EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, July 20, 1882_.
_To the Senate of the United States:_
I transmit herewith to the Senate, for its consideration with a view
to ratification, a convention between the United States and Mexico,
providing for the reopening and retrying of the claims of Benjamin Weil
and La Abra Silver Mining Company against Mexico, which was signed on
the 13th instant.
A report of the Secretary of State, with its accompanying
correspondence, transmitted to the Senate this day in response to the
resolution of December 21, 1881, will show the antecedents of the
negotiation which resulted in the accompanying convention. In view of
the accumulation of testimony presented by Mexico relative to these two
claims, I have deemed it proper to avail myself of the authority given
to the Executive by the Constitution, and of which authority the act of
Congress of June 18, 1878, is declarative, to effect a rehearing of
these cases. I therefore empowered the Secretary of State to negotiate
with the minister of Mexico a convention to that end.
The more important correspondence preliminary to the treaty is herewith
transmitted.
It will be seen by the stipulations of the treaty that the rehearing
will have no retroactive effect as to payments already distributed, that
the _bona fide_ interests of third parties are amply secured, and
that the Government of the United States is fully guarded against any
liability resulting from the rehearing.