isdiction of the other shall suffer no
diminution of the rights and privileges they have hitherto enjoyed. But
however necessary such an expedient may have been to tide over the grave
emergencies of the situation, it is at best but an unsatisfactory
makeshift, which should not be suffered to delay the speedy and complete
establishment of the frontier line to which we are entitled under the
Russo-American treaty for the cession of Alaska.

In this relation I may refer again to the need of definitely marking
the Alaskan boundary where it follows the one hundred and forty-first
meridian. A convention to that end has been before the Senate for some
two years, but as no action has been taken I contemplate negotiating a
new convention for a joint determination of the meridian by telegraphic
observations. These, it is believed, will give more accurate and
unquestionable results than the sidereal methods heretofore independently
followed, which, as is known, proved discrepant at several points on
the line, although not varying at any place more than 700 feet.

The pending claim of R.H. May against the Guatemalan Government has been
settled by arbitration, Mr. George F.B. Jenner, British minister at
Guatemala, who was chosen as sole arbitrator, having awarded $143,750.73
in gold to the claimant.

Various American claims against Haiti have been or are being advanced to
the resort of arbitration.

As the result of negotiations with the Government of Honduras in regard
to the indemnity demanded for the murder of Frank H. Pears in Honduras,
that Government has paid $10,000 in settlement of the claim of the
heirs.

The assassination of King Humbert called forth sincere expressions of
sorrow from this Government and people, and occasion was fitly taken to
testify to the Italian nation the high regard here felt for the memory
of the lamented ruler.

In my last message I referred at considerable length to the lynching of
five Italians at Tallulah. Notwithstanding the efforts of the Federal
Government, the production of evidence tending to inculpate the authors
of this grievous offense against our civilization, and the repeated
inquests set on foot by the authorities of the State of Louisiana, no
punishments have followed. Successive grand juries have failed to
indict. The representations of the Italian Government in the face of
this miscarriage have been most temperate and just.

Setting the principle at issue high above all con