104 EEPORT ON EXCHANGES. 



Coast and Geodetic iiurrcy. 



PiiblicatioiKs. 

 American and Foreign Claims Commissions. 



As those relating- to France, Hayti, Spain, the Alabama, etc., none 

 of which has been received; nor in fact any of the publications of the 

 Departments and Bureaus of the Government. 



No action havin.2: been had on the subject, a further request was ad- 

 dressed to the Library Committee on the 21st of September, 1.SS5, 

 and again to the Hon. W. J. Sewell, Chairman of the Joint Library 

 Committee, on the 18th of January, 18SG, and although no delinite 

 result has yet been accomplished, it is to be hoped that Congress, 

 through the Library Committee, may take such action as will secure 

 to the Smithsonian Institution, as the agent of the Government, fifty 

 copies of each of the three distinct series specified in the acts of March 

 2, 1867. and July 25, 1SG8, so as to enable. the Government, to obtain 

 for its Library the entire fruit of the wise provision of Congress in es- 

 tablishing this exchange of official i:)ublic documents. 



INTERNATIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 

 The Brussels Convention on International Exchanges. 



As a result of the proceedings of the conference held at Brussels in 

 April, 1883, a draft of articles of agreement was adopted, to be submit- 

 ted to the contracting powers for final ratification, as already set forth 

 in the annual report on exchanges for 1883. The date appointed for 

 this ratification was March 15, 188G, and the further proceedings in the 

 matter are fully exhibited by the following correspondence with the 

 Department of State : 



From the Secretary of State, March 3, 1886, to the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. 



Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, for your informa- 

 tion and consideration, a translatioii of a note from the minister of Bel- 

 gium at this capital, notifying this Government that the diplomatic 

 conference for the signing of the convention relative to the international 

 exchange of official documents and of scientific and literary publica- 

 tions will meet at the ministry of foreign affairs at Brussels on Monday, 

 the 15th day of the present month. 



1 should be pleased to have your views as to the expediency of this 

 Government becoming a party to the convention in question. 

 I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



T. F. Bayard. 



[Inclosure.] 



From the Belgian minister at Washington, February 18, 1886, to the Sec- 

 retary of State. 



Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to inform your excel- 

 lency that the diplomatic conference for the signing of the conventions 

 relative to the international excihanire ol official documents and of sci- 



