Year: 1872




year with peace at home and abroad,
and general prosperity vouchsafed to
but few people. With the exception of
devastating fire, which swept from the
earth with a breath, as it were, millions
OF property accumulated within. the city
of Boston, there have been no overshad-
owing calamities within the year to re-
cord. 1t Is gratifying to note how, like
their fellOw-citiZEns of Chicago under
similar circumstances a year earlier, the
citizens of Boston are rallying under
their misfortunes, and the prospect is
that their energy and perseverance vail
overcome obstacles. and show the pros
Perity soon that they would had no dls-
aster befallen them. Otherwise we have
been free from pestiIence, war and ca
lamities which often Overtake nations,
and as far as human judgment can pen
citrate no cause seems to exist to threat
en- our present peace. When Congress
adjourned in June last, question had
been raised by Great Britain and was
then pending, which, for a time, seri-
ously imperilled q settlement by friend
ly arbitration of differences existing be-
tween this Government and that of her
British Majesty, which, by the treaty at
Washington, had been referred to tri-
bunal of arbitration, which had met at



posed of the question which had jeop-
ordized the whole of the treaty and
threatened TO involve two nations in
most unhappy relations toward each
other, III manner entirely satisfactory
to this Government, and in accordance
with the views and policy which it had
entertained. The tribunal which had
convened in Geneva in December con-
cluded its laborious session on the 14th
day Of September last, on which day,
having ayailed itself of the discretion
ary power given to it by the treaty to
award "a sum in gross, the tribunal made
ITS decision, whereby it awarded the
sum of S15, 900, 600 IN gold as the indem-
nifty to be paid by Great Britain to the
United States for the satisfaction of all
the claims referred to It's consideration.
This decision happily disposed of n
long standing difference between the
two Governments, and, in connection
with another award made by the Ger
man Emperor, under a reference to him
by the same treaty, leaves the two
Governments without shadow of doubt
upon the friendly relations, which, it is
nay sincere hope, may forever remain
equally unclOuded.


THE GENEVA DECISION.


The report of the agent of the United
States, appointed to send the decision
of the Geneva Tribunal, accompanied by
the protocols of the proceedings of the
arbitrators, the arguments of the coun-
sci of both Governments, the award of
the tribunal, and the opinions given by
the several arbitrators, is transmitted
herewith.


I have caused to be communicated to
the heads of the three friendly powers
who complied with the joint request
made to them under the treaty, the
thanks of this Government for the APP
pointment of arbitrators made by them
respectively and also my thanks to the
eminent personages named by them, and
my appreciation of the dignity, patience,
impartiality, and great ability with
which they discharged their arduous
and high functions Her Maiesty's
Government has communicated to me
the appreciation, by her Majesty, of the
ability and indefatigable industry dis
played by Mr.. Adams, the arbitrator
named on the part of this Government,
during the protracted inquiries and dis
cussions of the tribunal. [ cordially
unite with her Majesty in this apprecia-
ton. 1t is due to the agent of the Uni
ted States before the tribunal to record
my high appreciation of the marked
l'eNNANAAtNg
prudence and discretion with which he
has conducted the very responsible and
delicate duties committed to him, as it
is also due TO the learned and eminent
counsel who attended the tribunal on
the part OF this Government, to express
my sense of the talent and wisdom which
they brought to bear in the argument.
OF the result so happily reached, it viii
be the province of Congress to provide
for the distribution among those who
may be entitled to it of their respective
shares of the money to bepaid. Although
the sum awarded is not payable until a
year from the date of the award, it IS
deemed advisable that no time be lost
in making proper examination of the
cases in which indemnifcation may be
due; consequently 1 recommend the
creation of a Board of Commissioners
for the purpose. By the third and fourth
articles of the treaty of Washington, the
respective claims of the United States
and Great Britain in their convention
treaty on the 10Th of June, 1916, defining
the boundary line between their respec-
tive territories, were submitted to the
arbitration and award of his Majesty,
the Emperor of Germany, to decide
which of these claims is most in accor-
dance with the true Interpretation of
"
Emperor Of Germany, having been
pleased TO undertake the arbitration,
has the earnest thanks of this Govern
ment and of the people of the United
States for the labor, pains and care
which ne has devoted to the cOnsidera-
tion of this long pending difference. 1
have caused an expression of my thanks
to be communicated to his Majesty by
Mr. Bancroft, the representative of this
Government at Berlin, who conducted
the case and prepared the statement on
the part of the United States, with
the ability that his past services justified
the public in expecting ut his hands.
AS the Minister TO Great Britain, when
the construction now pronounced un-
founded was first advanced, and rs agent
and representative of the Government
TO present the case and receive the
award. he has been associated with the
question in all of its phases, and in
every stage has manifested a patriotic
zeal and earnestness IN maintaining the
claim of the United States. He is enti-
tied to much credit for the success
which has attended the submission
After a patient investigation of the case,
and statements from each party, his
Majesty, the Emperor, on the DIST day
of October last, signed his award in
writing. dccreeing that the claim of the
Government of the United States that
the boundary of her Britanic Majesty
and the United States should be drawn
through the Haro Channel is most IN
accordance with the true Interpretation
of the treaty concluded ON the 10Th of
June, 1913, between the agents of her
Britanic Majesty and the United States