No. 398.
Mr. Birney to Mr. Evarts.

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.,

JAMES BIRNEY.
[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.,

HECKEREN van KELL.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 71.]

Mr. Birney to Baron van Kell.

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.

JAMES BIRNEY.