Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States

FOREIGN RELATIONS.

LIST OF PAPERS, WITH THEIR SUBJECTS.

No.

From whom and to whom.

Date.

Mr. Seward to the consular officers in Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

1878. Mar. 18

Mr. Seward to consular of Apr. 11
ficers in Great Britain,
France, Germany, Bel-
gium, Italy, Spain, the
Netherlands, Sweden and
Norway, and Denmark.
Mr. Seward to consular of
ficers in Great Britain,
France, Switzerland,

Italy, Austria, Belgium,
and Germany.

Requiring reports showing the prices at which
actual sales are made within their several dis-
tricts, to other countries, of the leading articles of
export to the United States. In the case of staple
goods, the reports should show the value of raw
materials, cost of labor, and whole cost of manu-
facture.

Requiring reports as to rates of wages; cost of
living of laboring classes; relative rates for five
years past; state of trade; character of circu-
lating medium; relation born by paper to coin;
business habits and systems.

Apr. 15 Requiring that samples of goods exported to the
United States shall be sent to the proper cus
toms officers at the port of final destination of
goods, instead of to those at the port of first
arrival.

Mr. Seward to diplomatic Aug. 21 and consular officers at

Requiring sanitary and commercial reports for the
use of the Surgeon General of the Marine-Hos-
pital Service.

Requiring consular officers to exercise vigilance in
the inspection of all American vessels engaged
in the coolie trade arriving at their ports.

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE.

ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.

Revolution in province of San Juan: Government
troops to sustain the governor of the province:
partisans of D. C. Sarmiento engaged in the revo-

Mail and telegraph service: 4,530 miles of wire,
partly owned by government; 7,500,000 letters
and papers sent through the mails during the
current year; service not self-sustaining.
Strength of the army, 12,300 men; of the navy, 31
vessels of war; commercial marine, 1,562 ves-
sels, with aggregate tonnage of 43,000 tons; In-
dian frontier less troubled. Attention called to
the deep-water channel up the Parana and
Uruguay Rivers surveyed by Capt. Hunter Da-
vidson.

3 Congress adjourns: Bills passed establishing a
mint at Buenos Ayres to coin gold and silver;
abolishing the old Spanish system of weights
and measures and adopting the decimal system;
and granting aid to the Trans-Andine Railway.
Amnesty accepted by revolutionists of 1874: Gen-
eral Mitre and other officers restored to the
army; changes in the cabinet in consequence.

Oct. 8

1878. Mar.

Mar. 14

Mr. Garcia to Mr. Evarts

1877. Nov. 29

12 Mr. Evarts to Mr. Garcia.... Dec. 7

1878.

Asking attention to dispatches from his gov.
ernment respecting the reconciliation effected
with the revolutionary party; intimating that
the boundary question with Chili will be ami-
cably settled; and expressing the hope that
friendly relations with the United States may
be maintained.

Reciprocating the friendly sentiments expressed
in the above note.

Mr. Garcia to Mr. Evarts.... Mar. 23 Requesting the appointment of March 25 to de

liver the memorial, documents, charts, and books
relating to the boundary question with Para-
guay, to the President, to whose arbitration it
has been submitted.

19 Mr. Kasson to Mr. Evarts... Nov. 10

Disastrous effect of the free-trade treaty with Ger-
many upon Austrian industry: The treaty de-
nounced; a new tariff proposed: effect of the
silver standard upon customs receipts; and of
the suspension of specie payments upon national
industry: conclusions based upon present indus.
trial and commercial conditions; that customs-
dues should be collected in the best and least
variable standard money; that customs barriers
should be sufficiently high to protect domestic
industry; that the "most favored nation" clause
is the safest basis for commercial treaties; that
for special relations and countries, "reciprocity
treaties may afford means for the development
of special interests. (See dispatch March 4,
1878.)
Dec. 14 Meeting of the "Delegations," the common legis-
lature of the empire: The organization of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire illustrated: the East-
ern question; a revision of treaties to be the re-
sult of the war; the three Emperors acting in
unison; Count Andrássy explains the policy of
Austria to be "the protection of Austrian in-
terests."

Dec. 23

1878. Jan. 30

Detailed statement of the debt of the Austro-Hun-
garian Empire; and of Austria and Hungary.

The effect of the dual organization of the empire
respecting questions of taxation. A ministerial
crisis the result of disagreement between the
Delegations.
Feb. 21 The currency of the empire based upon silver;
specie payments suspended in 1848; never since
resumed; no prospect of resumption; statement
of paper circulation; no specie reserve against
government issue; paper depreciated; no specie
in circulation; government compelled to buy

Mar. 8

26......do

28 ......do

silver in excess of customs receipts; debt bearing silver interest chiefly held abroad; views of Baron von Hoffman; gold ultimately to be the standard: the present relationship susceptible of establishment by international agreement: without such agreement, countries of the higher standard will absorb the better money.

4 Tendency of legislation in the direction of higher duties: Free-trade theories giving place to those of protection; extract from proposed French tariff; the danger to our industries from this movement in Europe, respecting a home tendency toward free trade. (See Mr. Noyes's dispatch of March 28, 1878.) The desirability of a common unit of money for international account and use: The submission of the question to the monetary conference suggested. Forwarding map of Turkey as affected by the treaty of San Stefano: Uneasy feeling respecting war between England and Russia; the aims of England in the Levant. (See Mr. Maynard's dispatches of April 3 and 29.) Invitation to monetary conference given Austrian intervention in Bosnia probable. Efforts to maintain peace; positive gains made by Eng. land in consequence of her decided policy. Dip. lomats reticent.

Mar. 30

Apr. 9 May 8

29 ......do

May 14

..do

32.......do

June 18 June 29

June 30

Appeal from Mussulmans of Silistria. Turkey the field of diplomatic intrigue; dissatisfaction with the treaty of San Stefano. Count Schouvaloff's mission thought to have been successful; the meeting of the congress proba ble; interest manifested in our ability to maintain strict neutrality in the event of war; the effect of the "three rules" clause of the treaty of Washington, and the right to buy ships and munitions of war in our ports, pending hostilities, discussed.

Hungary accepts invitation to monetary confer

ence.

June 5 Suggesting that the recognition of Roumanian independence should be conditioned upon the accordance of equality of rights to the Jews. Monetary conference to be held at Paris: Invita tion accepted by leading powers. Constitutional questions, until recently pending between Austria and Hungary, adjusted. Cus toms tariff to be raised; Austrian Bank debt to be assumed; quota of each toward national expenses determined. The Imperial Government strengthened by the agreement. Austrian policy respecting the Eastern question based upon two principles: Hostility to Sclavic influence; and the extension of commercial relations. Her action at Berlin to be guided by these principles. Bosnian occupation the first step. Austria supported by England. Results of the policy. Influence of existing railways. The Shah of Persia visits Austria: Changed for the better since his last visit; more inclined to adopt Western ideas; accompanied by his chiefs of administration; Austrian mission to be es tablished in Persia; trade statistics; chance of introducing American products into Persia; a favorable commercial treaty could be negotiated; foreign trade of Persia estimated at $18,000,000 per annum.

Invitation to monetary conference accepted Same subject: Programme of proceedings desirable. Treaty of Berlin: Items, Bulgaria, autonomy con ceded, with right to negotiate; treaties to remain in force: Roumania, independence granted, with full treaty-making power: Servia, existing treaties in force: Montenegro, independence granted, but commercial association with Austria established. Necessity for consular repre sentatives at Bucharest, Belgrade, Antivari, and other points indicated. A thorough examination of existing treaties recommended. For text of treaty see Mr. Maynard's dispatch, September 28.

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