No. 496.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Berne, July 11, 1878.
(Received July 29.)
No. 90.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your instruction No. 38, which was received on the 4th instant, and of your
telegraphic instruction in modification thereof, which was transmitted
through the legation at Paris.
The Swiss Government assents to the time and place selected for the meeting
of the proposed monetary conference, provided the other states of the Latin
Union likewise assent thereto.
I believe that the Latin Union will act together in all measures concerning
the conference, unless their own conference, which is to be held in Paris
this autumn, should lead to a disagreement among them.
I inclose a copy of my note to this government, and a copy and translation of
their reply.
I have, & c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 90.]
Mr. Fish to Mr.
Schenk.
Legation or the United States,
Berne, July 4,
1878.
The undersigned, chargé d’affaires of the United States of America, has
the honor, under instructions from his government, to inform His
Excellency Mr. Schenk, President of the Swiss Confederation, and through
His Excellency the High Federal Council, that in addition to the
acceptance of the Government of the Swiss Confederation of the
invitation of the United States to participate in an international
monetary conference, acceptances have been received from the governments
of Austria-Hungary, Belgium, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Italy, and
Russia, and that so far as any views have been expressed by those powers
respecting the selection of a place for the meeting of the proposed
conference, a preference for Paris has been signified. In this selection
the Government of the United States concurs.
[Page 839]
The undersigned is likewise instructed to call attention to the
provisions of the act of Congress of 28th of February last, which
prescribes that the conference shall be held within six months, and to
state that the 10th day of August is therefore suggested as the day for
the meeting thereof. He is also instructed to express the hope of his
government that the designation of the place and time here specified for
the meeting of the proposed conference will receive the early
concurrence of the Government of the Swiss Confederation.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to His
Excellency Mr. Schenk, President of the Swiss Confederation, and through
His Excellency to the High Federal Council, the assurances of his most
distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
90.—Translation.]
Messrs. Schenk and
Schiess to Mr. Fish.
The chargé d’affaires of the United States was so kind as to inform the
Federal Council, by his note of the 4th instant, that the invitation of
the Government of the United States to participate in a monetary
conference has been accepted, besides by Switzerland, by
Austria-Hungary, Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, and
Russia, and that the meeting of the conference has been fixed for August
10 next, at Paris.
While thanking the chargé d’affaires for his kind communication, the
Federal Council has the honor to inform the legation of the United
States that it can adhere to the time and place proposed for this
meeting, under the supposition that the other states, signers of the
monetary convention, commonly called the Latin Union, will give likewise
their consent to the proposition in question.
The Federal Council seizes this occasion to renew to the chargé
d’affaires the assurances of its highest consideration.
In the name of the Swiss Federal Council.
- The President of the Confederation,
SCHENK.
- The Chancellor of the Confederation,
SCHIESS.