No. 115.
Mr. Noyes
to Mr. Evarts.
Paris, April 5, 1878. (Received April 17.)
Sir: Immediately upon receipt of your instructions contained in dispatch No. 37 of date March 14, 1878, I prepared a communication to the French minister of foreign affairs, embodying the substance of your dispatch, expressing the earnest desire of my government for the appointment of an international monetary congress, to meet at such place in the United States or in Europe as might be agreed upon, and inclosing a copy of the Congressional enactment remonetizing silver. I also sent to Mr. Waddington a note verbale, requesting an interview regarding the subject. On Wednesday last, April 3, I had a long and full conversation with the minister, during which I was assured of his approbation of the proposition submitted and of the concurrence of the minister of finance, Mr. Leon Say. Mr. Waddington did not, however, desire that his government should be considered as definitely and finally committed until such time as he could consult the other powers composing the Latin Union, and which were equally interested.
The minister indicated that for this purpose two or three weeks’ delay would be necessary. He promised, however, to use his influence to secure the creation and meeting of the congress.
Subsequently I had an interview with Dr. Kern, the Swiss minister to France, and he assured me that he would immediately communicate with his government, asking concurrence. On the whole, the prospect is flattering for the result desired.
It is fortunate that the convention between the countries composing the Latin Union regarding the monetary question is possibly about to expire, inasmuch as a meeting is to take place in October of this year, when the present convention may be annulled; otherwise it is to continue in force for fifteen years from that date; and hence there is likely [Page 173] to be a general disposition for an international consultation with the view to such final action as may be found convenient and advisable for all the powers concerned.
I will inform you by telegraph as soon as the French Government sends me a definite response to the invitation, and in the mean time will do all I can to hasten the decision.
I have, &c.,