ion July 27, 1853.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 27, 1885_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of State, concerning the
awards made against Venezuela by the mixed commission under the
convention of April 25, 1866.

I earnestly invite the attention of Congress to this communication and
the accompanying documents.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 27, 1885_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State and accompanying
papers, furnished in response to a resolution of the Senate of May 2,
1884, calling for information relative to the landing of foreign
telegraphic cables upon the shores of the United States.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 27, 1885_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I have the honor to transmit communications from the Secretary of the
Navy, recommending certain action by the Government in recognition of
the services, official and personal, extended in Russia to the survivors
of the arctic exploring steamer _Jeannette_ and to the search
parties subsequently sent to Siberia.

The authority of Congress is requested for extending the specific
rewards mentioned in the paper accompanying one of the communications of
the Secretary. The suggestion concerning the thanks of Congress is also
submitted for consideration.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 27, 1885_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 22d instant, setting
forth that--

Whereas the United States, in 1866, acquired from the Creek and
Seminole Indians by treaty certain lands situate in the Indian
Territory, a portion of which have remained unoccupied until the
present time; and

Whereas a widely extended belief exists that such unoccupied lands are
public lands of the United States, and as such subject to homestead and
preemption settlement, and pursuant to such belief a large number of
citizens of the United States have gone upon them claiming the right
to settle and acquire title thereto under the general land laws of the
United States; and

Whereas it is understood that the President of the United States does
not regard said lands as open to settlement and believes it to be his
duty to remove all persons who go upon the same claiming the ri