezuela, provision has been made for arbitration of the remaining case
before The Hague Tribunal. On July 30, 1909, the Government of Panama
agreed, after considerable negotiation, to indemnify the relatives of the
American officers and sailors who were brutally treated, one of them
having, indeed, been killed by the Panaman police this year.

The sincere desire of the Government of Panama to do away with a situation
where such an accident could occur is manifest in the recent request in
compliance with which this Government has lent the services of an officer
of the Army to be employed by the Government of Panama as Instructor of
Police.

The sanitary improvements and public works undertaken in Cuba prior to the
present administration of that Government, in the success of which the
United States is interested under the treaty, are reported to be making
good progress and since the Congress provided for the continuance of the
reciprocal commercial arrangement between Cuba and the United States
assurance has been received that no negotiations injuriously affecting the
situation will be undertaken without consultation. The collection of the
customs of the Dominican Republic through the general receiver of customs
appointed by the President of the United States in accordance with the
convention of February 8, 1907, has proceeded in an uneventful and
satisfactory manner. The customs receipts have decreased owing to disturbed
political and economic conditions and to a very natural curtailment of
imports in view of the anticipated revision of the Dominican tariff
schedule. The payments to the fiscal agency fund for the service of the
bonded debt of the Republic, as provided by the convention, have been
regularly and promptly made, and satisfactory progress has been made in
carrying out the provisions of the convention looking towards the
completion of the adjustment of the debt and the acquirement by the
Dominican Government of certain concessions and monopolies which have been
a burden to the commerce of the country. In short, the receivership has
demonstrated its ability, even under unfavorable economic and political
conditions, to do the work for which it was intended.

This Government was obliged to intervene diplomatically to bring about
arbitration or settlement of the claim of the Emery Company against
Nicaragua, which it had long before been agreed should be arbitrated. A
settlement of this troublesome case was reached by the signature of a
protocol on September 18, 1909.

Many years ago diplomatic intervention became necessary to the protection
of the interests in the American claim of Alsop and Company against the
Government of Chile. The Government of Chile had frequently admitted
obligation in the case and had promised this Government to settle. There
had been two abortive attempts to do so through arbitral commissions, which
failed through lack of jurisdiction. Now, happily, as the result of the
recent diplomatic negotiations, the Governments of the United States and of
Chile, actuated by the sincere desire to free from any strain those cordial
and friendly relations upon which both set such store, have agreed by a
protocol to submit the controversy to definitive settlement by His
Britannic Majesty, Edward VII.

Since the Washington Conventions of 1907 were communicated to the
Government of the United States as a consulting and advising party, this
Government has been almost continuously called upon by one or another, and
in turn by all the five Central American Republics, to exert itself for the
maintenance of the Conventions. Nearly every complaint has been against the
Zelaya Government of Nicaragua, which has kept Central America in constant
tension or turmoil. The responses made to the representations of Central
American Republics, as due from the United States on account of its
relation to the Washington Conventions, have been at all times conservative
and have avoided, so far as possible, any semblance of interference,
although it is very apparent that the considerations of geographic
proximity to the Canal Zone and of the very substantial American interests
in Central America give to the United States a special position in the zone
of these Republics and the Caribbean Sea.

I need not rehearse here the patient efforts of this Government to promote
peace and welfare among these Republics, efforts which are fully
appreciated by the majority of them who are loyal to their true interests.
It would be no less unnecessary to rehearse here the sad tale of
unspeakable barbarities and oppression alleged to have been committed by
the Zelaya Government. Recently two Americans were put to death by order of
President Zelaya himself. They were reported to have been regularly
commissioned officers in the organized forces of a revolution which had
continued many weeks and was in control of about half of the Republic, and
as such, according to the modern enlightened practice of civilized nations,
they were entitled to be dealt with as prisoners of war.

At the date when this message is printed this Government has terminated
diplomatic relations with the Zelaya Government, for reasons made public in
a communication to the former Nicaraguan charge d'affaires, and is
intending to take such future steps as may be found most consistent with
its dignity, its duty to American interests, and its moral obligations to
Central America and to civilization. It may later be necessary for me to
bring this subject to the attention of the Congress in a special message.

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