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 havecontinued upon the normal basis of amity and good understanding, and arevery generally satisfactory.
EUROPE.
Pursuant to the provisions of the general treaty of arbitration concludedbetween the United States and Great Britain, April 4, 1908, a specialagreement was entered into between the two countries on January 27, 1909,for the submission of questions relating to the fisheries on the NorthAtlantic Coast to a tribunal to be formed from members of the PermanentCourt of Arbitration at The Hague.
In accordance with the provisions of the special agreement the printed caseof each Government was, on October 4 last, submitted to the other and tothe Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, and the counter case of the UnitedStates is now in course of preparation.
The American rights under the fisheries article of the Treaty of 1818 havebeen a cause of difference between the United States and Great Britain fornearly seventy years. The interests involved are of great importance to theAmerican fishing industry, and the final settlement of the controversy willremove a source of constant irritation and complaint. This is the firstcase involving such great international questions which has been submittedto the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
The treaty between the United States and Great Britain concerning theCanadian International boundary, concluded April 11, 1908, authorizes theappointment of two commissioners to define and mark accurately theinternational boundary line between the United States and the Dominion ofCanada in the waters of the Passamaquoddy Bay, and provides for theexchange of briefs within the period of six months. The briefs were dulypresented within the prescribed period, but as the commissioners failed toagree within six months after the exchange of the printed statements, asrequired by the treaty, it has now become necessary to resort to thearbitration provided for in the article.
The International Fisheries Commission appointed pursuant to and under theauthority of the Convention of April 11, 1908, between the United Statesand Great Britain, has completed a system of uniform and commoninternational regulations for the protection and preservation of the foodfishes in international boundary waters of the United States and Canada.
The regulations will be duly submitted to Congress with a view to theenactment of such legislation as will be necessary under the convention toput them into operation.
The Convention providing for the settlement of international differencesbetween the United States and Canada, including the apportionment betweenthe two countries of certain of the boundary waters and the appointment ofcommissioners to adjust certain other questions, signed on the 11th day ofJanuary, 1909, and to the ratification of which the Senate gave its adviceand consent on March 3, 1909, has not yet been ratified on the part ofGreat Britain.
Commissioners have been appointed on the part of the United States to actjointly with Commissioners on