Mr. Hay to Mr. Townsend.
Washington, December 24, 1900.
Sir: The Senate by its resolution of December 14, 1900 (received at the Department on December 20), gave its advice and consent to the adhesion of the United States to the convention signed at Brussels, June 8, 1899, for the regulation of the importation of spirituous liquors into certain regions of Africa.
Your telegram of June 1 last and one of the same date from the Belgian minister to the United States gave rise to doubt whether the time within which this country could adhere to the convention did not expire on June 8,1900, by which date the ratifications of the signatory powers were required to be deposited.
To make this point clear I telegraphed you on the 21st instant, as follows:
Ascertain whether top late to adhere to Brussels convention of June 8, 1899. Senate just given consent.
To which you replied on December 22, as follows:
Minister foreign affairs informs me that it is not too late for United States to adhere convention June 8, 1899.
You are instructed to announce to the Belgian Government that the Government of the United States is prepared to adhere to the convention referred to and in order that the instrument of adhesion and the proclamation copy may be prepared intelligently, you will request a list of the signing countries which have deposited their ratifications, with the dates of deposit, as well as a list of the States which have adhered since the signature of the convention, with the dates of adhesion.
The Department would be pleased to receive these lists as early as is practicable.
I am, etc.,