Mr. Alexander to Mr. Adee.

No. 74.]

Sir: I have the honor to state that, as the Department of State was advised in my dispatch No. 68, of the 18th ultimo, I took advantage of the earliest opportunity to confer with Mr. Skonzes, the present minister of foreign affairs, in regard to a convention for the reciprocal protection of trade-marks.

I endeavored to state to him as fully as possible the reasons why a formal convention is preferred instead of the declaration signed July 9/21, 1894. Mr. Skonzes said to me:

By our law enacted February 16, 1893, protection of trade-marks in Greece was allowed, on reciprocity, to citizens or subjects of those nations which, in their treaties with Greece, had made provision for such protection. Since other nations, also, which had concluded commercial treaties with Greece claimed the right of securing the same protection for the trade-marks of their citizens or subjects, it was decided, after long and careful deliberation, to grant the same privilege to all nations requesting it on terms of reciprocity. On the basis of this interpretation of the aforesaid law, we proceeded to sign declarations with those nations to which Greece had not granted protection of their trade-marks by special articles in treaties made with them.

The conclusion of special conventions to this effect was unnecessary, because the law mentioned gives us the general right of assuming such obligations on reciprocity, and of making such concessions to foreign nations. Therefore the submission to the Boulé of any special convention for the reciprocal protection of trade-marks [Page 763] was thought by as to be useless. On this principle a declaration for the reciprocal protection of trade-marks was signed July 9/21, 1894, by Mr. Stephanos and the American minister.

For us it is perfectly valid. American citizens can, without hindrance, demand protection here for their trade-marks, and it seems to us that, in accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved August 5, 1882, it should be possible for a Greek subject, after this declaration of reciprocity, to be allowed similar protection for his trade-mark in the United States. If, however, your Government thinks that such protection can not under your Constitution be accorded to Greek subjects without special legislation, that, of course, is a matter which your Government must decide for itself. The declaration mentioned may be submitted to the Senate of the United States for approval if your Government considers such action necessary. For us it is already binding, and we think it quite unnecessary that a special convention should be submitted to our Boulé for ratification. At the same time, we feel that if we should comply with your request for a special convention we should be dealing unfairly with the other nations with whose representatives we have united in signing similar declarations.

In view of the position taken by Mr. Skonzes, from which I fear that he can not be moved, I must await further instructions from you in regard to this matter.

I have, etc.,

E. Alexander.