And State Papers 623 



the world has not progressed sufficiently to render 

 it possible, or necessarily desirable, to invoke arbi- 

 tration in every case. The formation of the inter- 

 national tribunal which sits at The Hague is an 

 event of good omen from which great consequences 

 for the welfare of all mankind may flow. It is 

 far better, where possible, to invoke such a perma- 

 nent tribunal than to create special arbitrators for 

 a given purpose. 



It is a matter of sincere congratulation to our 

 country that the United States and Mexico should 

 have been the first to use the good offices of The 

 Hague Court. This was done last summer with 

 most satisfactory results in the case of a claim at 

 issue between us and our sister republic. It is 

 earnestly to be hoped that this first case will serve 

 as a precedent for others, in which not only the 

 United States but foreign nations may take ad- 

 vantage of the machinery already in existence at 

 The Hague. 



I commend to the favorable consideration of the 

 Congress the Hawaiian fire claims, which were the 

 subject of careful investigation during the last 

 session. 



The Congress has wisely provided that we shall 

 build at once an Isthmian Canal, if possible at Pana- 

 ma. The Attorney-General reports that we can un- 

 doubtedly acquire good title from the French Pana- 

 ma Canal Company. Negotiations are now pending 

 with Colombia to secure her assent to our building 



