THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH FEBRUARY, 1887.
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ment to the draft Convention should be made, we were authorized by our Government to accept the Declaration, subject to such modification of the last paragraph as would suffice to meet the require- ments of English law.
The French Delegates eventually withdrew their proposal entirely, and the Convention as signed is consequently identical with last year's draft, except the insertion of the few words of a purely formal character proposed by the Swiss Government in Article VII.
An important feature of the Conference, especially from an English point of view, was the presence of the United States' Delegate, who made a Declaration, which will be found at page 18 of the Records,* expressing the sympathy of his Government for the substance and objects of the Convention, and their hope that they might find themselves in a position to adhere to it at an early date.
We venture to call your Lordship's particular attention to this Declaration as giving promise that the important literary and artistic interests of Great Britain in the United States may before long be afforded adequate protection.
The Declaration respecting the British Colonies which we made in accordance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch of the 22nd ultimo, will be found in the Procès-verbal of Signature.t
The only suggestions which it appears necessary for us to submit to your Lordship's consideration are as regards the course to be pursued by Her Majesty's Government with reference to the existing Copyright Conventions between Great Britain and foreign States.
The following Conventions are at present in operation:-
1. Prussia, 13th May, 1846.
2. Saxony, 24th August, 1846. 3. Brunswick, 30th March, 1847.
4. Thuringian Union, 1st July, 1847.
5. Hanover, 4th August, 1847.
6. Oldenburg, 28th December, 1847.
7. France, 3rd November, 1851.
8. Anhalt, 8th February, 1853.
9. Hamburg, 16th August, 1853.
10. Belgium, 12th August, 1854.
11. Prussia and other German States, 14th June, 1855.
12. Sardinia (applicable to Italy), 30th November, 1860.
13. Hesse, 19th November, 1861.
14. Spain, 11th August, 1880.
15. Germany, 2nd June, 1886.
The last Convention on this list, for practical purposes, brings the whole of the German Empire within the terms of the Conventions with Prussia of the 13th May, 1846, and the 14th June, 1855.
Therefore, Great Britain has Copyright Conventions only with Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Spain, all of which States have now signed the International Copyright Convention.
The Convention with Italy has been denounced by that Government, but stands prolonged until the 31st December next. The Conventions with the German States, France, and Belgium, can be terminated at a year's notice, and that with Spain by a notice of six months.
The International Convention just signed is to be ratified within the delay of one year, and is to come into operation three months after the exchange of ratifications.
When it has once come into operation, it seems that the stipulations of the now existing Conven- tions between Great Britain and foreign States will become unnecessary, and perhaps embarrassing; and we would therefore venture to suggest that three months after the signature of the International Convention, viz., on the 9th December next, notice of termination of the existing Copyright Conventions should be given to Germany, France, and Belgium; that the Convention with Italy should be further prolonged till the International Convention comes into operation; and that notice should be given to Spain on the 9th June next of the termination of the Copyright Convention of the 11th August, 1880. By these means, the whole of the existing Conventions would be kept in force for certain till the International Convention comes into operation, and would terminate, at all events, shortly after that date.
We believe that the International Copyright Union, which may now be said to be founded, will not only efficiently replace the existing Conventions, but will confer upon British owners of literary and artistic property far more extensive and satisfactory protection than is now enjoyed by them abroad; and we entertain strong hopes that, before the expiration of many years, the Union will comprise all the principal States of the world which have any practical interest in the matter.
We have, &c.
(Signed)
F. O. ADAMS.
J. H. G. BERGNE.
* See Inclosure 5 in No. 13.
† See Inclosure 4 in No 13.