REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 75 



tutions issue. A very large number of exchanges are also received through 

 our agents in London, Paris, and elsewhere. The aid received from the Smith- 

 sonian Institution in forwarding and receiving these exchanges can not be 

 overestimated, but it is believed that we are receiving a full return for the 

 exchanges that are now being sent out. 



United States Patent Office. — Your offer to endeavor to increase the foreign 

 exchanges of this office through your Institution is appreciated, but it is re- 

 ported to me by the librarian that we now receive all the publications which 

 are considered to be of value in the work of this bureau which can be secured 

 in that way. 



Comptroller of the Currency. — The packages from this bureau sent through 

 the Smithsonian Institution are annual reports of the comptroller, practically 

 all of which are addressed to individuals or corporations, from whom no re- 

 turns are expected. 



Bureau of Xu ligation, Department of Commerce. — The bureau receives ample 

 return for its publications sent abroad. Indeed, in cost and in numbers our 

 foreign exchanges exceed considerably our publications sent abroad. I have 

 noticed, however, that it is the practice of our foreign correspondents to send 

 their packages, pamphlets, etc., directly to this bureau through the mails. 



In my last report I stated that the service had not been put on 

 a prewar basis so far as the forwarding of consignments abroad was 

 concerned. Shipments are still suspended to Austria, Germany, 

 Montenegro, Roumania, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey. The opinion 

 was expressed in last year's report that it was not advisable to for- 

 ward consignments to the above until the peace treaties with the 

 enemy countries were finally ratified by the United States and the 

 internal conditions in the other nations became more settled. Trade 

 relations having been resumed with Germany, Austria, and Hungary, 

 the Institution took steps to reopen exchange relations with them, 

 and just before the close of the year shipments to Hungary were 

 resumed. Montenegro and Serbia now form part of the Serb-Croat- 

 Slovene State, and the Institution has taken up with the authorities 

 of that State the question of the interchange of publications. Inter- 

 nal conditions in Roumania having improved, the Roumanian author- 

 ities have been asked if they are ready to renew the exchange of 

 publications with the United States. Nothing can, however, be done 

 concerning the reopening of exchange relations with either Russia 

 or Turkey until conditions in those countries reach a more normal 

 basis. 



The Bulgarian foreign office, in reply to a letter from the Institu- 

 tion concerning the reestablishment of exchange relations, writes, 

 under date of July 3, that the Bulgarian Government eagerly accepts 

 the proposal of the Institution. Shipments to that country will, 

 therefore, be resumed in the early part of the next fiscal year. 



An exchange of publications was inaugurated during the year with 

 the Czechoslovak Republic, and the Polish Government will be 

 approached concerning the exchange of publications as soon as con- 

 ditions in that country become more settled. 



