No. 496.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Evarts.

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.,

NICHOLAS FISH.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 90.]

Mr. Fish to Mr. Schenk.

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.

NICHOLAS FISH.
[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.