Still fresh, and I hope enduring, is the memory of the welcome extended by Uruguay to its sister countries of the South when, at its bidding, they met in a Congress at Montevideo, from which resulted, as I have already had occasion to state (when speaking in hospitable and great Chicago), a complete code of international law, which, were it in force all over America, would be productive of peace, concord, and progress.

This single circumstance would of itself sufficiently show with how much interest Uruguay accepted the invitation of the illustrious Government of the United States. It sent a Delegate to this Conference; but as, unfortunately, from the present state of its labors, it is as yet not possible to see what may be achieved towards the realization of the high purposes with which all the American nations have assembled here, Uruguay deems it advisable to set forth, if only in general terms, and with but poor eloquence, the view its Delegate takes of the different points of the programme.

Without following the items in their order, for brevity's sake I shall limit myself to say that it is a recognized axiom that the first conditions to the cultivation of international relations are easy means of communication and transportation; thus Uruguay, which owes a great deal of its prosperity to the almost perfect communication which unites it with the countries of the estuary of the Plate," the Republic of Brazil, and the principal European centers, assigns great importance to the establishment of inter-American means of communication. Its Delegate has stated before the various committees in charge of these matters, that he was convinced that the greatest facilities would be given to any company formed with such intent, and that probably provision would be made for the granting of subsidies and privileges not already conceded by the laws of his country, on a basis of reciprocity.

As regards uniformity in sanitary legislation, the Delegate from Uruguay, as a member of the honorable committee to which the study of so important a subject was submitted, has agreed with the views of his learned colleagues, and the project which is to be presented to the

Conference is at the present moment in the translator's and printer's hands. In this report the honorable Conference is advised to recommend to the Governments of the countries herein represented, that they either adhere to the sanitary convention of Rio Janeiro of 1887, or adopt the project of the Congress held in Lima in 1889; which project is a thoughtful and conscientious revision and ratification of the previous one. Either of these protocols may be considered as being as nearly perfect and generally available as any heretofore compiled.

A Zollverein necessarily requires as a basis intimate relations and commercial ties between the countries therein included, and we must admit that such is not the case, even among the nations represented in this Conference.

While the commerce of America with Europe has attained to considerable importance, that existing among the American nations in general is restricted in scope, being, so to say, local and partial.

To form part of an American Zollverein, Uruguay would necessarily have to transfer her commerce completely, and cancel her commercial treaties with the European powers. The difficulties such an undertaking would present would be insurmountable, and it is therefore beyond the reach of the best wishes and the best laws.

Such extreme and premature measures are fortunately not indispensable for the furtherance of interchange among the American nations; and if it be not possible for my country to enter into a general customs Union, it is, and will always be, disposed to sign any special treaties that may subserve the mutual interests and convenience of the sister nations.

If not the same difficulties that a Zollverein presents for its adoption by Uruguay, there are others which, though transitory in character, would prevent that nation's immediate entrance into a monetary Union, other than one based on monometallism, with gold as the standard and silver as auxiliary, for fractional change, etc.

Uruguay also considers such a monetary Union of great importance to the commercial relations of the American nations, which relations will, no doubt, increase as a result

and effect of the deliberations of this Conference, for the conclusion of which, however, Uruguay will have to wait before definitively signifying its acceptance.

The Delegate from Uruguay must make the same announcement in reference to banking facilities, and customs, consular and port regulations relating to maritime commerce, for as yet the results of the deliberations of the committees are not known. I may say, however, that the regulations and laws in force in Uruguay upon these matters have been furnished to those committees, and I venture to add that our fiscal and banking systems being well adapted to facilitate commerce and develop credit, will no doubt be found to harmonize with such plans as may be adopted with a view to the realization of these elevated aims within a larger sphere.

Concerning the propositions submitted to this honorable Conference, relating to copyright, patents for invention, extradition, and measures to prevent conflicts in legislation. and generally as regards private international law, this delegation would always have to refer, as it does now refer, to the conclusions of the Congress which was initiated by the learned Uruguayan lawyer, Dr. Gonzalo Ramirez (who prepared all the items of the programme), and which met at Montevideo in 1888-'89 under the auspices of the Governments of the Argentine and Uruguayan Republics. This body was composed of eminent and distinguished jurists and statesmen of South America, two of whom are in our midst.

The treaties signed in that Congress, which at the present day are in force among a large number of the South American nations, would, as much for their merit as by their nature, constitute one of the most efficacious and strongest ties of union, fraternity, and progress that could bind all the American nations, if those countries which did not participate in the Congress would accept the same. To this end I have been especially instructed by my Government to invite the sister nations in the most cordial

manner.

Uruguay, considering that neither strength nor weakness should affect the recognition of the right, and only in

the interest of justice, has accepted and accepts the principles of arbitration as a means of solving international conflicts in cases where diplomatic intervention may prove fruitless. Though it is true that the praiseworthy efforts so far made have not succeeded in establishing a system satisfactory to all nations, for the promotion of harmony and a peaceful settlement of disputes, yet a great deal towards the attainment of this end has been accomplished in securing a general concurrence in the view that this just expedient is inapplicable only in that comparatively limited class of cases in which the independence, sovereignty, or existence of a nation is at stake.

I have the most sanguine hopes that the effort this Conference will make to solve this problem, if not crowned. with absolute success, will at least be made memorable by an earnest declaration, to be faithfully adhered to, that the American nations, which do not aspire to conquest or interference in the affairs of sister countries, sovereign and independent, will not resort to war without having first exhausted all conciliatory means to preserve international peace.

Before closing, Mr Chairman, and while thanking the honorable Conference for its kindness in listening to me, and apologizing for my inconsiderate abuse of its time, I beg to express once more my sincerest wishes for the, welfare of the nations here represented and of their worthy Delegates.

Mr. SAENZ PEÑA, a Delegate from the Argentine Republic, made the following statement:

That the speech in which the honorable Delegate, Mr. Nin, had taken leave of the Conference placed him under the necessity of making an explanation concerning two matters of fact.

First, in relation to the initiative of the South American Congress, which the honorable Delegate had attributed to his own country, Mr. Saenz Peña assured the Conference that it had originated in both

Governments of the Plata, and that if it was held in Montevideo it was by an act of courtesy of the Argentine Government. He referred to official documents, such as the protocols and the invitation addressed to the United States by both Legislatures, and added that the honorable Delegates could judge by them for themselves, because they had them in their possession, printed and distributed by the Argentine Government, as the originator of the project and the inviting Gov

ernment.

That as for the treaties which the honorable Delegate also attributed to the representative of Uruguay, Mr. Saenz Peña said that Congress, in the same manner as this Conference, had appointed committees ad hoc, and that these had transacted their business in their own way and according to their own judg

ment.

Finally, Mr. SAENZ PEÑA requested that his protest against the assertions of the previous speaker be inserted in the minutes for the satisfaction of the Argentine Government and of the States which had answered its invitation.

Mr. HENDERSON, a Delegate from the United States, stated, in the name of his delegation, that Mr. Nin's departure was lamented by his colleagues, and concluded by suggesting that the honorable Delegate's speech be inserted in the minutes of the session.

Mr. HURTADO, a Delegate from Colombia, seconding Mr. Henderson's proposition, in the name of his delegation, joined in the sentiments expressed by the honorable Delegate from the United States.

By unanimous agreement it was decided that Mr. Nin's speech be included in the minutes of the session.