REPORT OF AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS, 315 



could be entered upon. It was believed, how- Arrangement as 



to meetings of 



ever, that quite as rapid progress could be made -Toint Commission. 



in this way as in any other. To this proposition 



the Commissioners on the part of Great Britain 



offered no objection at the time, but on the 



following day they informed us that they were 



unable to enter into a conference which was 



informal in its nature. 



Desirino- to remove every obstacle in the way Meetings of 



^ *^ "^ Joint Commission. 



of the immediate considera,tion of this subject, 

 the question of the formality of the Conference 

 was waived on our side and the formal meetings 

 of the Commissioners in Joint Conference began 

 on the afternoon of February 11, at the Depart- 

 ment of State. 



Mr. Joseph Stanley-Brown was selected as \hQ Meetings heia 

 secretary of the Joint Commission on the part of 

 the United States, and Mr. Ashley Fronde on 

 the part of Great Britain. In determining the 

 nature of the Conference it was agreed that in 

 order to allow of the freest possible discussion 

 and presentation of views, no formal record of 

 the proceedings should be kept and that none 

 but the four members of the Commission should 

 be present during its deliberations. In furtlier at- 

 tempt to remove all restrictions upon the fullest 

 expression of opinions during the Conference, it 

 was agreed that in our several reports no refer- 



without formal 

 records. 



