Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine.

No. 488.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Department’s cablegram of the 1st instant, as follows: “Copyright proclamation today includes British subjects,” and to inclose the copy of a note which I thereupon addressed to the Marquis of Salisbury on the subject.

I have, etc.,

Robert T. Lincoln.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 488.]

Mr. Lincoln to Lord Salisbury.

My Lord: With reference to your lordship’s note of the 16th ultimo, informing me of the status of the law of copyright in force in all the British Possessions, in respect to the acquisition of its benefits by citizens of the United States of America, I have the honor to acquaint you that I lost no time in communicating the same to my Government, and I have now the pleasure of notifying to your lordship that on yesterday, the 1st instant, it was determined by the President of the United States, by proclamation, that the first condition specified in section 13 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1891, in relation to copyright, is now fulfilled in respect to British subjects.

I will have the honor of transmitting to your lordship a copy of the above-mentioned proclamation as soon as it arrives by post.

I have, etc.,

Robert T. Lincoln.