his country, and at the
same time this Government, through its legation at Peking, has sought
to arrange various matters and complaints touching the interests and
protection of our citizens in China.

In pursuance of the concurrent resolution of October 1, 1890, I have
proposed to the Governments of Mexico and Great Britain to consider a
conventional regulation of the passage of Chinese laborers across our
southern and northern frontiers.

On the 22d day of August last Sir Edmund Monson, the arbitrator selected
under the treaty of December 6, 1888, rendered an award to the effect
that no compensation was due from the Danish Government to the United
States on account of what is commonly known as the Carlos Butterfield
claim.

Our relations with the French Republic continue to be cordial. Our
representative at that court has very diligently urged the removal of
the restrictions imposed upon our meat products, and it is believed that
substantial progress has been made toward a just settlement.

The Samoan treaty, signed last year at Berlin by the representatives of
the United States, Germany, and Great Britain, after due ratification
and exchange, has begun to produce salutary effects. The formation of
the government agreed upon will soon replace the disorder of the past by
a stable administration alike just to the natives and equitable to the
three powers most concerned in trade and intercourse with the Samoan
Islands. The chief justice has been chosen by the King of Sweden and
Norway on the invitation of the three powers, and will soon be
installed. The land commission and the municipal council are in process
of organization. A rational and evenly distributed scheme of taxation,
both municipal and upon imports, is in operation. Malietoa is respected
as King.

The new treaty of extradition with Great Britain, after due
ratification, was proclaimed on the 25th of last March. Its beneficial
working is already apparent.

The difference between the two Governments touching the fur-seal
question in the Bering Sea is not yet adjusted, as will be seen by the
correspondence which will soon be laid before the Congress. The offer
to submit the question to arbitration, as proposed by Her Majesty's
Government, has not been accepted, for the reason that the form of
submission proposed is not thought to be calculated to assure a
conclusion satisfactory to either party. It is sincerely hoped that
before the opening of another se