274 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS the United States of virtual protection over the smaller states of the American continent. The Venezuelan arbitration treaty was signed at Wash ington by Sir Julian Pauncef ote for England and Minister Andrade for Venezuela, on February 2. According to its provisions, President Cleveland designated as arbitrator, on behalf of the United States, Justice Brewer, of the supreme court, while the Venezuelan government named Chief -Justice Fuller, and Great Britain appointed Lord Her- schell and Justice Collins. Some minor events in the relations of the admin istration with foreign governments were as fol lows: In 1896 great sympathy was excited through out the country by the Armenian massacres, and in congress many efforts were made to bring about the active interference of the United States in Turkish affairs, either on broad humanitarian grounds or because of specific cases of injuries suf fered by American missionaries. It was believed also that the United States should have a war ship at Constantinople, and when Turkey refused to grant to this country the privilege of sending an armed ship through the Dardanelles, there were many rumors of an impending attempt at a forci ble passage. The administration, however, contin ually denied any such intention, and although the "Bancroft," a small war vessel, originally intended for a practice-ship, was sent to the Mediterranean,
