No. 155.
Mr. Roustan to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, November 23, 1882. (Received November 24.)
Mr. Secretary of State: The international conference for the protection of submarine cables, which recently met at Paris, has just terminated its labors. Before breaking up, its members prepared a draft of a convention and gave expression to the desires which they have engaged, by a protocol signed at the closing session, to submit to their respective Governments for examination. * * *
The French Government would be glad if the agreement thus prepared by the delegates of the various states could be finally adopted with as little delay as possible, and has assumed the task of receiving adhesions.
I will thank you to inform me whether the United States Government feels disposed to authorize its representative at Paris to sign the instrument, the draft of which has probably already been submitted to you by Mr. Morton, and I will transmit the decision of the Washington Cabinet to Mr. Dulcerc as soon as you shall have made it known to me.
Accept, &c.,