34 
HISTORICAL PART 
tive governments, and, where bird-catching was particularly 
fashionable, to do their best to persuade the respective gov- 
ernments, in the interests of their own agriculture, to restrict 
the catching in masses as far as possible. This meant a 
wide expansion of the question. 
The reports of our Embassies were most satisfactory, 
showing that the idea of bird-protection had found a favour- 
able reception in almost the whole of Europe. 
As far as Central Europe was concerned, the most import- 
ant and at the same time most doubtful point was whether 
Italy and Switzerland would approve the idea? And these 
States were actually the first to make favourable statements. 
As early as March 1869 the Italian Government declared 
1869. its approval in principle; at the same time the Swiss Federal 
Council sent in a most propitious reply, declaring that it 
would be possible to persuade the Italian Canton of Tessin, 
where the protection of useful birds had not been practised 
and bird-catching en gros had long been the fashion, to 
join the movement, provided the Italian Government agreed 
to control Italian territory. 
In June 1869 the French Government notified its approval, 
declaring, however, that the first necessity was to secure the 
support of Italy, Spain and Switzerland. 
On the strength of these declarations there was every 
reason to belive that the consent of the Southern States of 
Europe was assured in principle. 
In respect of the further steps to be taken, the Govern- 
ments of Hungary and Austria, acting in concert with the 
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, came to the conclusion 
that the protection of useful birds should not be provided 
for by international State contracts, as proposed by the 
German farmers and foresters in 1868, for the simple reason 
that the conclusion of State treaties implies longwinded nego- 
