988
My Lord,
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH OCTOBER, 1886.
No. 18.
Mr. Adams to Earl Granville.(Received September 11.)
Berne, September 9, 1884.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith printed copies of the procès-verbal of the first sitting of the International Copyright Conference, which took place yesterday morning in the Hall of the Council of States in the Federal Palace at Berne.* Sixteen Delegates were present, and more are expected.
The proceedings were opened by Federal Councillor Droz, who, in an eloquent speech, welcomed the Delegates, and enumerated shortly the objects of the Conference.
M. Arago, the French Ambassador, proposed that M. Droz should preside at the meetings, and this motion was carried unanimously.
M. Droz submitted a Projet de Règlement consisting of seven Articles, which has been drawn up by the Federal Council, and of which I have the honour to transmit copies herewith.*
All these Articles were adopted with the exception of the last, which gave rise to some discussion. Your Lordship will observe that I made a declaration in the sense of the instructions contained in your despatch of the 2nd February last.
In consequence of this and other reserves made by several Delegates, M. Reichardt, one of the German Delegates, proposed a material alteration in the last Article, which was adopted.
I beg to draw your Lordship's particular attention to this Article as remodelled. Its text is given on p. 5 of the procès-verbal.
By it a Protocol may be drawn up for our signature, which merely records the result of the deliberations. It may be accompanied by a draft Convention, but that document, will of course be subject to the examination of the respective Governments.
I should be glad to receive early instructions from your Lordship as to whether I am authorized to sign such a Protocol simply, or with any and what reservation.
No. 19.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
F. O. ADAMS.
Sir,
Mr. Currie to Mr. Calcraft.
Foreign Office, September 13, 1884.
I AM directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Board of Tradé, copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Berne, inclosing a copy of the procès-verbal of the first sitting of the International Copyright Conference, † and requesting early instructions as to whether he may sign the Protocol of the deliberations which may be accompanied by a draft of Con- vention, the latter document to be subject to the examination of the respective Governments.
As it is understood that the Conference will conclude its sittings at an early date, Lord Granville would be glad to be informed as soon as possible of the nature of the instructions which in the opinion of the Board of Trade, should be sent to Mr. Adams,
No. 20.
4
I am. &c.
(Signed)
P. CURRIE.
My Lord,
Mr. Adams to Earl Granville. (Received September 15.)
Berne, September 13, 1884.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copies of the procès-verbaux of the second and third sittings of the International Copyright Conference as these were finally adopted. *
On the 9th instant, after M. Arago had been chosen as Vice-President, the German Delegation brought forward their proposal to discuss the question whether, instead of concluding a Convention based on the principle of national treatment, it would not be preferable to aim at once at a codification regulating, in a uniform manner for the whole of the proposed Union, and in the frame of a Convention, the whole of the stipulations relating to copyright.
After some debate the vote on this proposal was adjourned, and the Conference proceeded to discuss the series of questions which had been handed in by the German Delegation at the first sitting.
* Not printed.
† No. 18.
Copy to Board of Trade, September 18.
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