Mr. Foster to Mr. Phelps.

No. 469.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 477 of the 28th ultimo, from which it appears that the German Government is of opinion that the privileges granted German inventors in the United States do not justify the required publication in the “Imperial Gazette,” in view of section 2 of the German patent law of October 1, 1891, in order to accord protection to American inventors.

A copy of your dispatch has been sent to the Secretary of the Interior for the information of the Commissioner of Patents, but the Department awaits the promised note from the German chargé d’affaires here, giving in detail the grounds of the decision of his Government before formally replying to your dispatch.

I am, etc.,

John W. Foster.