sideration of merely
pecuniary indemnification, such as this Government made in the three
previous cases, Italy has solemnly invoked the pledges of existing
treaty and asked that the justice to which she is entitled shall be
meted in regard to her unfortunate countrymen in our territory with the
same full measure she herself would give to any American were his
reciprocal treaty rights contemned.

I renew the urgent recommendations I made last year that the Congress
appropriately confer upon the Federal courts jurisdiction in this class
of international cases where the ultimate responsibility of the Federal
Government may be involved, and I invite action upon the bills to
accomplish this which were introduced in the Senate and House. It is
incumbent upon us to remedy the statutory omission which has led, and
may again lead, to such untoward results. I have pointed out the
necessity and the precedent for legislation of this character. Its
enactment is a simple measure of previsory justice toward the nations
with which we as a sovereign equal make treaties requiring reciprocal
observance.

While the Italian Government naturally regards such action as the
primary and, indeed, the most essential element in the disposal of the
Tallulah incident, I advise that, in accordance with precedent, and in
view of the improbability of that particular case being reached by the
bill now pending, Congress make gracious provision for indemnity to the
Italian sufferers in the same form and proportion as heretofore.

In my inaugural address I referred to the general subject of lynching in
these words:

Lynching must not be tolerated in a great and civilized country like the
United States; courts, not mobs, must execute the penalties of the law.
The preservation of public order, the right of discussion, the integrity
of courts, and the orderly administration of justice must continue
forever the rock of safety upon which our Government securely rests.

This I most urgently reiterate and again invite the attention of my
countrymen to this reproach upon our civilization.

The closing year has witnessed a decided strengthening of Japan's
relations to other States. The development of her independent judicial
and administrative functions under the treaties which took effect July
17, 1899, has proceeded without international friction, showing the
competence of the Japanese to hold a foremost place among modern
peoples.

In the t