File No. 66/40.

The Secretary of State to the Belgian Minister.

No. 514.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 25th ultimo, by which you inform me, under instructions from your Government, that September 28 next has been finally fixed as the date for the opening of the International Conference on Maritime Law at Brussels.

Thanking you for this information, I beg to assure you, in reply to the inquiry contained in your note, that the Government of the United States will be pleased to take part in this conference, the Congress of the United States having at its last session made provision for such representation.

I shall, in due season, be pleased to communicate to you the names of the delegate or delegates who may be selected to represent the Government of the United States in the conference.

Accept, etc.,

P. C. Knox.