Article III was read.

Mr. QUINTANA. After the explanations exchanged in the session of to-day, and in accordance with what was set forth in previous sessions, it seems unquestionable that the words of this report which relate to coining some international coin or coins, which shall be of uniform weight and fineness, do not determine in any way whatever, either explicit or implied, that this money shall be coined solely of silver. I understand that the object of the latter part of this section is simply to fix the relation of this metal in case the commission should resolve to have silver money.

If this be correct, and the committee should accept this understanding of the words, I have no objection to vote for Article III; but if this is not the case, I will propose an amendment to make the article clearer.

Mr. MEXIA. The committee has the same conception of the article as has the gentleman.

Mr. ZEGARRA. When this question was discussed in one of the previous sessions, the speaker had the honor to explain his vote and to add, also, that in order to facilitate matters he would follow his colleagues as far as possible. Complying with this remark I have voted, or I am voting, in favor of the project agreed to by the committee. But now that Article III is being discussed the speaker considers it his duty to make an express reservation that the Government of Peru should be left at liberty to adopt, in part or whole, or to reject in part or whole, the conclusions at which the monetary commission might arrive, according as the interests of his country might require.

Mr. ZELAYA. The committee has no objection what

ever to accept the amendment offered yesterday by Mr. Romero, and which has been to-day seconded by the delegate from Hayti.

Mr. ALFONSO. I am of the same opinion as the honorable delegate, Mr. Zelaya, in regard to the slight importance of this question. Nevertheless it was considered by the committee, and between leaving the Governments in perfect liberty to nominate the delegates they pleased, or to assign only one, this last extreme was preferred, for the reason that, as only one subject was to be discussed, a great concourse of persons was not needed. A single individual versed in the subject, with instructions from his Government, is sufficient to discuss this matter advisedly and intelligently, while if each delegation was composed of various persons, there might arise discord of opinion which would obstruct the prompt proceeding of the busibuness of the Conference.

These are the reasons why the committee believed that it would be better to draw up the article in the terms in which it has been heard.

The PRESIDENT. There is general consent that the words "one or more delegates" be inserted. The chair hears no objection, and the resolution is so modified. Is the Conference ready for the question upon the third article? If so, the roll will be called. (The roll-call resulted as upon the previous articles, the same delegations voting in the same sense.) The PRESIDENT. The third article is adopted. The secretary will read the fourth article.

(The fourth article was accordingly read.)

Mr. ZEGARRA. At the last session the honorable. delegate from Mexico offered an amendment to the

1

Conference which I consider worthy of consideration. It related to the time for the meeting and closing of the sessions of the convention referred to in the report.

One year from the date of the closing of this Conference falls precisely in the worst season of the year for a convention to engage in work of this kind, on account of the climate and the customs of this city. Therefore, now that the committee has concluded that the assembling of the monetary convention should take place within the year, I would suggest the propriety of fixing on a time of the year which is in accord with the business custom of this city, when the government is assembled, and when all persons who are to discuss this matter have all the avenues open for investigation and all the facilities necessary. For example, in December of this year or in January of the next. I submit this idea to the committee, not as an amendment to the report, but as a simple suggestion.

Mr. GUZMAN. Agreeing with all that has just been said by the honorable delegate from Peru, I would suggest as the date, the first of the coming year.

Mr. ALFONSO. I consider the remarks just made to be of very little importance, because, in fact, it may be considered that they are provided for in the article under discussion. This article provides that the committee shall assemble within one year counting from the close of this Conference. Thus complete liberty of action is left to select the time most convenient, and this will depend upon the inviting government. The meeting is to take place in Washington. This Government gives the invitation, and though it may

not be convenient for this reunion to occur on January 1, this inconvenience may not exist on December 1, or on February 1. Why deprive the Government of this liberty of action? It seems to me that, in order that matters should be conducted with the greatest propriety, the article should remain as it now is, or if it is decided that this meeting shall take place within one year or less, it will be clearly understood by that it is left to the inviting government to fix the time time for the meeting.

Mr. GUZMAN. I do not understand by the language that it is the Government of the United States that gives the invitation. The resolution throughout expresses the idea, but it would be well to state that such is the intention, and that the United States Government should be the one to convene the assembly.

As regards the date, I do not insist that it shall be the 1st of January, nor have I fixed any date during the twenty-four hours of the day. It was never my intention to do so. Any other date may be fixed, as I have no objection whatever that the meeting shall take place at the end of this or the beginning of next year.

Mr. SILVA. It should be clearly established that the committee in fixing this date has counted upon the invitation of the Government of the United States, because it would be a lack of courtesy on our part to issue an invitation to another's house without consulting the wishes of the owner. It should be entered upon the minutes that the committee understood that the invitation would be issued by the United States.

Mr. ESTEE. After the adoption of this, Mr. President,

it will be proper to pass such a resolution, and I presume the United States would perform that, if so requested by this Conference.

Mr. ZEGARRA. Mr. President: From the words spoken here upon this subject it seems that there is a general agreement as to the idea. Therefore, by drawing up the article more or less in this manner, "That the new commission shall assemble in Washington upon the date fixed by the President of the United States, which shall be within one year," the resolution would express that the Government of the United States invited us.

I offer this idea to the Conference at the suggestion of the honorable delegate from Nicaragua.

Mr. MEXIA. The committee accepts the amendment made by the delegate from Peru.

The PRESIDENT. The Secretary will read the article as it will appear if amended.

The Secretary read as follows:

ARTICLE 4. That this commission meet in Washington at such time, within a year, as may be designated by the President of the United States.

Mr. HENDERSON. Mr. President, if the amendment is put in at the close of article 4 it will express what the honorable delegate wants:

That this commission meet in Washington after the final adjournment of this conference, at such time as the President of the United States may designate.

Mr. QUINTANA. May I ask the President for permission to propose a simple wording of the article? I suggest that the article read as follows:

That the Government of the United States shall invite