Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

Mr. Hay to Mr. Smith.

Department of State,
Washington , March 8, 1900 .

No. 46.]

Sir: On July 2, 1890, a general act between the United States and other powers for the suppression of the African slave trade and the restriction of the importation into and sale in a certain defined zone of the African continent of firearms, ammunition, and spirituous liquors was concluded and signed at Brussels, Belgium, to which general act the adhesion of Liberia was given.

Article XCII of the act provides for the revision of the regulations on the importation of spirituous liquors into certain regions of Africa; and for the purpose of such revision a conference of certain powers met at Brussels on April 20 last and closed its labors on June 8 following, by the signing of a convention, whereby the import duty of 15 francs per hectoliter of proof spirits testing 50 per cent of alcohol was raised to 70 francs per hectoliter. Article III of this convention provides for the adhesion thereto of the powers who signed the general act of Brussels, or who adhered to it.

With this explanation I inclose herewith a copy of a dispatch¹ from the minister of the United States at Brussels, transmitting a translation of a note from the Belgian minister for foreign affairs requesting the United States to use its good officers to the end that the Government of Liberia, having adhered to the general act of July 2, 1890, should signify likewise its adhesion to the convention of Juno 8, 1899.

You will communicate the Belgian request to the Liberian Government for such action as it may be pleased to take. While disclaiming any purpose on our part to advise or influence Liberia’s course, you will let it be known that the sentiment of the Government of the United States is in favor of the measure, as in fact its influence was largely instrumental in bringing about the modification of the general act of July 2, 1890, in a more restrictive sense than it was first found practicable to agree upon.

I inclose copies of the general act of July 2, 1890,² and the convention of June 8, 1899.³

I am, etc.,

John Hay.

1. Printed, p. 34.
2. Not printed.
3. Printed, p. 41.