The Universal Exposition held at Paris during the past summer has been attended by large numbers of our citizens.  The brief period allowed for the preparation and arrangement of the contributions of our citizens to this great exposition was well employed in energetic and judicious efforts to overcome this disadvantage.  These efforts, led and directed by the commissioner-general, were remarkably successful, and the exhibition of the products of American industry was creditable and gratifying in scope and character.  The reports of the United States commissioners, giving its results in detail, will be duly laid before you.  Our participation in this international competition for the favor and the trade of the world may be expected to produce useful and important results—­in promoting intercourse, friendship, and commerce with other nations.

In accordance with the provisions of the act of February 28, 1878, three commissioners were appointed to an international conference on the subject of adopting a common ratio between gold and silver, for the purpose of establishing internationally the use of bimetallic money and securing fixity of relative value between those metals.

Invitations were addressed to the various governments which had expressed a willingness to participate in its deliberations.  The conference held its meetings in Paris in August last.  The report of the commissioners, herewith submitted, will show its results.  No common ratio between gold and silver could be agreed upon by the conference.  The general conclusion was reached that it is necessary to maintain in the world the monetary functions of silver as well as of gold, leaving the selection of the use of one or the other of these two metals, or of both, to be made by each state.

Congress having appropriated at its last session the sum of $5,500,000 to pay the award of the joint commission at Halifax, if, after correspondence with the British Government on the subject of the conformity of the award to the requirements of the treaty and to the terms of the question thereby submitted to the commission, the President shall deem it his duty to make the payment, communications upon these points were addressed to the British Government through the legation of the United States at London.  Failing to obtain the concurrence of the British Government in the views of this Government respecting the award, I have deemed it my duty to tender the sum named within the year fixed by the treaty, accompanied by a notice of the grounds of the payment and a protest against any other construction of the same.  The correspondence upon this subject will be laid before you.

The Spanish Government has officially announced the termination of the insurrection in Cuba and the restoration of peace throughout that island.  Confident expectations are expressed of a revival of trade and prosperity, which it is earnestly hoped may prove well rounded.  Numerous claims of American citizens for relief for injuries or restoration of property have been among the incidents of the long-continued hostilities.  Some of these claims are in process of adjustment by Spain, and the others are promised early and careful consideration.