HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 7G5 



and of such literary and scientific works as the national government, 

 the governments of the states of the Union, and private individnals, 

 anthors or publishers, may designate to be sent to other American coun- 

 tries, in exchange for their publications. 



Art. 2. The national librarian shall enter, directly, into such nego- 

 tiations or correspondence with the librarians of the other countries of 

 America as may be necessary to establish the regular exchanges and 

 literary relations which are the object of the present decree. 



Art. 3. The national administration of finance in the state of Panama, 

 and the Colombian Consuls-generals and private individuals in the na- 

 tions of America, shall assist the national librarian in carrying out the 

 projected exchanges, acting as intermediate agents, and promoting and 

 facilitating said exchanges so far as it may be in their power to do so. 

 The librarian may communicate directly, for the purposes indicated, 

 with the consuls of Colombia, and with the administrator of national 

 finance in Panama, and for the greater security of his letters to other 

 countries, he may send them, if he shall think proper, through the depart- 

 ment of the interior and of foreign relations. 



Art. 4. There shall be placed at the disposal of the librarian twenty- 

 five copies of each of the official publications of the country which shall 

 hereafter appear, for the objects of this decree, and twenty-five copies 

 of those now in the archives or in the national library, in order that 

 he may remit the same, together with the invitation which he shall ad- 

 dress to each one of the libraries of America, to establish exchanges. 



Art. 5. The librarian shall propose to the executive the purchase 

 of such non-otficial publications as he may deem suitable to be sent in 

 exchange. If the executive shall think that the publications proposed 

 ought to be purchased for said purpose, he shall issue an order to that 

 effect, and the cost of the same shall be paid from the national contin- 

 gent fund for "sundry expenses" of the dei)artment of the interior. 



Art. 6. There shall be addressed by the department of the interior 

 and of foreign relations, to the governments of America, a circular 

 giving notice of the provisions of this decree, and calling their attention 

 to the importance of their adopting the proper means to carry out the 

 beneficent plan of establishing and systematizing our literary and 

 scientific relations. 



Art. 7. There shall likewise be addressed, by the same department^ 

 a circular to the governments of the Colombian states, urging them to 

 aid in the execution of the provisions of this decree by all the means in 

 their i)0wer. 



Art. 8. The national librarian may extend the provisions of this 

 decree to some of the libraries and establishments for the publication 

 and sale of books in Europe. 



Art. 9. All works which may be sent to this office in exchange for 

 national publications shall be preserved in their respective places in 



