REPORT ON EXCHANGES. 121 



(Inclosiire.) — From the Belgian Minister, Washington, December 14, 1882, 

 to the Department of State. 



M v. Secretary of State : The delegates of various European states 

 met <it Brussels in the month of August, 1880, for the purpose of dis- 

 cussing questions relative to the system of international exchanges of 

 scientific and literary documents and publications. 



Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Frauce, Italy, Portugal, Russia, 

 and Sweden were represented at that conference. 



The provisional arrangement then made has since been converted 

 into a draft of a convention, one of the articles of which reserves the 

 privilege of adhesion to all countries. 



Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Portugal have agreed to this draft of a con- 

 vention. France has proposed some amendments to it, which appear 

 to be calculated to facilitate its adoption. Austria-Hungary has ex 

 pressed no opinion, either one waj* or the other. 



Belgium intends to propose the addition of an article, to which refer- 

 ence will be made hereafter. Under these circumstances, and in view 

 of the small number of adherents to the draft in question, my Govern- 

 ment thinks it desirable to submit all the arrangement.-, with regard 

 to which an agreement might be reached, to a re-examination in com- 

 mon. 



Other countries, perhaps, are unable to execute the clauses drafted 

 in 1880, and it may be that other states desire the adoption of modifi- 

 cations which are essential to the establishment of their exchange 

 service. It is, consequently, inclined to think that, without radically 

 changing the projected arrangements, it might be well to seek to render 

 it more easy of adoption by relaxing certain stipulations, which might 

 be thought vigorous. 



It is not probable that any government desirous of the attainment of 

 a beneficial result would refuse to send delegates to Brussels to take 

 part in discussions of the text of the convention to be definitively con- 

 cluded by those countries which feel interested in the establishment 

 of a system of international exchanges. These discussions would enable 

 the delegates to form a correct idea of the object had in view by the 

 contracting states. 



They would call forth explanations relative to the arrangements to 

 be made, and would probably pave the way to additional accessions. 



Bepoi ts on the proceedings of these delegates would be submitted by 

 theni to their respective Governments, and a day would then be fixed 

 for the meeting of the conference which would be charged with the con- 

 clusion of the final arrangement. 



My Government has, therefore, instructed me to invite the Govern- 

 ment of the United States of America, if the foregoing considerations 

 meet its approval, to take part in another conference at Brussels of 

 persons who are familiar with questions connected with international 

 exchanges. 



