PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



777 



interchange of views was had, and the conference 

 will next vear be renewed. 



At the Electrical Exhibition and Congress also held 

 at Paris, this country was creditably represented by 

 eminent specialists who, in the absence of an appro- 

 priation, generously lent their efficient aid at the in- 

 stance of the State Department. While our exhibitors 

 in this almost distinctively American field of achieve- 

 ment have won several valuable awards, 1 recommend 

 that Congress provide for the repayment of the per- 

 sonal expenses incurred, in the puDlic interest, by the 

 honorary commissioners and delegates. 



No new questions respecting the status of pur 

 naturalized citizens in Germany have arisen during 

 the year, and the causes of complaint, especially in 

 Alsace and Lorraine, have practically ceased through 

 the liberal action of the Imperial Go'vernment in ac- 

 cepting our often-expressed views on the subject. 

 The application of the treaty of 1868 to the lately ac- 

 quired Rhenish provinces "has received very earnest 

 attention, and a definite and lasting agreement on this 

 point is confidently expected. The participation of 

 the descendants of Baron von Steuben in the York- 

 t"\vn festivities, and their subsequent reception by 

 their American kinsmen, strikingly evinced the ties 

 of good-will which unite the German people and our 

 own. 



Our intercourse with Spain has been friendly. An 

 agreement concluded in February last fixes a term for 

 the labors of the Spanish and American Claims Com- 

 mission. The Spanish Government has been re- 

 quested to pay_ the late awards of that commission, 

 and will, it is believed, accede to the request as 

 promptly and courteously as on former occasions. 



By recent legislation onerous fines have been im- 

 posed upon American shipping in Spanish and colo- 

 nial ports for slight irregularities in manifests. One 

 case of hardship is specially worthy of attention. The 

 bark Masonic, bound for Japan, entered Manila in 

 distress, and is there sought to be confiscated under 

 Spanish revenue laws for an alleged shortage in her 

 transshipped cargo. Though eiforts for her relief 

 have thus far proved unavailing, it is expected that 

 the whole matter will be adjusted in a friendly spirit. 



The Senate resolutions of condolence on the assas- 

 sination of the Czar Alexander II were appropriately 

 communicated to the Eussian Government, which in 

 turn has expressed its sympathy in our late national 

 bereavement. It is desirable that our cordial rela- 

 tions with Eussia should be strengthened by proper 

 engagements, assuring to peaceable Americans who 

 visit the empire the consideration which is due to 

 them as citizens of a friendly state. This is especially 

 needful with respect to American Israelites, whose 

 classification with the native Hebrews has evoked en- 

 ergetic remonstrances from this Government. 



A supplementary consular agreement with Italy has 

 been sanctioned and proclaimed, which puts at rest 

 conflicts of jurisdiction in the case of crimes on ship- 

 board. 



Several important international conferences have 

 been held in Italy during the year. At the Geograph- 

 ical Congress of Venice, the Beneficence Congress of 

 Milan, and the Hygienic Congress of Turin, this coun- 

 try was represented by delegates from branches of the 

 public service, or by private citizens duly accredited 

 in an honorary capacity. It is hoped that Congress 

 will give such prominence to the results of their par- 

 ticipation as they may seem to deserve. 



The abolition of all discriminating duties against 

 such colonial productions of the Dutch East Indies as 

 are imported Tiither from Holland has been already 

 considered by Congress. I trust that at the present 

 session the matter may be favorably concluded. 



The insecurity of life and property in many parts of 

 Turkey has given rise to correspondence with the 

 Porte/looking particularly to the better protection of 

 American missionaries in the empire. The condemned 

 murderer of the eminent missionary Dr. Justin W. 

 Parsons has not yet been executed, although this 



Government has repeatedly demanded that exemplary 

 justice be done. 



The Swiss Government has again solicited the good 

 offices of our diplomatic and consular agents for the 

 protection of its citizens in countries where it is not 

 itself represented. This request has, within proper 

 limits, been granted. 



Our agents in Switzerland have been instructed to 

 protest against the conduct of the authorities of cer- 

 tain communes in permitting the emigration to this 

 country of criminals and other objectionable persons. 

 Several such persons, through the co-operation of the 

 Commissioners of Emigration at New York, have 

 been sent back by the steamers which brought them. 

 A continuance of this course may prove a more effect- 

 ual remedy than diplomatic remonstrance. 



Treaties of commerce and navigation, and for the 

 regulation of consular pri vileges, have been concluded 

 with Eoumania and Servia since their admission into 

 the family of European states. 



As is natural with contiguous states having like in- 

 stitutions and like aims of advancement and develop- 

 ment, the friendship of the United States and Mexico 

 has been constantly maintained. This Government 

 has lost no occasion of encouraging the Mexican Gov- 

 ernment to a beneficial realization of the mutual ad- 

 vantages which will result from more intimate com- 

 mercial intercourse, and from the opening of the rich 

 interior of Mexico to railway enterprise. I deem it 

 important that means be provided to restrain the law- 

 lessness unfortunately so common on the frontier, and 

 to suppress the forays of the reservation Indians on 

 either side of the Eio Grande. 



The neighboring states of Central America have 

 preserved Internal peace, and their outward relations 

 toward us have been those of intimate friendship. 

 There are encouraging signs of their growing disposi- 

 tion to subordinate their local interests to those which 

 are common to them by reason of their geographical 

 relations. 



The boundary dispute between Guatemala and Mex- 

 ico has afforded this Government an opportunity to 

 exercise its good offices for preventing a rupture be- 

 tween those states^ and for procuring a peaceable solu- 

 tion of the question. I cherish strong hope that in 

 view of our relations of amitv with both countries our 

 friendly counsels may prevail. 



A special envoy of Guatemala has brought to me 

 the condolences of his government and people on the 

 death of President Garfield. 



The Costa Eican Government lately framed an en- 

 gagement with Colombia for settling by arbitration 

 the boundary question between those countries, pro- 

 viding that the post of arbitrator should be offered 

 successively to the King of the Belgians, the Kinir of 

 Spain, and the President of the Argentine Confedera- 

 tion. The King of the Belgians has declined to act, 

 but I am not as yet advised of the action of the King 

 of Spain. As we have certain interests in the dis- 

 puted territory which are protected by our treaty en- 

 gagements with one of the parties, it is important that 

 the arbitration should not, without our consent, af- 

 fect our rights, and this Government has accordingly 

 thought proper to make its views known to the par- 

 ties to the agreement, as well as to intimate them to 

 the Belgian and Spanish Governments. 



The questions growing out of the proposed inter- 

 oceanic water-way across the Isthmus of Panama are 

 of grave national importance. This Government has 

 not been unmindful of the solemn obligations imposed 

 upon it by its compact of 1846 with Colombia, as the 

 independent and sovereign mistress of the territory 

 crossed by the canal, and has sought to render them 

 effective by fresh engagements with the Colombian 

 Republic looking to their practical execution. The 

 negotiations to this end, after they had reached what 

 appeared to be a mutually satisfactory solution here, 

 were met in Colombia by a disavowal of the powers 

 which its envoy had assumed, and by a proposal for 

 renewed negotiation on a modified basis. 



