Mr. Gresham to Mr. Patenôtre.

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of you note of the 20th ultimo stating that the Government of France, desiring to facilitate the adoption of the International Regulations for preventing collisions at sea proposed by the International Marine Conference held in this city in 1889, is prepared to abandon the reservations which it originally made and to adhere to the British modifications, which have also been agreed to by the United States.

This Government, which took the initiative in that conference, feels that it should acquaint the other powers of the present situation of the matter. It has, therefore, taken the necessary measures to advise them of the accord reached by the United States, France, and Great Britain, and to urge the governments concerned to assent to the amended regulations, to the end that they may go into effect and be binding upon all on March 1, 1895.

Meanwhile, a copy of your note has been communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury, with a letter in this sense:

I inclose for your information a copy of an act of Congress approved May 28, 1894, to amend “An act to adopt regulations to prevent collisions at sea.”

Accept, Mr. Ambassador, etc.,

W. Q. Gresham.