No. 398.
Mr. Birney
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
The
Hague, May 2, 1878. (Received May
16.)
No. 71.]Sir: I am in receipt to-day of a communication from
the minister of foreign affairs, in which he signifies the willingness of
the Government
[Page 701]
of the Netherlands
to unite in the proposed monetary conference. It is hereto annexed, with
translation.
As it does not contain any expression as to time and place of assembling, I
have addressed the minister another note, requesting some indication of the
inclination of his government as to these particulars. A copy of this I also
inclose, and will send his answer thereto as soon as received.
I have heard, unofficially, that the cabinet in their consultation upon the
subject of the invitation avowed no preference as to time and place, but
were content to leave it to the discretion of the inviting powers.
I sent telegram to-day to Minister Welsh, at the legation in London,
requesting him to send by cable to your address the words “Holland accepts”.
This you have doubtless received.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
71.—Translation.]
Baron van Kell to
Mr. Birney.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your note
of 3d of April last, through which you have had the kindness to transmit
to me the invitation of the Government of the United States of America
to that of His Majesty to unite in a conference, to challenge an
international judgment, with a view to the adoption of the double
monetary standard, by establishing, in an unvarying manner, the relative
value of gold and silver.
The Government of the King, although being for more than one reason only
imperfectly convinced as yet of the practical issue at which the
conference in question would be able to arrive, appreciates not less
highly the invitation which has been addressed to it, taking pleasure to
recognize that the work of the conference will not fail to offer the
most intense interest, if only in a scientific point of view.
I permit myself, therefore, Mr. Minister, to inform you that the
Government of the King accepts with pleasure this invitation, and
proposes to designate one or two delegates to represent it on that
occasion.
I take, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 71.]
Mr. Birney to Baron
van Kell.
Legation of the United States,
The Hague, May 2,
1878.
Sir: I have the honor and the pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 1st instant, in
which you convey the acceptance by the government of the King of the
invitation extended by the United States to unite in the proposed
monetary conference.
Referring to my note of the 3d April, you will find a request that if you
be pleased to signify a willingness to unite you would express any
preference you may have as to the time and place for the assembling of
the conference. As your reply does not make mention of such preference,
may I ask of you that, at your earliest convenience, you will make known
to me any suggestions of your government upon that subject?
Accept, your excellency, renewed assurance of my high consideration.
