any view to political consideration, have actually been chosen to a disproportionate extent from States which would have been unrepresented in the foreign service under the system which it is to be hoped is now permanently obsolete. Some legislation for the perpetuation of the present system of examinations and promotions upon merit and efficiency would be of greatest value to our commercial and international interests.

THE WHITE HOUSE, December 7, 1911.

WM. H. TAFT.

Mr. Bosch to Mr. Bliss..... Dec. 23 1911.

830 Mr. Bliss to Mr. Knox...... Feb. 20

Mr. Villegas to Mr. Knox... Mar. 6 124 Mr. Wilson to Mr. Villegas. Mar. 15

Celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the
birth of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. Gives
notice of.
"Most favored nation" clause in commercial treaties.
Asks to be informed of the construction of the
clause by the American Government.
Same subject. This Government. maintains that
this clause does not apply to privileges conceded
by one contracting party to a third country in ex-
change for valuable and equivalent concessions.
Visit of the Argentine School ship Presidente Sar-
miento. Expresses appreciation for the attend-
ance of President Taft, the Secretary of State and
other members of the Government at a luncheon
on board the Presidente Sarmiento.
Celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the
birth of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. Sends
greetings to the Government and people of Argen-
tina.

Visit of the Argentine School ship Presidente Sar-
miento. His message of Apr. 18, 1911, has been
sent to its high destination.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

7

5

8

4

8

8

6

1050 Baron Hengelmuller to Mr.

Knox.

1911. Apr. 11

Trial of military fugitives by military courts in ex-
tradition cases. Moritz Ormai, being a military
fugitive, will be tried by a military court, but
not on the charge of desertion.

11

Same subject. Acknowledges his note of the 11th
inst. and states that this Government assumes
that the Austro-Hungarian Government will not
object to the trial by military courts of the United
States of fugitives surrendered by that Govern
ment to this.

Same subject. States, in reply to above that the
Austro-Hungarian Government agrees to surrender
fugitives to military courts of the United States,
provided they have jurisdiction in the cases.
Extradition of Joseph and Jacob Goldberg. In-
structs to report when and to what country these
men will be deported.

Same subject. Advises that the Austrian Govern
ment has consented to grant the extradition of
Joseph and Jacob Goldberg as an act of comity.

BELGIUM.

64 Count de Buissert to Mr. Knox.

1911. Jan. 23

Mr. Montague to Mr. Knox. Feb. 14

Feb. 25

Consular representation of the Kongo by Belgian
Consular Officers. Informs that the Consulate
General of the Kongo in the United States has been
discontinued and consular affairs of the Kongo will
be handled by Belgian Consular Officers.
International Conference on Maritime law. Sub-
mits the report of the American delegates on Sal-
vage and on collisions.

Same subject. Transmits the report of the Ameri-
can delegates on the law of collisions.

2 Recognition by Belgium of American Consular Offi-
cers in the Kongo. Reports that recognition has
been granted to the American Vice and Deputy
Consul General at Boma.

89

Mr. Wilson to Mr. Bryan... Mar. 22

Same subject. Explains his instruction...

BRAZIL.

13

14

17

13

13

1911.

Preferential tariff concessions in favor of American
products. Executive is authorized to grant re-
duction in duty on flour and other products.
Same subject. By executive decree tariff reductions
are granted on certain American products.
Same subject. Expresses appreciation for preferen-
tial tariff treatment for American products.
Same subject. Expresses appreciation....

Mr. Dudley to Mr. Knox... May 31 Message of the President of Brazil to Congress. Pas

sage relating to the United States quoted.
Preferential tariff concessions in favor of American
products. As an excessive tariff reduction on
American flour by the Government of Brazil would
create an insuperable barrier to Argentine exporta-
tion, and to check the retaliations contemplated by
the Argentine Congress, the Government of Argen-
tina desires to receive an assurance from the Gov-
ernment of the United States that it has no thought
of endeavoring to obtain greater concessions.
Same subject. The Government of the United
States has no present thought of seeking from the
Government of Brazil greater tariff concessions on
American flour than those which have already been
granted. Should circumstances arise to change
this situation the Argentine Government will be
given six months' notice before negotiations are
opened with the Government of Brazil.
Same subject. The retaliatory attitude of the Argen-
tine Congress toward American products has
been changed by Department's memorandum of
the 13th instant to the Argentine Legation, and a
law has been passed lowering the tariff on cer-
tain American products.

Arbitration treaty between the United States and
Brazil. Text.

The Prince of Ch'ing to Mr.
Calhoun.

Jan. 22

Prince Koudacheff to Mr. Jan. 27
Knox (memorandum).

Illegal taxation of foreign products in Manchurian
province. Numerous complaints have been made
to the legation concerning this matter. Suggests
that the legation be authorized to seek a solution of
the difficulty on a basis more friendly to Chinese
fiscal interests rather than to insist upon a strict
interpretation of the treaties.

Plague in Manchuria. Requests views of the Govern-
ment of the United States as to the means necessary
to combat this menace.
Same subject. The Government of United States is
disposed to support the proposal for an interna-
tional commission to study the plague in Man-

churia.

Same subject. Requests that the American Govern-
ment select and send specialists to Manchuria to
study the plague; suggest precautionary measures
and methods of cure.

Same subject. The Russian Government has given
its assent to the request of the Chinese Government
to appoint a physician to study the plague in Man-
churia.

104 Mr. Wilson to Mr. Calhoun. Jan. 30 Illegal taxation of foreign products in Manchurian

209 Mr. Knox to Prince Kouda- Feb. cheil.

Mr. Wilson to Mr. Calhoun (telegram).

Feb. 11

49 Prince Koudacheff to Mr. Knox.

Feb. 13

provinces. Instructs to protest against the taxa-
tion of American products in excess of that allowed
by the treaties.

9 Plague in Manchuria. The American National Red
Cross has placed at the disposition of the Chinese
Government a surgeon to make investigations in
Manchuria in coordination with the efforts of other
foreign physicians.

Same subject. Instructs to inform the Chinese Gov-
ernment that two American physicians will soon
leave Manila for Peking who are being sent by the
American National Red Cross to study the plague
in Manchuria.

Same subject. Submits certain measures which will
be presented to the Chinese Government for adop-
tion against the plague and asks whether this Gov-
ernment is disposed to support these measures.

Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Knox Feb. 14 Same subject. Reports that the Russian Govern-
(telegram).

213 Mr. Wilson to Prince Koud- Feb. 17 acheff.

191 Mr. Calhoun to Mr. Knox.. Feb.

196 Same to same..

200 Same to same..

ment is sending a doctor and three assistants to
study the plague in cooperation with investigators
sent by other nations.

Same subject. The Government of the United
States is disposed to support the Russian Govern-
ment to induce the Chinese Government to adopt
reasonable measures for the combat of the plague.
28 Payment of Changsha indemnity claims. Settle-
ment of these claims was effected Jan. 28, 1911. In-
closes agreement and reports that the American
claims have been paid.

Mar. 6
Mar. 9

216 Mr. Loudon to Mr. Knox.. Mar. 10

117 Mr. Wilson to Mr. Loudon. Mar. 22

Plague in Manchuria. Reports arrival of American
physicians in Peking.

Illegal taxation of foreign products in Manchurian
provinces. Reports further on this subject and
states that the American consuls have been in-
formed of department's attitude and have been
instructed to endeavor to effect local settlements.
Joint international opium commission. Reports
postponement of the conference to July 1 next
and asks whether the Government of the United
States accepts the conditions of the British Govern-
ment concerning the repression of the morphine
and cocaine trade.

Same subject. The change of the date of opening of
the conference is agreeable to this Government, and
the proposals made by the British Government
will have its earnest support.

44773°-FR 1911