Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.

No. 1409.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department’s No. 603, of May 9, concerning the subject of patents or licenses.

I have the honor to state in reply that I think this matter is definitely settled, at least for this year, and possibly for all time. Since [Page 389] my return the government has granted patents to all our citizens with two exceptions. These would also be granted, but the firms to which I refer, while the senior member of each is an American citizen, have themselves always been registered as German, and are so regarded, the other members being of that nationality. For this reason I have not made any request to this government in regard to them, there being a German charge here to protect their interests.

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I have, etc.,

W. F. Powell.