1012 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH OCTOBER, 1886.
My Lord,
No. 52.
Mr. Adams to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received September 11.)
Berne, September 9, 1885. ·. WITH reference to my preceding despatch, your Lordship will observe that Mr. Boyd Winchester, Minister Resident and Consul-General of the United States of America in Switzerland, has been appointed sole Delegate for his country to the second Copyright Conference at Berne.
He has been kind enough to inform me that, whilst his Government have stated that they take the most lively interest in this Conference, and have instructed him to participate in the deliberations, and make a full and prompt Report of its proceedings, they are unable, on this occasion, to give him power to vote or to bind his Government in any way.
In fact, he appears to be in the same position as I occupied in the Conference of September, 1884.
(Signed) F. O. ADAMS.
(Telegraphic,)
No. 53.
Mr. Adams to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received September 12, 2 P.M.)
Berne, September 12, 1885, 12.15 p.M.
IT is proposed that the Delegates should sign a document simply submitting the draft Convention agreed upon for the approval of the Governments. This would not bind Her Majesty's Government in any way. I conclude we may sign, as I was authorized to do so last September in regard to a similar document.
•
Sir,
No. 54.
Sir V. Lister to Sir T. Farrer.
Foreign Office, September 12, 1885.
I AM directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to acquaint you, for the information of the Board of Trade, that Her Majesty's Minister at Berne has inquired by telegraph to-day whether the British Delegates to the Berne Copyright Conference can sign, in common with the Delegates of the other * Powers, a document simply submitting, for the approval of the respective Governments, the draft Convention agreed upon, and states that this document will in no way bind Her Majesty's Government. Mr. Adams was authorized to sign a similar document in September of last year, with the concurrence of the Board of Trade, as stated in your letter of the 18th September last, and the Swiss Government have been informed of the capacity in which the British Delegates attend the present Conference, viz., with power to discuss and vote at the Conference, but that any resolutions arrived at by it will be entirely subject to subsequent approval or rejection by Her Majesty's Government. Lord Salisbury would, however, be glad to ascertain that the Board of Trade have no objection to the Delegates signing such a document as proposed.
Mr. Adams having requested that an answer may be sent to his inquiry by telegraph, I am to state that Lord Salisbury would be glad to be furnished with the opinion of the Board of Trade on this question as soon as possible.
No. 55.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
T. V. LISTER.
Sir,
Mr. Calcraft to Sir Villiers Lister.--( Received September 14.)
Board of Trade, London, September 14, 1885.
I AM directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, stating that Her Majesty's Minister at Berne has inquired whether the British Delegates at the Berne Copyright Conference can sign, in common with the Delegates of the other Powers, a document simply submitting, for the approval of the respective Governments, the draft Copyright Convention agreed upon, on the understanding that this course will in no way bind Her Majesty's Government.
In reply, I am to state, for the information of Lord Salisbury, that the Board of Trade see no objection in the circumstances of the case to the Delegates signing such a document as proposed, on the understanding expressed in the correspondence that such signature is not to bind Her Majesty's Government in any degree, or to be taken as any indication of their opinion.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HENRY G. CALCRAFT.
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