nd paid.

It has been deemed advisable to exercise the discretion conferred upon
the Executive at the last session by accepting the conditions required
by the Government of Turkey for the privilege of allowing citizens of
the United States to hold real estate in the former country, and by
assenting to a certain change in the jurisdiction of courts in the
latter. A copy of the proclamation[85] upon these subjects is herewith
communicated.

There has been no material change in our relations with the independent
States of this hemisphere which were formerly under the dominion of
Spain. Marauding on the frontiers between Mexico and Texas still
frequently takes place, despite the vigilance of the civil and military
authorities in that quarter. The difficulty of checking such trespasses
along the course of a river of such length as the Rio Grande, and so
often fordable, is obvious. It is hoped that the efforts of this
Government will be seconded by those of Mexico to the effectual
suppression of these acts of wrong.

From a report upon the condition of the business before the American and
Mexican Joint Claims Commission, made by the agent on the part of the
United States, and dated October 28, 1874, it appears that of the 1,017
claims filed on the part of citizens of the United States, 483 had been
finally decided and 75 were in the hands of the umpire, leaving 462 to
be disposed of; and of the 998 claims filed against the United States,
726 had been finally decided, 1 was before the umpire, and 271 remained
to be disposed of. Since the date of such report other claims have been
disposed of, reducing somewhat the number still pending; and others have
been passed upon by the arbitrators. It has become apparent, in view of
these figures and of the fact that the work devolving on the umpire is
particularly laborious, that the commission will be unable to dispose of
the entire number of claims pending prior to the 1st day of February,
1875--the date fixed for its expiration. Negotiations are pending
looking to the securing of the results of the decisions which have been
reached and to a further extension of the commission for a limited time,
which it is confidently hoped will suffice to bring all the business now
before it to a final close.

The strife in the Argentine Republic is to be deplored, both on account
of the parties thereto and from the probable effects on the interests of
those engaged in the trade to that quarter