The Secretary of State to the Minister of Belgium.

No. 400.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 28th ultimo, by which you make known to me the suggestion which has been made to postpone until next spring the last meeting of the Brussels international maritime conference, and to inform you that a translation of your note was duly communicated to the Department of Commerce and Labor.

This department is informed by the Acting Secretary of that department that the subject of your note will receive his department’s consideration. At the same time, with reference to the statement made in your note that the two drafts of conventions concerning collisions and salvage at sea have received the approval of the Government of the United States, he informs this department that his department has no knowledge of such approval having been given by this Government.

Accept, etc.,

Elihu Root.