REPORT ON EXCHANGES. 1 Of) 



entific and literary publications will meet at tlic niiuistry of foreiiiii 

 affairs at Brussels on Monday, the loth day of March next, at li o'clock. 



JJelgiuni, JJrazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Servia, and Switzerland have 

 adopted the arrangement drafted by the conference of ISS.'J for general 

 exchanges, (I'l'otocol A.) 



Switzerland has not adiieied to Draft B, concerning the direct and 

 immediate transmission to the legislative clnunbers of the Ofticial Jour- 

 nal and of the re])()rts of Parliamentary ])roc('edings. That special con- 

 vention will, however, be concluded l)y all the other States that I have 

 just named. 



Your excell(>ncy had tlie kindness to iid'orm nie. under date of Octo- 

 ber 1(), 188;"), that you had uot yet reached a decision on this subject, but 

 that, meanwhile, you reserved to the Government of the United States 

 of America the privilege of adhering thereafter. 



My Government hopes that the United States Government will be 

 represented at that conference and has instructed me to make inijuiry 

 of your excellency's intentions in this matter. I shall therefore be 

 grateful to you if you will have the kinduess to make nu^ acquainted 

 with them as soon as may be convenient. 



It is i)roper fVu' me to add that Greece and Roumania have likewise 

 Just been re(]nested to communicate their intentions. 



1 gladly avail myself of tins occasion to renew to your excellency the 

 assurances of my highest considei'ation. 



TiiEO. DE Bounder de Melseroeck. 



From the ISinithsoniaii Instltiitio)i, JlLarch 5, 18S6, to the Secretary of 



State. 



Sir : Yonr letter of the 3d instant is received, but owing to the short 

 notice given us of the ])roposed diplomatic conference for "tiie signing 

 of conventions relative to the international exchange of official docu- 

 ments and scientilic ami literary publications," to be held at Brussels on, 

 as you state, March 15, we are unable to meet definitely or in detail your 

 invitation for our "views as to the expediency of this CJovernment be- 

 coming a party to the conference in ciuestion." 



We beg to say, however, that the Smithsoiuan Institution, as the 

 agent for international exchange on the part of the United States, will 

 be hap})y to comi)ly with the stipulations of the conferences as far as 

 may be in its power, including the sending of daily reports of Gongres- 

 sioual i^roceedings to the several governments. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfally, your obedient servant, 



SrENCER F. Baird, 

 Secretarif Sm ithsoniaii Institution. 



From the Secretary of Stat e^ April 0, LSSfJ, to the Smithsonian Institution- 



SiR: I have the honor to transmit to you, herewith, a copy of a dis 

 patch to this Department from Mr. Tree, our nunister at Brussels, con- 

 cerning the two conventions, A and B, for the exchange of public docu- 

 ments, winch were signed by him on the 15th ultimo. 



I beg to inquire whether you have any views to make known before 

 the conveutious are submitted to the Senate with a view to their ratifi- 

 cation. 



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



T. F. Bayard. 



