No. 181.
Mr. Welsh
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, July 2, 1878.
(Received July 13.)
No. 104.]Sir: Referring to my dispatch, No. 98, of the 22d
ultimo, I have the honor to acquaint you that I received yesterday, from Mr.
Cross, a reply to the note which I addressed to him on the 18th of June on
the subject of the invitation to Great Britain to join the bi-metallic
conference.
I telegraphed to you yesterday, by cable, the substance of Mr. Cross’s
communication, and I inclose herewith a copy of the same in extenso.
I have received a communication from Mr. Hitt, chargé d’affaires ad interim in Paris, stating that he was authorized
to announce that it had been suggested that the day for the meeting of the
conference should be postponed to the tenth day of August, and I have
acquainted Mr. Cross with the proposed change of date.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 104.]
Mr. Cross to Mr.
Welsh.
Foreign
Office, June 28,
1878.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 18th instant, inclosing a copy of a telegram
from Mr. Evarts, wherein it is stated that the United States Government
regard as quite in accordance with the terms of the invitation extended
[Page 280]
by them to Her Majesty’s
Government the statement contained in the Marquis of Salisbury’s note of
the 11th instant, that Her Majesty’s Government are quite willing to
attend a conference called by the United States Government to consider
freely, in all its bearings, the subject of the standards of currency
used in various countries, and the relations which exist or can be
established between them.
I now beg to acquaint you that the United States Government appear, from
the above-quoted telegram, to apprehend correctly the position which Her
Majesty’s Government are prepared to take up with regard to the proposed
conference, it being always clearly understood that this country can in
no way depart from the policy in respect to currency questions which she
has pursued for sixty years.
Upon these terms, then, I beg to state that Her Majesty’s Government are
happy to accept the invitation of the United States Government, and I
will not fail to inform you, as soon as possible, of the names of the
gentlemen who may be chosen to represent this country on the occasion in
question.
I have to add that as Her Majesty’s Government cannot hold out any
prospect of departing from the policy which has become the settled rule
of this country, they will direct the delegates who may be appointed by
them to confine themselves to the discussion and elucidation of the
questions which may be raised, and not to take part in any vote which
may be proposed at the congress.
I have, &c.,
