MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 7

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

AMERICA'S RELATIONS WITH FOREIGNERS. l'resi Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. NEW YORK, December 8. (Received Dec. 8, at 10.35 p.m.) President Tuft, in a 40-page .Message to Congress, referring to the Latin-American appr\<hen>ion whicn gave vise to the Monroe Doctrine, says that a nearly-disappeared doctrine should not be permitted to operate for the i.upctuatioii of an irresponsible Government seeking to escape its just obligations. Dealing with Nicaragua, President Taft refers to the sad tale of unspeakable and barbarous oppression alleged to have been committed by President &elaya's Government. Two of the Americans who were put to death by order of President Jielaya himself were officers of an organised force of revolution, which controls halt' of Nicaragua. American bankers at last seemed assured to share in the Cninese railway loans. Washington was insisting that American railway material should be used. President Tail believes that no tariff war will result from the maximum and minimum clause owing to the discretion granted to the Executive, The Message also refers to the Customs frauds, the boundary and fisheries negotiations with Canada, and the cordial relations with Japan, and calls attention 1" tlie high state of American prosperity. There is every reason to believe that the country was on the eve of a substantial business expansion.

The Radical Republicans stigmatise the Message as a. cold and official report. Tho Conservatives are pleased because the President threatens little legislation.