Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1889

Mr. McLane to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
Paris, May 3, 1889. (Received May 14.)

No. 789.]

Sir: With my dispatch No. 720 of December 19, 1888, I sent to the Department a copy of certain resolutions in favor of arbitration adopted October 31 of the same year at a conference of prominent members of the French and British Parliaments. At the request of Mr. Frederick Passy, who, with Mr. Jules Simon and other deputies, have taken a leading part in the move for securing peace by means of tribunals of arbitration, I now send a few copies of a printed circular recalling that among the resolutions referred to one had in view the calling of another conference at Paris during the exhibition, and naming the 29th and 30th of June as the time for the meeting of said conference.

Mr. Passy and his associates ask that this circular be communicated to those who are likely to favor the object they have in view, as well as to the American press, and express the hope that our Government will give its moral support to a move in which the United States have taken a conspicuous part. A translation of the circular is also inclosed herewith.

I have, etc.,

Robert M. McLane.

[Inclosure in No. 789.—Translation.]

International parliamentary conference of arbitration.

Paris, April, 1889.

Sir: On the 31st of October last, as we have previously notified you, a certain number of members of the British Parliament and of the French Parliament, acting in the name of several hundreds of their colleagues, met at Paris with a view to occupy themselves with the means of improving international policy, and more particularly of bringing about between their two nations and the Republic of the United States of America the conclusion of treaties of arbitration of such a nature as to insure, by the amicable settlement of difficulties which might arise between them, the maintenance of their friendly relations.

Among other resolutions unanimously decided upon, and the text of which has been brought to the knowledge of the Governments and of the press, this assembly decided that a later conference in which would be invited to take part, not only the members of the parliament above cited, but also the members of the other parliaments known to be interested in the same ideas, should be held at Paris during the exhibition of 1889, to pursue, and, if possible, complete the work so happily begun.

In conformity with this decision, and in virtue of the mission which has been given us to insure its execution, we, by a previous circular which has received on all sides the best reception, have had the honor of begging you to be kind enough to take part, with the other members of the various parliaments who, like you, as we hope, understand the full importance of this manifestation, in the assembly which will take place at Paris on the 29th and the 30th of June next, in the large hall of the mairie of the sixth arrondissement (Place St. Sulpice), kindly put at our disposal by the municipality.

The first sitting will be opened at 9 o’clock in the morning. From 8 o’clock the members of the committee of organization will be at the office so that the list of those present can be signed, and to take note of the credentials and positions of those invited.

In the hope of being favored by your support and your presence, we beg you to accept, etc., in the name of the committee.

The members of the French Parliament: Jules Simon, senator; Frederic Passy, Jules Gaillard, Jules Siegfried, Yves Guyot, deputies.

The members of the British Parliament: W. R. Cremer, Sir George Campbell, Burt, Provand, Schwann, of the House of Commons,

Be kind enough to communicate this letter to the press and to those of your colleagues who, in spite of our care, have not received it.

Address replies to Mr. Frederic Passy, Neuilly sur Seine, near Paris.