aling season some arrangement may be
effected which will assure to the United States a property right derived
from Russia, which was not disregarded by any nation for more than
eighty years preceding the outbreak of the existing trouble.

In the tariff act a wrong was done to the Kingdom of Hawaii which I am
bound to presume was wholly unintentional. Duties were levied on certain
commodities which are included in the reciprocity treaty now existing
between the United States and the Kingdom of Hawaii, without indicating
the necessary exception in favor of that Kingdom. I hope Congress will
repair what might otherwise seem to be a breach of faith on the part of
this Government.

An award in favor of the United States in the matter of the claim of
Mr. Van Bokkelen against Hayti was rendered on the 4th of December,
1888, but owing to disorders then and afterwards prevailing in Hayti
the terms of payment were not observed. A new agreement as to the time
of payment has been approved and is now in force. Other just claims of
citizens of the United States for redress of wrongs suffered during the
late political conflict in Hayti will, it is hoped, speedily yield to
friendly treatment.

Propositions for the amendment of the treaty of extradition between the
United States and Italy are now under consideration.

You will be asked to provide the means of accepting the invitation of
the Italian Government to take part in an approaching conference to
consider the adoption of a universal prime meridian from which to reckon
longitude and time. As this proposal follows in the track of the reform
sought to be initiated by the Meridian Conference of Washington, held on
the invitation of this Government, the United States should manifest a
friendly interest in the Italian proposal.

In this connection I may refer with approval to the suggestion of my
predecessors that standing provision be made for accepting, whenever
deemed advisable, the frequent invitations of foreign governments to
share in conferences looking to the advancement of international reforms
in regard to science, sanitation, commercial laws and procedure, and
other matters affecting the intercourse and progress of modern
communities.

In the summer of 1889 an incident occurred which for some time
threatened to interrupt the cordiality of our relations with the
Government of Portugal. That Government seized the Delagoa Bay Railway,
which was constructed under a conces