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here represented, or else differ in detail or manner of classification so as to prevent the fixing of the amount of the fee.

Your committee does not consider it impossible to establish identical regulations for the consular agents of American nations; but since on the one hand we have not believed ourselves authorized to undertake it, in view of the scope of our instructions, and on the other, it is probable that the time remaining which the honorable Delegates can devote to the various subjects submitted to their consideration would not suffice for the careful study required by a matter of that nature, we have thought it preferable, with a view to obtaining a precise result, to offer the following resolution :

RECOMMENDATION AS ADOPTED.

Resolved, That the Governments represented in the Conference be recommended to prepare a uniform classification of the acts requiring the intervention of consular agents, fixing the maximum fees which should properly attach to each one of such acts, especially those relating to commerce and navigation.

NICANOR BOLET PERAZA.
EMILIO C. VARAS.
CLEMENT STUDEBAKER.

The PRESIDENT. Is the Conference ready for the question on this resolution? Is there objection to its adoption? The Chair hears none. It is agreed to.

SANITARY REGULATIONS.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SANITARY REGULATIONS.

[As submitted to the Conference February 28, 1890.]

To the honorable the International American Conference: The committee appointed to "consider and report upon the best methods of establishing and maintaining sanitary regulations in commerce between the several countries represented in this Conference" has finished its task, and as the result thereof, has the honor to submit to your distinguished consideration a resolution for your adoption, to which is attached, as accompanying appendices, the fuli text of the proceedings of the International Sanitary Convention of Rio de Janeiro, of 1887, and the draft of convention agreed upon by the Sanitary Congress of Lima, of 1889.

One of the most important subjects submitted to the honorable International Conference is, without doubt, to decide upon methods tending to prevent the conflict which may arise at the time of epidemic invasions between the diverse sanitary regulations which the American nations have seen fit to adopt in order to shield themselves from such invasions.

If the regulations of sanitary police have in view the harmonizing of the exigencies of public health with the principle of free communication between countries, it is evident that international sanitary conventions are called to put that harmony into practice by means of uniform and impartial regulations, which shall consult the general interests of the countries in their commercial relations.

The committee has carefully examined the work of special conferences and congresses which have met at different times in several parts of the world, and has reached the conclusion that it has duly discharged its duty by

making a selection from among those works which are the result of exhaustive studies made by men eminent in the science of medicine in Europe as well as in America.

Complete isolation, which theoretically appears to be the most effective prophylactic against the invasions of epidemic diseases, does not afford, in practice, satisfactory results as a sanitary measure, but tends, on the other hand, to notably injure the commercial interests of the countries. The distinguished Professor, Dr. Francisco Rosas, president of the Sanitary Congress of Lima, thus expresses himself on this point:

It is scientifically demonstrated by innumerable facts that the closing of ports and frontiers does not prevent the invasion of epidemics; that these enter and develop with greater violence in the countries which pretend to isolate themselves, because, under the mistaken belief that they are free of all danger, they disregard the proper means to restrain the development of the epidemic and, above all, to lessen its severity. But if absolute isolation as a prophylactic is nothing more than an illusion, the same may not be said of the sanitary means that modern science has placed within our reach for the disinfection of infected localities, as well as to prevent the introduction and development of contagion in those which have remained in a state of health.

The committee did not enter deeply into this branch of the subject, because the Rio de Janeiro Convention, as well as the draft of the Lima Congress, the adoption of which is recommended, start with the fundamental principle that the absolute closing of ports and frontiers should be renounced, for the reason that if this were put in practice international sanitary conventions would be unnecessary.

The Rio de Janeiro Convention and the draught of the Congress of Lima are works which have exhausted, so to speak, the subject which engages our attention, and because of the accuracy, clearness, and care with which they have been edited, they may serve as a model, with respect to form and general idea, for sanitary conventions. Therefore, the committee thinks it should recommend them to the consideration of the honorable International American Conference.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.

The International American Conference, considering: That under the existing state of the relations between. the nations of America, it is as practicable, it is advisable, for the promotion of these relations, to establish perfect accord with respect to sanitary regulations;

That the greater part of the ports of South America on the Atlantic are guided and governed by the decisions of the International Sanitary Convention of Rio de Janeiro, of 1887;

That although it does not appear that the plans of the Sanitary Congress of Lima, of 1888, have passed into the category of international compacts, it is to be hoped that they will be accepted by the Governments that participated in the said congress, because those plans were discussed and approved by medical men of acknowledged ability;

That the Sanitary Convention of Rio de Janeiro, of 1887, and the draft of the Congress of Lima, of 1888, agree in their essential provisions to such an extent that it may be said they constitute one set of rules and regulations;

That if these were duly observed in all America they would prevent, under any circumstances, the conflict which usually arises between the obligation to care for the public health and the principle of freedom of communication between countries;

That the nations of Central and North America were not represented either in the Sanitary Convention of Rio de Janeiro or the Congress of Lima; but that they might easily accept and apply to their respective ports on both oceans the sanitary regulations before cited:

Recommends to the nations represented in this Conference the adoption of the provisions of the International Sanitary Convention of Rio de Janeiro, 1887, or the draft of the Sanitary Convention of the Congress of Lima, of 1888. HORATIO GUZMAN.

J. G. DO AMARAL VALENTE.

F. C. C. ZEGARRA.

JOHN F. HANSON.

JOSÉ ANDRADE.

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON

SANITARY REGULATIONS.

CONVENTION OF RIO DE JANEIRO.

We, Maximo Tajes, lieutenant-general, president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, to all to whom these presents shall come, hereby

announce:

That on the 25th and 26th days of November, of the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, there were agreed upon and signed between our plenipotentiary and those of the Argentine Republic and the Empire of Brazil, duly authorized by the appropriate full powers, an international sanitary convention and corresponding ordinance, of which the literal tenor is as follows:

His excellency the president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, her highness the Princess Imperial Regent, in the name of his majesty the Emperor of Brazil, and his excellency the president of the Argentine Republic, having resolved to join in a sanitary convention, named for the purpose as their plenipotentiaries the following:

His excellency the president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (named) Don Carlos Maria Ramirez, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary upon special mission to his majesty the Emperor of Brazil.

Her highness the Princess Imperial Regent (named) the Baron of Cotegipe, of the council of his majesty the Emperor, senator and grandee of the Empire, dignitary of the Imperial Order of the Crozier, commander of the Order of the Rose, Grand Cross of that of our Lady of the Concepcion of Villa Viçosa, of Isabel the Catholic, of Leopold of Belgium, and of the Crown of Italy, president of the Council of Ministers, and minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs, and of the interior for those of the Empire.

His excellency the president of the Argentine Republic (named) Don Enrique B. Moreno, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to his majesty the Emperor of Brazil, who, having mutually presented their full powers, which were found to be in good and proper form, agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE 1.

The three high contracting parties agree to adopt the following definitions:

Exotic contagious diseases.-The yellow fever, cholera morbus, and Oriental plague.

Infected port.-One in which any of the diseases mentioned prevails in epidemic form.

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