The Government of the United States is greatly interested in the measure now proposed for conforming the coinage and proportions of the two precious metals in the systems of the countries invited to participate therein, to the common advantage of the world. In extending this invitation, in the name of his government, the undersigned expresses its hope that the Government of the Swiss Confederation will be pleased to accept the same, and that its adhesion to the proposed conference may be signified at as early a day as the importance of the question will permit. The undersigned has the honor to renew, &c. NICHOLAS FISH. [Inclosure 2 in No. 62.] Proposed international law. [From a New York paper.} The following letter from H. D. Jencken, secretary of the Association for the Reference and Codification of the Law of Nations, was received by David Dudley Field, and sent by A. P. Sprague, secretary of the American International Code Committee, to the Secretary of State: "THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE REFORM AND "MY DEAR SIR: We have received information direct from Berlin that Prince Bismarck had, principally from a suggestion emanating from our association, resolved to invite the governments of different states to join in a commission for the consideration of an international law on bills of exchange. Austro-Hungary, Sweden, Italy, and the Government of Switzerland, I am pleased to inform you, have consented. Count Munster, the German ambassador, has been instructed to invite Lord Derby (foreign office) to take part. "A strong feeling exists that America also should join. Would you, therefore, at once take steps to ascertain the views of your government and let me have the information as soon as possible, so that I may communicate with Berlin? You will no doubt agree with me that what is happening is highly satisfactory to us and must be so to you. "I remain, &c., "Hon. D. D. FIELD, New York." "H. D. JENCKEN, "Honorable General Secretary. Mr. Evarts writes in reply that the State Department takes much interest in the subject, and is ready to receive and act upon an invitation if extended. No. 494. Mr. Fish to Mr. Evarts. No. 64.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Berne, April 9, 1878. (Received April 22.) SIR: In accordance with the intention expressed in my No. 62, I called at the federal palace yesterday morning, but the President was unable to receive me until late in the afternoon-too late for me to write by yesterday's mail. In my interview with him, I asked him if we might look for an early answer to the invitation to the conference. He said that upon receipt of my note he had at once referred it to the department of finance, as being the proper branch of the government to consider it. He added that it was a question he knew very little about, beyond the fact that Switzerland had advocated the single standard, and that as soon as the finance department reported to the Federal Council he would give the formal answer. I told him that you had authorized me to communicate to you the desires or preferences of this government in regard to the proposed conference, and that I should be happy at any time to do so. The impression made on my mind was that the President had not conversed with his colleague of the finance department, and that he had not given my note his personal attention. After trying to see the President in the morning, I called on Mr. Hammer, the vice-president, who is the head of the federal department of finance. He had my note of the 6th to the President, and was evidently much interested in the question. I asked him whether my doubt (expressed in my No. 62) as to the action of the Federal Assembly being requisite was correct. He said that it was not; that the acceptance of the invitation couid be decided without their action, and that he had already put the matter in the hands of an expert for examination and report, and that when he received the report the matter would be laid before the Federal Council, probably the week after next, and that I would then receive an answer. I asked him if Switzerland would join in the conference, and he said that he had no doubt that she would, but that if she did, it was not likely that she would favor the adoption by the conference of our ratio, instead of that of the Latin Union; and he added that such action on the part of the conference would, if adopted, drain America of silver, and flood Europe with it. During the conversation he asked me whether the word "intrinsic," in the sixth line of the third page of my note (see inclosure 1 to No. 62), was to be interpreted as internal, in the sense of for home use, or whether it referred to the metallic value of the coin. I said that, while I could not speak authoritatively, I thought the latter signification of the word was the one intended in your instruction from which I had taken it in my note. I hope that if I have misunderstood the sense in which the word is used, that I may be corrected. Some days ago, Mr. Hammer asked me for a copy of our tariff to aid him in the revision of the tariff. I gave him the copy of "Morgan's United States tariff," which was sent me from the Department, and I told him that while it was not an official publication of the government, I thought he could rely on it as correct, and that I would ask you to let me have for his use any other information in regard to our tariff, which you or the Secretary of the Treasury might desire to add to, or substitute for, "Morgan's tariff." I respectfully request that you will do so, and that I may be furnished with another copy of Morgan's book for the legation. I inclose my duplicate account for the last quarter, the original having been sent in my No. 60. I have, &c., NICHOLAS FISH. No. 495. Mr. Fish to Mr. Evarts. No. 70.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Berne, April 18, 1878. (Received May 1.) SIR: Referring to your instruction No. 24, and to my dispatches Nos. 62, 64, and 67, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy and translation of a note which I have this day received from the President of the confederation. As stated in my No. 68, the Federal Council has decided to take part in the proposed conference under section 2 of the act of February 28 last. I respectfully ask that a copy of the act may be furnished me for the files of the legation. I have, &c., NICHOLAS FISH. [Inclosure 1 in No. 70.-Translation.] Messrs. Schenk and Schiess to Mr. Fish. BERNE, April 16, 1878. The chargé d'affaires of the United States of America, in his note of the 6th instaut. had the kindness to address to the Federal Council in the name of his government the invitation to participate in an international conference, having for its object the definitive determination of the relation between gold and silver. At the same time the chargé d'affaires sends to the Federal Council the act concerning the authorization for the coinage of silver dollars and the re-establishment of those coins as legal money. While thanking the chargé d'affaires for his esteemed communications, and in consideration of the great interest which the subject in question presents for international transactions, the Federal Council has the honor to inform the legation of the United States of America that, in concert with the other signatory states of the Latin Union. it will be disposed to treat this question in a conference. The Federal Council seizes this occasion to renew to Mr. Fish the assurances of its high consideration. In the name of the Swiss Federal Council. The President of the Confederation, SCHENK. The Chancellor of the Confederation, SCHIESS. No. 496. No. 90.] Mr. Fish to Mr. Ecarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Berne, July 11, 1878. (Received July 29.) SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 38, which was received on the 4th instant, and of your telegraphic instruction in modification thereof, which was transmitted through the legation at Paris. The Swiss Government assents to the time and place selected for the meeting of the proposed monetary conference, provided the other states of the Latin Union likewise assent thereto. I believe that the Latin Union will act together in all measures concerning the conference, unless their own conference, which is to be held in Paris this autumn, should lead to a disagreement among them. I inclose a copy of my note to this government, and a copy and translation of their reply. I have, &c., NICHOLAS FISH. [Inclosure 1 in No. 90.] Mr. Fish to Mr. Schenk. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, The undersigned, chargé d'affaires of the United States of America, has the honor. under instructions from his government, to inform His Excellency Mr. Schenk, President of the Swiss Confederation, and through His Excellency the High Federal Conncil, that in addition to the acceptance of the Government of the Swiss Confederation of the invitation of the United States to participate in an international monetary conference, acceptances have been received from the governments of Austria-Hungary, Belgium, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Italy, and Russia, and that so far as any views have been expressed by those powers respecting the selection of a place for the meeting of the proposed conference, a preference for Paris has been signified. In this selection the Government of the United States concurs. The undersigned is likewise instructed to call attention to the provisions of the act of Congress of 28th of February last, which prescribes that the conference shall be held within six months, and to state that the 10th day of August is therefore suggested as the day for the meeting thereof. He is also instructed to express the hope of his government that the designation of the place and time here specified for the meeting of the proposed conference will receive the early concurrence of the Government of the Swiss Confederation. The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to His Excellency Mr. Schenk, President of the Swiss Confederation, and through His Excellency to the High Federal Council, the assurances of his most distinguished consideration. NICHOLAS FISH. [Inclosure 2 in No. 90.-Translation.] Messrs. Schenk and Schiess to Mr. Fish. BERNE, July 9, 1878. The chargé d'affaires of the United States was so kind as to inform the Federal Coun cil, by his note of the 4th instant, that the invitation of the Government of the United States to participate in a monetary conference has been accepted, besides by Switzerland, by Austria-Hungary, Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, and Russia, and that the meeting of the conference has been fixed for August 10 next, at Paris. While thanking the chargé d'affaires for his kind communication, the Federal Council has the honor to inform the legation of the United States that it can adhere to the time and place proposed for this meeting, under the supposition that the other states, signers of the monetary convention, commonly called the Latin Union, will give likewise their consent to the proposition in question. The Federal Council seizes this occasion to renew to the chargé d'affaires the assurances of its highest consideration. In the name of the Swiss Federal Council. The President of the Confederation, SCHENK. The Chancellor of the Confederation, SCHIESS. No. 497. No. 109.] Mr. Fish to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Berne, September 25, 1878. (Received October 9.) SIR: Referring to your unnumbered instruction of May 23, 1877, to the diplomatic and consular officers of the United States, I have the honor to state that I went to Zurich on the 23d instant to meet General Grant. His receeption there was a most hearty one, and many of the buildings were decorated with flags in his honor. Both the consul and viceconsul did everything in their power to make his visit to Zurich pleasant, and to do honor to the distinguished character of the late President of the United States. On Monday evening Mr. Byers gave a very handsome dinner to General Grant, at which were present distinguished citizens of Zurich, representing the government, both federal and local, the sciences, the arts, the learned professions, the press, the army, and the manufacturers, as well as the old aristocracy of Zurich. Mr. Byers invited his guests to drink to the health of General Grant, remarking that a man who, after leading half a million men to victory against a stubborn foe, had successfully conducted the government of a nation of more than forty millions of free and intelligent people, needed no praise from him. The toast was drunk with all honors. Mr. Roemer, the President of Zurich, in a neat speech, which he delivered in English, spoke of the sympathy with which the Swiss people had followed General Grant's course, both as a soldier and as President; and stated that the old Republic of Zurich had much pleasure and honor in having so distinguished a citizen of the United States within its borders; and that it was the hearty wish of the people of Zurich that General Grant might live long and happily to witness the good fruits of the noble deeds he had done in the field, and in the executive chair. General Grant expressed his thanks for the cordial reception given him by so distinguished a body of Zurich's leading men. It was to him a most agreeable honor to be the recipient of such a flattering exhibition of the good feeling existing between the two republics, and he took pleasure in proposing the health of the President and Council of the Swiss Confederation, and of those of the canton and city of Zurich, and the happiness and welfare of their people. Mr. Feer-Herzog, of the National Council, then made in English an eloquent allusion to the sympathy and friendship characterizing the intercourse of the two republics, and drank to the health of the President of the United States. I replied, thanking the company for the cordial manner in which they had drunk to the President's health, and that I felt sure that I was but carrying out his wishes when I stated that the people and government of the United States considered the friendship of Switzerland, which had been pure and unselfish from the earliest days of our republic, as second to none in our estimation. Its sincerity had been evinced by the numbers of Swiss who had battled for the preservation of our Union and shed their blood in our cause; that we were not unmindful of that friendship, and of its sincerity. I cited the deliberate judgment of the great statesman, Mr. Seward, who had, under the administration of the immortal Lincoln, while General Grant was, I might say, carrying on our home policy, conducted successfully our foreign policy. His verdict, formed three years after the close of the war, was, that of all the nations of Europe the Republic of Switzerland had in our hour of need shown us the most sincere and unbiased sympathy and friendship. I added that this verdict of Mr. Seward was the verdict of the American people and of the American Government, and that so long as I have the honor of representing them it would be my duty and pleasure to show our appreciation of Switzerland's friendship, and to cultivate it to my utmost power. Other speeches were made, among which was one by Colonel Fogli, commanding a division of the Swiss army, who, as a soldier, paid a high tribute to Grant's military genius, and to the patriotism of our Army in returning to the paths of peace when they had accomplished their arduous task. He also spoke in the highest terms of Grant's abilities as a statesman. On the whole, I may say that General Grant's reception at Zurich was one of the heartiest he has met with, and many expressions of a desire to see him again were extended to him. Yesterday morning the President of Zurich and many prominent citizens were present at the railway station to say good-by to the General. I accompanied the General to Basle (the last station on Swiss soil), on his way to Paris. There Consul Campbell, accompanied by Mr. Doerr, the consular agent at Olten, were at the railway station to welcome him. Owing to the shortness of his stay at Basle there was no public demonstration in his honor. I am happy to say that I believe everything was done in the most |