Mr. Hay to Mr. Merry.

No. 277.]

Sir: Referring to your No. 319 of the 27th ultimo, I have to inform you that the declaration of the minister for foreign affairs of Costa Rica, copy of which you inclosed, to the effect that the law of Costa Rica permits the citizens of the United States the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to citizens of that Republic, having been accepted as satisfactory, the President has, by his proclamation of the 19th instant, declared and proclaimed that the first of the conditions prescribed by section 13 of the act approved March 3, 1891, now exists and is fulfilled in respect to the citizens of the Republic of Costa Rica.

I inclose for your use printed copies of the proclamation1 referred to, and am, etc.,

John Hay.
  1. Not printed.