The matter is presented for the consideration and action of Congress.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 5, 1888.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith a communication of the 23d ultimo from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting a draft of a bill “to provide for the reduction of the Round Valley Indian Reservation, in the State of California, and for other purposes,” with accompanying papers relating thereto.  The documents thus submitted exhibit extensive and entirely unjustifiable encroachments upon lands set apart for Indian occupancy and disclose a disregard of Indian rights so long continued that the Government can not further temporize without positive dishonor.  Efforts to dislodge trespassers upon these lands have in some cases been resisted upon the ground that certain moneys due from the Government for improvements have not been paid.  So far as this claim is well founded the sum necessary to extinguish the same should be at once appropriated and paid.  In other cases the position of these intruders is one of simple and barefaced wrongdoing, plainly questioning the inclination of the Government to protect its dependent Indian wards and its ability to maintain itself in the guaranty of such protection.

These intruders should forthwith feel the weight of the Government’s power.  I earnestly commend the situation and the wrongs of the Indians occupying the reservation named to the early attention of the Congress, and ask for the bill herewith transmitted careful and prompt attention.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 5, 1888.

To the Senate: 

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 28th of February last, requesting the President of the United States to obtain certain information from the Government of Great Britain relative to the proceedings of the authorities of New Zealand concerning the titles to lands in that colony claimed by American citizens, I transmit a report of the Secretary of State, together with the accompanying documents.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 5, 1888.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith, with a view to its ratification, a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and the Republic of Peru, signed at Lima on the 31st day of August, 1887.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 5, 1888.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit, with a view to its ratification, an additional article, signed October 22, 1887, to the treaty for the extradition of criminals concluded October 11, 1870, between the United States and the Republic of Guatemala, and, for the reasons suggested by the Secretary of State in his report, request the return of the additional article to the above-mentioned treaty signed February 4, 1887, and transmitted to the Senate on February 24[25] of the same year.[15]