696 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



writing decreeing that the claim of the Government 

 of the United States, that the boundary-line between 

 the territories of her Britannic Majesty and the 

 United States should be drawn through the Haro 

 Channel, is most in accordance with the true inter- 



E relation of the treaty concluded on June 15, 1846, 

 etween the Governments of her Britannic Majesty 

 and of the United States. 



Copies of the " case " presented on behalf of each 

 Government, and of the "statement in reply" of 

 each, aud a translation of the award, are transmit- 

 ted herewith. 



This award confirms the ^ United States in their 

 claim to the important archipelago of islands lying 

 between the continent and Vancouver's Island, which 

 for more than twenty-six years (ever since the rati- 

 fication of the treaty) Great Britain has contested, 

 and leaves us, for the first time in the h'istory of the 

 United States as a nation, without a question of dis- 

 puted boundary between our territory and the pos- 

 sessions of Great Britain on this continent. 



It is my grateful duty to acknowledge the prompt, 

 spontaneous action of her Majesty's Government in 

 giving effect to the award. In anticipation of any 

 request from this Government, and before the recep- 

 tion in the United States of the award signed by the 

 Emperor, her Majesty had g_iven instructions for the 

 removal of her troops which had been stationed 

 there, and for the cessation of all exercise or claim 

 of jurisdiction, so as to leave the United States in 

 the exclusive possession of the lately-disputed terri- 

 tory. I am gratified to be able to announce that the 

 orders for the removal of the troops have been exe- 

 cuted, and that the military joint occupation of San 

 Juan has ceased. The islands are now in the ex- 

 clusive possession of the United States. 



It now becomes necessary to complete the survey 

 and determination of that portion of the boundary- 

 line (through the Haro Channel) upon which the 

 commission which determined the remaining part 

 of the line were unable to agree. I recommend the 

 appointment of a commission to act jointly with one 

 which may be named by her Majesty for that pur- 

 pose. 



Experience of the difficulties attending the deter- 

 mination of our admitted line of boundary, after the 

 occupation of the territory, and its settlement by 

 those owing allegiance to the respective Govern- 

 ments, points to the importance of establishing, by 

 natural objects or other monuments, the actual line 

 between the territory acquired by purchase from 

 Kussia, and the adjoining possessions of her Britan- 

 nic Majesty. The region is now so sparsely occupied 

 that no conflicting interests of individuals or of 

 jurisdiction are likely to interfere to the delay or 

 embarrassment of the actual location of the line. If 

 deferred until population shall enter and occupy the 

 territory, some trivial contest of -neighbors may 

 again array the two Governments in antagonism. I 

 therefore recommend the appointment of a commis- 

 sion, to act jointly with one that may be appointed 

 on the part of Great Britain, to determine the line 

 between our Territory of Alaska and the contermi- 

 nous possessions of Great Britain. 



In my last annual message I recommended the 

 legislation necessary on the part of the United States 

 to bring into operation the articles of the Treaty of 

 Washington, of May 8, 1871, relating to the fish- 

 eries, and to other matters touching the relations of 

 the United States toward the British North Ameri- 

 can possessions, to become operative so soon as the 

 proper legislation should be had on the part of Great 

 Britain and its possessions. 



That legislation on the part of Great Britain and 

 its possessions had not then boen had, and during 

 the session of Congress a question was raised which 

 for the time raised a doubt whether any action by 

 Congress in the direction indicated would become 

 important. This question has since been disposed 

 of, and I have received notice that the Imperial Par- 

 liament and the Legislatures of the provincial Gov- 



ernments have passed laws to carry the provisions 

 of the treaty on the matters referred to into opera- 

 tion. I therefore recommend your early adoption of 

 the legislation in the same direction necessary on 

 the part of this Government. 



The joint commission for determining the boun- 

 dary-line between the United States and the British 

 possessions, between the Lake of the Woods and the 

 Kocky Mountains, has organized and entered upon 

 its work. It is desirable that the force be increased 

 in order that the completion of the survey and de- 

 termination of the line may be the sooner attained. 

 To this end I recommend that a sufficient appropria- 

 tion be made. 



With France, our earliest ally, Eussia, the constant 

 and steady friend of the United States, Germany, 

 with whose Government and people we have so many 

 causes of friendship and so many common sympa- 

 thies, and the other powers of Europe, our relations 

 are maintained on the most friendly terms. 



Since my last annual message the exchange has 

 been made of the ratification of a treaty with the 

 Austro-Hun^arian Empire, relating to naturaliza- 

 tion ; also ot a treaty with the German Empire re- 

 specting consuls and trade-marks ; also of a treaty 

 with Sweden and Norway, relating to naturaliza- 

 tion ; all of which treaties have been duly proclaimed. 



Congress, at its last session, having made an ap- 

 propriation to defray the expense of the .commis- 

 sioners on the part of the United States to the Inter- 

 national Statistical Congress at St. Petersburg, the 

 persons appointed in that character proceeded to 

 their destination, and attended the sessions of the 

 congress. Their report will in due season be laid 

 before you. This congress meets at intervals of 

 about three years, and has held its sessions in sev- 

 eral of the countries of Europe. I submit to your 

 consideration the propriety of extending an invita- 

 tion to the congress to hold its next meeting in the 

 United States. The centennial celebration, to bo 

 held in 1876, would afford an appropriate occasion for 

 such meeting. 



Preparations are making for an international ex- 

 position, to be held during the next year at Vienna, 

 on a scale of very great magnitude. The tendency 

 of these expositions is in the direction of advanced 

 civilization, and of the elevation of industry and of 

 labor, and of the increase of human happiness, as 

 well as of greater intercourse and good-will between 

 nations. As this exposition is to be the first which 

 will have been held in Eastern Europe, it is be- 

 lieved that American inventors and manufacturers 

 will be ready to avail themselves of the opportunity 

 for the presentation of their productions, if encour- 

 aged by proper aid and protection. 



At the last session of Congress authority was 

 given for the appointment of one or more agents to 

 represent this Government at the exposition. The 

 authority thus given has been exercised ; but, in the 

 absence of any appropriation, there is danger that 

 the important benefits which the occasion offers will, 

 in a large degree, be lost to citizens of the United 

 States. I commend the subject strongly to your 

 consideration, and recommend that an adequate ap- 

 propriation be made for the purpose. 



To further aid American exhibitors at the Vienna 

 exposition, I would recommend, in addition to an 

 appropriation of money, that the Secretary of the 

 Navy be authorized to fit up two naval vessels to 

 transport between our Atlantic cities and Trieste, or 

 the most convenient port to Vienna, and back, their 

 articles for exhibition. 



Since your last session the President of the Mexi- 

 can Kepublic, distinguished by his high character 

 and by his services to his country, has died. His 

 temporary successor has now been elected with great 

 unanimity by the people, a proof of confidence on 

 their part in his patriotism and wisdom, which it is 

 believed will be confirmed by the results of his ad- 

 ministration. It is particularly desirable that noth- 

 ing should be left undone by the Government ot 



