No. 121.
Mr. Hitt
to Mr. Evarts.
Paris, June 14, 1878. (Received June 26.)
Sir: Several times since the receipt of your instruction No. 37, of date March 14, 1878, in regard to the proposed monetary conference, and the [Page 177] communication of the substance thereof to the French government, General Noyes has had conversation on the subject with Mr. Waddington, and also with Mr. Leon Say, the minister of finances, and informal inquiries have been made from time to time at the foreign office as to the progress of the negotiations between France and the other members of the Latin Union, from which it appeared that while France was disposed to accept the invitation of our government she wished to act in concert with the rest, and, as was telegraphed you by General Noyes, as late as the 31st ultimo, she was still awaiting the response of Italy before making a formal decision. The question was in this state when General Noyes left for America on the 4th instant.
On the 9th I received from Mr. Waddington a communication announcing that the French Government was ready to take part in the conference, and adding that in case the other governments which accepted the invitation of the Washington cabinet manifested the intention of designating Paris as the place of meeting, the French Government would be happy to offer to the delegates a hospitality to which the Universal Exposition might perhaps give an additional value. This was sent you in brief the same day, by cable, with the fact, before learned informally, that Italy had accepted. A copy and translation of Mr. Waddington’s communication are herewith inclosed.
Mr. Jagerschmidt, assistant director at the foreign office, who has been intrusted with this business by the minister, and who will probably represent France in the conference, has informally communicated much information on this subject to the legation. In a telegram sent on yesterday, I gave you the substance of a conversation just had with him by Mr. Vignaud, which I will now repeat more fully.
As soon as General Noyes, in pursuance of your instruction, made the proposition for a monetary conference, Mr. Waddington communicated with the other members of the Latin Union, asking their views on the question, and intimating, at the same time, that France was inclined to accept, but did not feel disposed to do anything alone. The reply of Belgium, which was the first received, was favorable to the proposition, and suggested that a preliminary conference be held by the members of the Latin Union in advance of that contemplated by the act of Congress of the United States, for the purpose of consultation and concerted action. Switzerland approved cordially of this suggestion, and was of opinion that some sort of agreement should be had before meeting the American commissioners. France replied that such preliminary conference seemed useless and was scarcely practicable, as there was but one question to be considered, viz, the relative value of gold and silver, and she proposed that, instead of settling upon a programme in advance, they wait for the appearance of the American commissioners at the conference, where they would undoubtedly come with a clear and definite purpose, which would be announced at the opening of the conference—that the American Government, being the one at whose instance the conference was called, would of course present propositions for discussion and action, the object and tendency of which could then, after this first meeting, be considered by the members of the Latin Union in friendly consultation. This proposed line of action was communicated to Italy, and in her answer she accepts and approves this mode of proceeding, which it is likely will be adopted by all the members of the Latin Union.
Italy also proposed that the time of meeting of the conference should be October, at which date there is to be a meeting, already determined upon, of the representatives of the Latin Union. France in reply called attention to the provision of our act of Congress limiting the time within [Page 178] which the conference might be called to six months from February 28, 1878, which made October too late. While France has made no formal suggestion as to the time, her opinion is that the end of June or the early part of July would be best and most convenient for all.
I will only add one other assurance received from the foreign office, when informed that Mr. Welsh had written General Noyes that the conference had been proposed to England, and that he had strong hopes that England would accept and take part. This information gave great pleasure to the French Government, and particularly to Mr. Leon Say, who takes a deep and lively interest in this question, and says that if England does take part it will quicken the zeal of all the rest and give assurance of the most substantial results.
I have, &c.,