106 EEPOET ON EXCHANGES. 



[InclDsurcl 



From the United Stales mirmter at Brussels, March 23, 1880, to the Sec- 

 retary of State. 



Sir : I bave tbe honor to tiansLuit herewith — 



(1) Tlie original instrument of the convention concerning the interna- 

 tional exchange of official documents and scientific and literary imbli- 

 cations. 



(2) Tlie original instrument of the convention concerning the imme- 

 diate exchange of the official journal as well as of i)arliamentary annals 

 and documents. 



(3) A certified copy of the. 2)ri>ces-rerl)al of the sitting held at the de- 

 partment of foreign affairs the 15th of INIarch, 1880. 



1 also send translations which I have made of each of the documents. 

 In consequence of their detention at the department of foreign affairs 

 to await tlse signature of the Prince de Oaramau, I only received them 

 to-day. 



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



Lameekt Tree. 



[Inclosuro.] 



1. Tlie original instniinent of the convention concerning the intcraationiil exchange 

 of oflicial (locuuients and scieutitic and literary publications. 



2. Translation of No. 1. 



;>. The original instrument of the conventions for the immediate exchange of offi- 

 cial journal as well as the parliamentary annals and documents. 



4. Translation of No. :i 



5. A certifi<;d copy o( the 2iroci's-verJ)al. 



6. Translation of No. 5. 



The above documents were duly returned to the Department of 

 State, with the following letter: 



From the Smithsonian Institution, April 27, 1886, to the Secretari) of State 



Sir: In returning, as I do herewith, the documents relative to the 

 Exchange Convention, held at Brussels on the loth of March last, and 

 which were inclosed with your letters of April 9 and 17, I l)eg to state 

 that, upon mature consideration, I have no further suggestions to nnike 

 as to tlie acceptance of the terms proposed at the Brussels Conference. 



1 entertain the view, however, that the expectations of the Jielgian 

 Government in proposing exchange relations beyond those at present 

 existing will be but iudiftereutly realized, since all the lyromincnc gov- 

 ernments have declined to participate in its propositions, only those of 

 Spain, Italy, Portugal, Servia,an.d Belgium, of European, and the United 

 States and Brazil, of American nations, having expressed a desire to 

 ratiiy the convention. 



Tile Smithsonian Institution, as agent of the Governmentof the United 

 States for the exchange of its official jntblications, having thus far ob- 

 tained satisfactory results by dealing individually with governments 

 whose publications are desirable, it would appear to me doubt fid 

 whether additional benefits could be derived by adhesion to a treaty 

 with a few of the more unimportant governments of Europe. 



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



S. F. Baird. 



