gratitude for this demonstration of affection and honor in memory of his father, "whose life was consecrated to Belgium." At the close of this reply the statue of Leopold I, which is in marble and of heroic size, was unveiled amid the plaudits of the multitude. An original poem, interpreting the just pride of Belgians in their nation and its royal founder, and representing the national aspirations for liberal institutions under their chosen form of government, was sung by a choir of several hundred performers. The statue of Leopold is in the center of an open Gothic marble structure of singular grace and beauty. This occasion, pre-eminently national in its spirit, can hardly fail to give new guarantees of stability to the institutions and interests which have been developed during the last half century. I have, &c., No. 55. JAMES O. PUTNAM. No. 8.1 Mr. Putnam to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Brussels, July 27, 1880. (Received August 9.) SIR: Referring to dispatch No. 3, I have the honor to state that I at once conferred with Mr. Wilson, our consul, and for a time acting chargé d'affaires. He read me his consular dispatch of April 8 last, No. 141, also his consular dispatch No. 123, of date May 27. * * I addressed myself at once to the authorities requesting further copies, but have since learned that the edition was exhausted. There have been some changes in detail, not in substance, which will undoubtedly be published in a new edition. I shall keep myself informed on the subject and report anything further of interest that comes to my knowledge. I send a catalogue I obtained to-day at the exposition, showing the nationality of the exhibitors. I can but confirm Mr. Consul Wilson's dispatch No. 123, fully concurring with him in his general statements and suggestions. This vast building, admirably adapted to the uses of such an exposition, having been rented for a term of years (eighteen, I think), the exposition must become institutional in the country, and a well known center of samples of the great industries of the world. While Belgium, as the national semi-centennial exposition now in full operation reveals, has made creditable progress in many of the arts, and discovers great skill in many of the branches of mechanics, I cannot but feel with Mr. Wilson that it would compensate them should some of our manufacturers place here specimens of their wares and productions. I thought at first that our agricultural machinery would be highly appreciated, but I am inclined to think that, owing to the very small land-holdings, and the great abundance of common labor here, they are not a necessity. Belgium is an infinite series of little agricultural gardens, so to say, rather than large farms, and it does not seem well adapted to the use of that machinery which so dominates the agriculture of our farms and prairies. I notice what Mr. Wilson speaks of in his dispatch, that American exhibits come from England, and while labeled as products of the United States, are exhibited by English houses. I noticed our grassmowers, made in Philadelphia but exhibited by an English house. China is here in large force with the most exquisite workmanship in house furniture, as well as in articles of ornament and luxury. I shall endeavor to further inform myself on the general subject, and shall advise the department of anything of interest that comes to my knowledge. SIR: A note has been received from the chargé d'affaires ad interim of Belgium in this country, conveying an invitation to this government to nominate one or more delegates to attend the international congress of commerce and industry which assembles this month at Brussels. No provision having been made by Congress to meet the invitation by a direct appointment associated with compensation, I have simply to state that you will be and are hereby authorized to take part in the proposed congress (at your own discretion) in sufficient representation of the United States, and to associate with you therein Mr. Wilson, consul at Brussels, should he consent. If preferred, Mr. Wilson can act as the sole delegate. I am, &c., WM. M. EVARTS. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BELGIAN LEGATION IN WASHINGTON. No. 57. Mr. Neyt to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF BELGIUM, Shelter Island, N. Y., July 22, 1880. (Received July 24.) Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: Under date of the 19th of June last you were pleased to inform Mr. Delfosse that the Senate of the United States had authorized the exchange of the ratifications of the consular convention, signed March 9, 1880, between Belgium and the United States, proposing merely the suppression of the word "alone" in the second paragraph of Article XII. I have the honor to beg you, Mr. Secretary of State, to be so kind as to let me know the motives which have been invoked in order to justify the striking out of this word, which is found also in the previous consular convention of 1868. The Government of the King has expressed to me the desire to be informed as to these motives, to the end of being enabled to appreciate the importance of the proposed change. I would be very grateful to you if you could communicate to me at the same time the minutes or report of the debate which doubtless took place in this relation in the Federal Senate. Accept, &c., No. 58. G. NEYT. Mr. Neyt to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF BELGIUM, Washington, July 23, 1880. (Received July 26.) Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: I am charged with the honorable mission of informing you that the Syndical Union of Brussels is organizing an international congress of commerce and industry on the occasion of the festivals to be held in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of the kingdom. The King has been pleased to lend his patronage to the work of the Syndical Union, and the minister of public works has accepted the honorary presidency of the congress. This will meet at Brussels on the 6th of September next, and the committee of organization expresses the hope that the Government of the United States will be represented therein by one or more delegates. I inclose herewith a copy of the programme* of the operations of this association, which will serve to show the place which international questions will hold in the labors of the congress. Accept, sir, &c., No. 59. G. NEYT. Mr. Ecarts to Mr. Neyt. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22d ultimo, written from Shelter Island, New York, in relation to the exchange of the ratification of the consular convention between the United States and Belgium, signed by Mr. Delfosse and myself on the 9th of March last, wherein you make special reference to the action of the Senate of the United States in qualifying its approval of that instrument by suppressing the word "alone" in the sixteenth line of the XIIth article, and at the instance of your government request to be informed of the motives for the omission of that word, which is found in the previous convention of 1868. You also desire, if possible, to be furnished with the minutes of the debate which took place in the Senate respecting this change in the text of the convention. * Omitted from the present publication owing to its length. In reply I hasten to inform you that, in view of the independent and co-ordinate function of the Senate of the United States, under the Constitution, in the completion of treaties, the proceedings of that high body in executive session are held under the seal of secresy, and the results alone of its deliberations are communicated to the executive branch of the government. Hence my inability, which I regret, to communicate to you the information you desire. To understand, however, the motive for the omission of the word "alone" from the XIIth article of the present convention, it can only be necessary to go back to the like article of the previous convention of 1868 and examine the respective contexts. We find that formerly the word "alone" was qualified by the addition of the phrase," without the exaction of any oath from the consular officers," showing that no formality was needed save the written request, without other support, in order to secure the return of deserters from national ships. In the revised convention, among other modifications suggested by experience, the qualifying clause quoted above was omitted as redundant. This redundancy extends to the word "alone," which, besides being superfluous to the sense of the clause where it occurs, is, in the English text, ambiguous. It will be perceived that, as it now stands, it may mean either that such written request, so supported, will be sufficient warrant for surrender, or that any other mode of procedure is inadmissible; and it follows that, while the first of these readings conforms with the sense of the French equivalent, either interpretation is redundant. It is, therefore, in my judgment, apparent that the motive for the action of the Senate, in striking out the word "alone" from the clause in question, is found in the desire to remove, not merely a redundancy, but an ambiguity which had persisted, unnoticed before, from the previous redaction now abandoned, and thus to leave the article free from all obscurity of interpretation as to the sufficiency or necessity of the formality prescribed. If, as I take it, the equivalent word "seule" in the Belgian text is redundant merely, without ambiguity, the question of its retention or suppression may very properly be left to the good judgment of your government. Speaking in behalf of the Government of the United States, I, for my part, cannot perceive that in either case, whether "seule" be retained or suppressed, any question as to the proper interpretation of the clause under consideration could arise. Trusting that the explanation thus tendered may be entirely satis factory to your government, and remove all obstacle to the speedy exchange of the ratifications of the convention, I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assurances of my high consideration. WM. M. EVARTS. No. 60. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Neyt. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d July last, and to say in reply that in the absence of any special action by Congress providing for an appointment of a delegate to rep resent the United States at the international congress of commerce and industry to be convened this month at Brussels, an instruction has been sent to the minister of the United States at that capital enabling either himself or the consul of the United States at Brussels (and in a contingency both these officers) to act for this country at that congress in a proper representative capacity. Accept, &c., SIR: I transmit herewith for your information copy of a dispatch from Mr. Ernest Dichman, United States minister resident at Bogota, reciting the causes which have moved Colombia to proffer mediation for the settlement of the war between Bolivia, and Peru and Chili, and announcing the appointment of Dr. Arosemena, the former secretary of foreign relations of Colombia, to visit La Paz, Lima, and Santiago, on a special mission for the purpose of tendering such mediation. Although abstaining from any direct indorsement of, or co-operation in, this apparently laudable effort of Colombia in the interest of peace and reconciliation, this government, which feels lively solicitude for the prosperity and tranquillity of the South American States, cannot but watch Dr. Arosemena's mission with especial attention. In personal intercourse with the doctor, when he visits La Paz, you will probably find a fitting occasion to express to him the warm interest taken by the United States in this tentative step, and the friendly solicitude of this government as to the result. I am, &c., No. 62. WM M. EVARTS. No. 29.] Mr. Pettis to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, La Paz, Bolivia, September 15, 1879. (Received October 20.) SIR: It becomes my painful duty to communicate to you the death of his Excellency Pedro J. de Guerra, minister of foreign relations, president of the executive council of the government, and Acting President of the Republic of Bolivia, which took place upon the night of the 11th instant in this city, as will be seen from an official note received by me upon the following morning, a copy of which in translation I inclose and mark Inclosure 1, as well as a copy of my answer thereto, marked Inclosure 2. |