Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880

No. 569.
Mr. Willamov to Mr. Evarts.

[Translation.]

Legation of Russia in the United States,
Washington, May 19–31, 1880. (Received June 9.)

Mr. Secretary of State: The geographical congress which met at Paris in 1875 having recognized the necessity of organizing, in a uniform manner, in the various countries, the system of exchanging the various administrative, literary, or scientific publications of international interest, a resolution of the council of the empire, adopted April 10–22, 1877, and sanctioned by His Majesty, the Emperor, made provision for the establishment of a Russian commission of international exchange. The Imperial ministry now informs me that this commission has just been appointed under the presidency of Privy Councilor Bytchcow, and is composed of delegates from the various branches of the government of the empire. It will be governed by special regulations, a copy of which I have the honor herewith to transmit.

I have been instructed to bring the foregoing to the notice of the Federal Government, and to inform your excellency that it will be the duty of this commission to enter into relations with the commission of the same kind existing in the United States, as regards all those matters which form the object of its mission.

Communications intended for the Russian commission should be addressed as follows: “To the president of the Russian commission of international exchange, imperial public library, St. Petersburg.”

I avail myself, &c.,

G. WILLAMOV.

Regulations of the Russian commission for the international exchange of works of science and art.

The duties of the Russian commission shall be as follows:

1. It shall collect for the governments and learned institutions of foreign countries the publications intended for them, either as a gift or by way of exchange, and shall have charge of the shipment of such publications.

2. It shall send to the official and learned institutions of the Empire of Russia the publications which are intended for them, either gratuitously or by way of exchange, by foreign governments or institutions. Packages must be addressed to this commission.

3. It shall transmit to foreign commissions for the governments, and learned institutions of foreign countries, any information that may be asked of it, and that it may be able to supply.

4. It shall furnish to the official or learned institutions of such foreign countries as may request it through their respective commissions information concerning the documents in the Russian archives, and concerning the conditions on which a copy thereof will be furnished to them.

5. It shall have charge of the exchange of duplicates.

6. On the recommendation of foreign commissions, it shall facilitate the accomplishment of their mission to scientific men visiting Russia, furnishing them, to this effect, with information, letters of recommendation, &c. The Russian commission shall use its influence, to the same end, with foreign commissions in behalf of Russian scientists.

7. It shall act as a medium with foreign commissions for the obtainment of such information as may be required by the official and learned institutions of Russia.

8. It shall publish, annually, a catalogue of the official publications issued by the various departments of the government, the statistical committees, and the learned institutions and societies.

Within the limits of this programme, the Russian commission will enter into correspondence with foreign commissions of the same character.

The commission shall present an annual report of its proceedings to the minister of public instruction.