Mr. Blaine to Mr.
Lincoln.
Department
of State,
Washington, May 20,
1892.
No. 761.]
Sir: I inclose for your information a copy of a
dispatch from the American consul at Sydney, Australia, communicating a copy
of a letter from the copyright register of New South Wales inquiring as to
whether the President’s proclamation of the 1st of July, 1391, includes “the
British Possessions,” as well as Great Britain.
[Page 228]
As you are aware, this Government holds that the proclamation applies to all the British Possessions, as well as Great
Britain; and this is the view of the subject taken by the Librarian of
Congress, as appears from his letter of the 18th instant, a copy of which is
herewith inclosed, which states that his office “has recorded, and continues
to record, claims of copyright in this country made by British subjects and
complying with the American law wherever such subjects may
reside.”
Referring to my instruction No. 656, of the 19th of December last, to you,
relative to the denial of copyright in Canada to American citizens, and to
your reply thereto, No. 594, of the 9th of January last, you are instructed
to communicate to Lord Salisbury the information that this Department has
received as to the doubts of the register of copyrights of New South Wales
as to the proper construction of the President’s proclamation of July 1,
1891. You may also inform him of the fact that this Government continues to
record claims of copyright in this country made by British subjects wherever
such subjects may reside.
As the important American interests concerned make it desirable that an early
decision should be reached as to the right of our citizens to copyright in
Canada, you will avail yourself of this opportunity to recall that subject
to the attention of Lord Salisbury with a view to arriving at a settlement
of the question.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 761.]
Mr. Cameron to Mr.
Wharton.
Consulate of the United States,
Sydney, March 19, 1892.
(Received April 20.)
No. 423.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
letter with questions received from the registrar of copyrights in this
city, and I shall feel obliged if you can furnish me with the
information asked for in that communication.
I remain, sir, yours, very respectfully,
Alexander Cameron,
Vice and Acting Consul.
[Inclosure in inclosure 1 in No.
761.]
Mr. Spruson to Mr.
Cameron.
Office
of Copyright Registry of New South Wales,
Chancery Square, Sydney,
March 19, 1892.
Sir: With reference to the question of
international copyright, I do myself the honor to inclose a copy of a
proclamation issued by the President of the United States of America, on
July 1, 1891, extending to the citizens and subjects of Great Britain
and certain other countries therein named, the benefits of the amended
act of Congress relating to copyright dated March 3, 1891, and setting
out that this has been done because “satisfactory assurances have been
given” of reciprocal action having been taken by the countries
named.
As I have received this proclamation through a private channel, and have
no official knowledge of such arrangements having been made in either
England or the United States, I should esteem it a particular favor if
you would furnish me with authentic information on the subject, by
answering the following questions:
- (1)
- What steps have the British Government actually taken to place
American subjects on the same footing as their own subjects in
relation to copyright?
- (2)
- Does the new status extend to “Great Britain “only, or to
“Great Britain and the British Possessions”? You will perceive
the proclamation is not clear on the point.
I have, etc.,
Jos. J. Spruson,
Registrar of Copyright.
[Page 229]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 761.]
Mr. Spofford to Mr.
Adee.
Library
of Congress,
Washington, May 18,
1892.
Sir: Referring to your letter of 7th instant,
covering a copy of inquiries as to copyright registry in the United
States by British subjects in Australia, permit me to say:
- (1)
- Under the President’s proclamation of July 1, 1891, certifying
that in “Great Britain and the British Possessions” satisfactory
official assurances have been given that the law permits to
citizens of the United States the benefit of copyright on
substantially the same basis as to British subjects, this office
has recorded and continues to record claims of copyright in this
country made by British subjects, and complying with the
American law, wherever such subjects may reside.
- (2)
- Notwithstanding the fact that the Government of Canada refuses
copyright registry in the Dominion to United States citizens,
thus contravening Lord Salisbury’s assurance of reciprocity to
“all British Possessions,” copyrights are still entered for
Canadians, pending reclamations understood to have been made to
Her Majesty’s Government by the Government of the United
States.
Very respectfully,
A. R. Spofford,
Librarian of Congress.
