And State Papers 673 



our Congress extending an invitation. Like The 

 Hague Tribunal, this Interparliamentary Union is 

 one of the forces tending toward peace among the 

 nations of the earth, and it is entitled to our support. 

 I trust the invitation can be extended. 



Early in July, having received intelligence, which 

 happily turned out to be erroneous, of the assassina- 

 tion of our vice-consul at Beirut, I despatched a 

 small squadron to that port for such service as 

 might be found necessary on arrival. Although the 

 attempt on the life of our vice-consul had not been 

 successful, yet the outrage was symptomatic of a 

 state of excitement and disorder which demanded 

 immediate attention. The arrival of the vessels 

 had the happiest result. A feeling of security at 

 once took the place of the former alarm and dis- 

 quiet; our officers were cordially welcomed by the 

 consular body and the leading merchants, and or- 

 dinary business resumed its activity. The govern- 

 ment of the Sultan gave a considerate hearing to 

 the representations of our minister ; the official who 

 was regarded as responsible for the disturbed condi- 

 tion of affairs was removed. Our relations with the 

 Turkish Government remain friendly; our claims 

 founded on inequitable treatment of some of our 

 schools and missions appear to be in process of 

 amicable adjustment. 



The signing of a new commercial treaty with 

 China, which took place at Shanghai on the 8th 



