Legation of
the United States,
St.
Petersburg, April 9, 1878.
(Received April 24.)
No. 23.]
[Inclosure in No. 23.]
Mr. Hoffman to
Prince Gortchakoff.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg
March 28 (April 9),
1878.
Prince: I have the honor to forward to your
highness herewith a copy of an act of the Congress of the United States,
authorizing the coinage of the standard silver dollar, and restoring its
legal-tender character.
I am instructed by Mr. Evarts to bring this enactment to your highness’s
notice, and [Page 758] in accordance with
the provisions contained therein to invite the imperial government, in
the name of my government, to join the United States in a conference to
adopt a common ratio between gold and silver, for the purpose of
establishing internationally the use of bi-metallic money, and securing
fixity of relative value between those metals; such conference to be
held at such place in Europe or the United States, at such time within
six months as may be agreed upon by the executives of the governments
joining in the same, whenever the governments invited, or any three of
them, shall have signified their willingness to unite in the
conference.
The Government of the United States takes great interest in the measures
now proposed for conforming the coinage and properties of the precious
metals in the systems of the countries invited to the conference. Its
importance to commercial nations, and especially to silver-producing
countries, can scarcely be overestimated. To Russia it appeals with
double force. Producing silver in large quantities, and situated as she
is, both geographically and commercially, with a large and increasing
commerce with Eastern Asia, where silver is the recognized currency of
commerce, Russia must feel a special interest in the settlement of this
question.
Mr. Evarts trusts that your highness will be able to announce to me
promptly that Russia will join the United States in this measure, and
that you will express your preference for such place and date for the
meeting of the conference as will best suit the views and convenience of
the Imperial Government.
I take this, &c.,
