SIR: I have the honor to report that upon June 1 the President of the Republic formally opened the regular session of Congress, and read upon the occasion the message which is inclosed herewith, in the original text, a summary in English text accompanying. The message is noteworthy only in that it depicts very clearly the improved financial condition of the country. I have, etc., [Inclosure.] HENRY LANE WILSON. President's speech at the opening of Congress. SUMMARY. The foreign relations of the Republic are declared to be on an excellent footing. Negotiations for a treaty with Bolivia are reported to be progressing satisfactorily; while the difficulties in the way of a final arrangement with Peru have not yet disappeared. The Republic of Panama has been recognized. TELEGRAPH SERVICE. A convention is being negotiated with Bolivia, and one has been celebrated with Argentina. The new lines over the Cordillera are nearly completed. COMMERCE. In 1903 the commerce amounted to $348,429,793. Imports amounted to $146,276,667 and exports to $202,153,126; that is to say, $27,000,000 more than in 1902, of which $17,000,000 correspond to nitrate. The exportation of copper increased $2,300,000; the agriculture, $8,000,000. RAILWAYS. The following have been opened to the public: From Pueblo Hundido to Inca, from Serena to Rivadavia, from San Diego to Providencia (Santiago), and from Talca to San Clemente, 161 kilometers. There are 237 kilometers in construction. The railway from Pitrufquen to Loncoche and Loncoche to Antilhue (114 kilometers) will be opened to the public. The other 117 kilometers will be finished in 1905. The following lines are under consideration: Aguas Blancas to Vallenar, Vallenar to La Serena, San Marcos to Illapel, Los Vilos to Rayado, Curico to Hualañé, Cauquenes to Quirihue and Coelemu, San Felipe to Putaendo, Chillan to Tomé, and Rio Negro to Puerto Montt; and at the beginning of 1905 estimates will be asked for 500 kilometers of railways. There are also under consideration some local railways of a 60-centimeter gauge, such as that from Artificio to Maquinas de Catemu, from the station of Yungay to the village of Lampa, from Chillan to Las Termas, and from a point on the Central Railway to Villa Rica. Permission has been granted to construct 150 kilometers of private railways, and several other permits are under consideration. The Government is studying the proposition for the termination of the Transandine Railway, via Uspallata. BOUNDARY CONVENTION BETWEEN CHILE AND THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. No. 381.] Mr. Ames to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Santiago, October 2, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy and translation of two decrees issued by the President of Chile on September 30, promulgating two conventions signed on May 4 last between representatives of this Republic and the Argentine Republic with a view to obviating difficulties which might arise in the actual demarcation of the boundaries established by arbitration." I have, etc., EDWARD WINSLOW AMES. a Conventions printed under Argentine Republic, p. 40. CHINA. DENUNCIATION OF IMMIGRATION TREATY. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, January 25, 1904. (Mr. Conger reports that he has forwarded by mail a formal notice given him by the Chinese Government that our treaty of immigration will terminate the 7th of December, as provided for in article 6.) Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. No. 1484.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, China, January 25, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to inclose translation of the note this date received from Prince Ch'ing, and to be, sir, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure.] Prince Ch'ing to Mr. Conger. I have the honor to call your excellency's attention to the fact that article 6 of the treaty between China and the United States of the XX year of Kuanghsü, relating to Chinese laborers, provides that "this convention shall remain in force for a period of ten years, beginning with the date of the exchange of ratifications, and if six months before the expiration of the said period neither government shall have formally given notice of its final termination to the other it shall remain in force for another like period of ten years." I find with reference to said treaty that the period of ten years within which it shall remain in force, reckoning from the date of the exchange of ratifications, will expire on the 1st of the eleventh moon of the XXX year of Kuanghsü; that is, on the 7th of December, 1904. Now, therefore, I send this formal notice that this treaty will terminate immediately upon the expiration of the period mentioned, and shall not continue for another period. But China and your honorable country are united by friendly ties, and it will be very easy for them to negotiate together in a friendly way and satisfactory manner a new treaty. This plain announcement is thus made in advance, which I send to your excellency, as in duty bound, that you may transmit the same to your honorable government for its consideration. A necessary dispatch. Kuanghsü, XXIX year, twelfth moon, 8th day. (January 24, 1904.) [SEAL.] Prince Ch'ing to Mr. Conger. [Translation.] Prince Ch'ing, president of the Waiwu Pu, has the honor to communicate to Mr. Conger, the United States minister, the following notice for transmission to the United States Government: Whereas article 6 of the supplemental convention of the twentieth year of Kuanghsü (1894) between China and the United States, relating to Chinese inmigration, reads as follows: "This convention shall remain in force for a period of ten years beginning with the date of the exchange of ratifications, and if six months before the expiration of the said period of ten years neither government shall have formally given notice of its final termination to the other, it shall remain in full force for another like period of ten years." And whereas, on the first day of the eleventh moon, in the thirtieth year of Kuanghsü, corresponding to the 7th of December, 1904, the said convention will have been in force for a period of ten years beginning with the date of the exchange of ratifications: Now, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of the said article 6, formal notice is hereby given that the said convention will cease to be operative upon the expiration of the said period, and will not be renewed for another period. But in lieu of the friendly relations which have always existed between China and the United States, propositions looking to a satisfactory adjustment of the question by a new treaty will be entertained. Prince Ch'ing avails himself, etc. CHINESE LEGATION, Washington, March 3, 1904. NEUTRALITY OF CHINA IN THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JAPAN. Mr. Hay to Mr. Conger. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 10, 1904. (Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Conger to express to the minister for foreign affairs that it is the earnest desire of the Government of the United States that the neutrality of China and her administrative entity be respected by both parties in the course of the military operations which have begun between Russia and Japan, and that the area of hostilities be localized and limited, so that undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented, and the least possible loss may be occasioned to the commerce and peaceful intercourse of the world.) Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, February 10, 1904. (Mr. Conger reports that the representatives of France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy have asked their respective governments that an agreement be suggested to the belligerents not to send any of their troops into Chihli.) No. 1500.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, China, February 10, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of to-day and to inclose a copy of the identic telegram sent by the several ministers to their respective governments. This action was made known to me by the ministers taking part, but it was not thought best to ask those who had no troops stationed along the line to join therein. It is believed here that the Japanese will readily agree to the suggestion made. I am sure, however, that such a limitation of the sphere of war would be most beneficial. I have on several occasions recently improved the opportunity to impress upon the Chinese Government the very serious consequences that would result if at any time the court should become frightened and leave Peking; saying to them that should the court flee from the capital, anarchy would at once be installed here, unless prevented by the foreign legation guards, and that respect for the authority of the court would be very much lessened in all parts of the Empire, and imperial decrees would be much less potent when issued by a fleeing court from another point than its usual seat of government. The ministers agreed with me, and said that the court had no intention of leaving, and that all the members of the cabinet and grand council would at all times impress this view upon their imperial majesties, and they believed that they could be induced to remain here whatever might happen. I have, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure.] Identic telegram of the representatives of France, England, Germany, and Italy. The ministers of the powers whose troops occupy various points in Tchili from Peking to Shanhankwan, that is to say, England, France, Germany, and Italy, have been considering the incidents and perhaps conflicts which might eventually arise if the forces of one of the belligerents were to enter Tchili. They have also taken into consideration the fact that China has announced her decision to observe neutrality; that as the occupation resulting from the protocol imposes on China the obligation to keep her own troops at a distance from occupied points, the obligation to insure the neutrality of these points would devolve upon the foreign troops stationed there. Consequently we have agreed to ask our respective governments if they would not deem it advisable, in order to avoid all difficulties, to suggest to the belligerents that they declare that they will avoid sending their troops into Tehili. This step would, moreover, have the advantage of reassuring the imperial court and of preventing the government from fleeing in a moment of panic, a contingency which might easily involve the most serious consequences throughout the whole of China. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.--Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, February 11, 1904. (Mr. Conger reports that Department's telegram of the 10th has been complied with, and that the Russian and Japanese ministers yes |