1000 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH OCTOBER, 1886.
These two States declared themselves disposed to take part in a future Conference, as did all the States represented at the first Conference from whom replies have been received. Similar replies have been received from many Powers who did not send Delegates last year to Berne, but who now show sympathy with the work that was done there.
Encouraged by these favourable circumstances, we think it right to convene, without any further delay, a new Diplomatic Conference, in which the International Convention can be drawn up in defi nite terms, and submitted for signature to the Delegates of the Powers.
This Conference will meet at Berne in the State Council Chamber, on Monday the 7th September next, at 10 A.M.
We have the honour to invite your Lordship to send a Representative, and we beg you, in the event of your so doing, to authorize the Delegate or Delegates to sign the Convention, the bases of which were settled on the 18th September, 1884.
We will communicate to your Lordship any proposals which may yet arrive on the subject of modifications to be made in the text of the draft Convention above mentioned.
We beg your Lordship to inform us as soon as possible if we can count on the participation of your Government in the International Conference, the date of which is mentioned above, and we avail,
&c.
In the name of the Swiss Federal Council:
The President of the Confederation,
(Signed) SCHENK. The Chancellor of the Confederation,
(Signed) RINGIER.
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Sir,
No. 34.
Earl Granville to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office, May 9, 1885.
at
WITH reference to previous correspondence. on the subject of copyright I have to request that you will inform the Swiss Government that Her Majesty's Government do not feel themselves at present in a position to attempt any fresh legislation on copyright in this country, and that, under these circumstances, although they have given attentive study to the draft Convention formulated the recent Conference at Berne, they are unable to express any opinion upon the conclusions arrived at, many of which could not be agreed to by Great Britain without alterations of the existing Law.
You will, however, add that should it be decided to call another meeting of the Conference this autumn Her Majesty's Government will have much pleasure in authorizing you to attend on their behalf, as before, in a consultative capacity only.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
GRANVILLE.
No. 35.
Sir,
Mr. Lister to M. Vernet.
Foreign Office, May 9, 1885.
I AM directed by Earl Granville to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 5th instant, inclosing an invitation to Her Majesty's Government to be represented at an International Conference to be held at Berne on the 7th September next, and I am to acquaint you, in reply, that Her Majesty's Minister at Berne has been instructed to acquaint the Swiss Government with the views of Her Majesty's Government on this subject.
I am, &c. (Signed) T. V. LISTER.
No. 36.
My Lord,
Mr. Adams to Earl Granville.—(Received May 13.)
Berne, May 11, 1885.
I HAD the honour this morning to receive your Lordship's despatch of the 9th instant, and I have addressed a note to the Swiss Government in its sense, and have stated that should it be decided to call another meeting of the Conference this autumn, Her Majesty's Government will have much pleasure in authorizing me to attend on their behalf, as before, in a consultative capacity only.
I have, &c. (Signed)
F. O. ADAMS.