appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, ten delegates to said Conference, who shall serve without compensation other than their actual necessary expenses, and the several other States participating in said Conference shall be represented by as many delegates as each may elect Provided, however, That in the disposition of questions to come before said Conference no State shall be entitled to more than one vote.

SEC. 5. That the Secretary of State shall appoint such clerks and other assistants as shall be necessary, at a compensation to be determined by him, and provide for the daily publication by the Public Printer, in the English, Spanish, and Portuguese languages, of so much of the proceedings of the Conference as it shall determine, and upon the conclusion of said Conference shall transmit a report of the same to the Congress of the United States, together with a statement of the disbursements of the appropriation herein provided for.

Approved, May 24, 1888.

INVITATION EXTENDED BY THE UNITED STATES.

In pursuance of the provisions of this act, the following invitation was sent to the several Governments of Mexico, Central and South America, Hayti, and San Domingo:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 13, 1888. SIR: At the present session of Congress an act was passed, to which the President's approval was given on the 24th of May last, by the terms of which the President is requested and authorized

To invite the several Governments of the Republics of Mexico, Central and South America, Hayti, San Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil to join the United States in a conference to be held at Washington, in the United States, at such time as he may deem proper in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, for the purpose of discussing and recommending for adoption to their respective Governments some plan of arbitration for the settlement of disagreements and disputes that may hereafter arise between them, and for considering ques

tions relating to the improvement of business intercourse and means of direct communication between said countries, and to encourage such reciprocal commercial relations as will be beneficial to all and secure more extensive markets for the products of each of said countries.

It is also provided in the act referred to that in forwarding the invitations to the said Governments the President of the United States shall set forth that the Conference is called to consider

First. Measures that shall tend to preserve and promote the prosperity of the several American States.

Second. Measures toward the formation of an American customs union, under which the trade of the American nations with each other shall, so far as possible and profitable, be promoted.

Third. The establishment of regular and frequent communication between the ports of the several American States and the ports of each other.

Fourth. The establishment of a uniform system of customs regulations in each of the independent American States to govern the mode of importation and exportation of merchandise and port dues and charges, a uniform method of determining the classification and valuation of such merchandise in the ports of each country, and a uniform system of invoices, and the subject of the sanitation of ships and quarantine.

Fifth. The adoption of a uniform system of weights and measures, and laws to protect the patent-rights, copyrights, and trade-marks of citizens of either country in the other, and for the extradition of criminals.

Sixth. The adoption of a common silver coin, to be issued by each Government, the same to be legal tender in all commercial transactions between the citizens of all of the American States.

Seventh. An agreement upon and recommendation for adoption to their respective Governments of a definite plan of arbitration of all questions, disputes, and differences, that may now or hereafter exist between them, to the end that all difficulties and disputes between such nations may be peaceably settled and wars prevented.

Eighth. And to consider such other subjects relating to the welfare of the several States represented as may be presented by any of said States which are hereby invited to participate in said Conference.

I have to call your particular attention to the scope and object of the Conference suggested, which, as will be observed, is consultative and recommendatory only. The proposed Conference will be wholly without power to

bind any of the parties thereto, and it is not designed to affect or impair in any degree the treaty relations now existing between any of the States which may be represented. The topics for discussion and deliberation are manifestly of profound importance, and it is believed that a friendly and frank exchange of views in relation to these subjects will be of practical use, and, by mutual enlightenment, will materially promote that expansion and intimacy of social and commercial relations which must be fruitful of blessings to all concerned.

Certain topics are suggested as proper subjects for a comparison of views, but the field is expressly left open to any participant State to bring before the Conference such other subjects as may appear important to the welfare of the several States represented.

By direction, therefore, of the President of the United States, and in his name, you will tender to the Government of a cordial invitation to be represented by such number of Delegates as may seem to it convenient, at the International Conference to be convened as aforesaid in the city of Washington, on Wednesday, the 2d day of October, of the coming year, 1889, it being understood, however, that in the disposition of questions to come before such Conference no State shall be entitled to more than one vote, whatever be the number of Delegates it may send.

You will make this invitation known by reading this note to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of

and by leaving with him a copy if he should express a desire to possess it. You will at the same time, and with the use of such suggestions and expression of views as in your judgment may be deemed appropriate, make known to his excellency the sincere desire and confident expectation of the President that this invitation will be received in the same spirit of friendship and deference by which it has been prompted.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

T. F. BAYARD,
Secretary of State.

REPLIES FROM THE SEVERAL GOVERNMENTS.

To the above invitation the following replies were received:

GUATEMALA.

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS,

Mr. MINISTER:

Guatemala, August 10, 1888.

I have had the honor to receive your esteemed note of the 6th instant, transmitting the circular of the Department of State of Washington, of the 13th of July, and a copy of the Act of Congress, approved on the 24th of May relating to an International Conference to be held at the Capital of the United States on Wednesday the 2d of October, 1889, for the purpose of discussing the subjects set forth in your note, and in the circular and Act of Congress upon which it is based.

The Legation of Guatemala at Washington had informed this Department, by dispatch No. 113, of the 23d of March last, of the subjects to be discussed at said Conference, and since then they have been under study, with all the interest demanded by their importance.

The President of this Republic, before whom I have laid the courteous invitation which the President of the United States of America has been pleased to extend through you and the State Department at Washington to the Government of Guatemala, has authorized me to say in answer that the invitation is accepted, and that in due time he will appoint the Delegates who shall represent this Government at the said Conference.

The Government of Guatemala, Mr. Minister, considers such future meeting as a happy opportunity for the nations of the American continent to join in a fraternal embrace, and it trusts that if they all are animated by the same earnest sentiments and wishes as Guatemala, in favor of rendering their cordial international relations stronger and closer, the initiative taken by the Government so

13

worthily represented by you will be crowned with brilliant

success.

I avail this opportunity to subscribe myself, with renewed proofs of high consideration and esteem,

Your obedient servant,

HENRY C. HALL, Esq., etc.,

Present.

E. MARTINEZ SOBRAL.

Mr. MINISTER:

HONDURAS.

TEGUCIGALPA, August 30, 1888.

I have had the honor to receive your polite letter of the 18th of this month, informing me that in virtue of an Act of Congress of the United States, approved May 24 of this year, the President has been authorized and requested to invite the Governments of the Republics of Mexico, Central and South America, Hayti, Santo Domingo, and the Empire of Brazil, to join the United States in the Conference to be held at Washington during the coming year, 1889. You explain the purposes of said Conference, and in the name of your Government and under its instructions, extend an invitation to the Government of this Republic to be represented at the said Conference, which will be opened on the 2d of October in the above-mentioned year, 1889.

It is gratifying to me to say in answer that my Government, fully appreciating the importance of the objects which the said International Conference proposes to attain for the good of all America, will not fail to send its representatives on the date mentioned, and that it rests assured that all the conclusions reached by said Conference under the auspices of the enlightened and powerful Government of the United States, will become practical facts and prove greatly beneficial.

While answering in this way to your esteemed note, I beg to return the most sincere thanks of my Government