U.S.  GRANT.

[Footnote 65:  Relating to acts of United States marshals and deputy marshals in that portion of the western district of Arkansas comprising the Indian country.]

WASHINGTON, May 21, 1872.

To the House of Representatives:

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 14th instant, requesting information in regard to the commerce between the United States and certain British colonial possessions, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the documents by which it was accompanied.

U.S.  GRANT.

WASHINGTON, May 22, 1872.

To the House of Representatives:

In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th instant, requesting me to join the Italian Government in a protest against the intolerant and cruel treatment of the Jews in Roumania, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State relative to the subject.

U.S.  GRANT.

WASHINGTON, May 22, 1872.

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit to the Senate, for its consideration, an agreement between the Great Chief of the island of Tutuila, one of the Samoan group, in the South Pacific, and Commander R.W.  Meade, commanding the United States steamer Narragansett, bearing date the 17th of February last.  This instrument proposes to confer upon this Government the exclusive privilege of establishing a naval station in the dominions of that chief for the equivalent of protecting those dominions.

A copy of a letter of the 15th instant, and of its accompaniment, addressed by the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of State, descriptive of Tutuila and of other islands of the group, and of a letter in the nature of a protest from a person claiming to be consul of the North German Confederation in that quarter, are also herewith transmitted.  No report has yet been received from Commander Meade on the subject.  Although he was without special instructions or authority to enter into such agreement, the advantages of the concession which it proposes to make are so great, in view of the advantageous position of Tutuila, especially as a coaling station for steamers between San Francisco and Australia, that I should not hesitate to recommend its approval but for the protection on the part of the United States which it seems to imply.  With some modification of the obligation of protection which the agreement imports, it is recommended to the favorable consideration of the Senate.

U.S.  GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 23, 1872.

To the Senate of the United States:

I have the honor to transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of March 12, requesting to be informed of “the amount of money expended by the Government of the United States during the last three years for telegraphing by ocean cables,” reports from the different Departments of the Government, to which the resolution was referred.