No. 57.
Mr. Neyt to Mr. Evarts.
Shelter Island, N. Y., July 22, 1880. (Received July 24.)
Mr. Secretary of State: Under date of the 19th of June last you were pleased to inform Mr. Delfosse that the Senate of the United States had authorized the exchange of the ratifications of the consular convention, signed March 9, 1880, between Belgium and the United States, proposing merely the suppression of the word “alone” in the second paragraph of Article XII.
I have the honor to beg you, Mr. Secretary of State, to be so kind as to let me know the motives which have been invoked in order to justify the striking out of this word, which is found also in the previous consular convention of 1868.
[Page 73]The Government of the King has expressed to me the desire to be informed as to these motives, to the end of being enabled to appreciate the importance of the proposed change.
I would be very grateful to you if you could communicate to me at the same time the minutes or report of the debate which doubtless took place in this relation in the Federal Senate.
Accept, &c.,