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1878.

CIRCULARS.

Subject.

Page.

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

Mr. Seward to consular of ficers in Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and Denmark. Mr. Seward to consular officers in Great Britain, France, Switzerland,

Italy, Austria, Belgium,

and Germany.

Mar. 18 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.

Apr. 11

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.

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2

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.

2

3

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

sea-ports.

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

Mr. Evarts to consular of Sept. 23 Requiring consular officers to exercise vigilance in

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.

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.

Boundary dispute with Chili still unsettled: The
surrender of the Sandy Point mutineers to Chili
refused; their trial for the murder of some of
their comrades while in Argentine territory
ordered.

Revolution in Corientes: Governor Durqui to be
sustained: rebels defeat state troops; propose
a compromise in the nature of a new election:
reconciliation with the Mitre party not so com-
plete as supposed; rumored trouble in Santa
Fé.

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Oct.

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1878.

Revolution in Corientes over: April 1 the Argen-
tine Republic enters Postal Union under treaty
of Berne.
Crisis in the cabinet: Representatives of the Mitre
party withdraw; trouble apprehended; revolu-
tionary movements in Corientes and Santa Fé.
The President opens Congress: Foreign relations
satisfactory; the boundary dispute with Chili
to be submitted to arbitration; peace restored
to the country; national debt, $61,277,802; re-
duction during the year, $4,000,000; finances in
a satisfactory condition; immigration maintains
its volume.

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.

Submitting papers in the arbitration
Acknowledging their receipt.

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14 Mr. Evarts to Mr. Garcia....

Mar. 23

Acceding to the above request

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Mr. Garcia to Mr. Evarts..
Mr. Evarts to Mr. Garcia...

Mar. 25

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Mar. 30

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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."

silver in excess of customs receipts; debt bear-
ing 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 ten-
dency toward free trade. (See Mr. Noyes's dis-
patch 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 sug-
gested.

8

Mar. 30

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June 1

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34

Mr. Evarts to Mr. Kasson... June 18
Mr. Kasson to Mr. Evarts.. June 29

June 30

Forwarding map of Turkey as affected by the
treaty of San Stefano: Uneasy feeling respect-
ing 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.

Appeal from Mussulmans of Silistria. Turkey
the field of diplomatic intrigue; dissatisfaction
with the treaty of San Stefano.
Count Schonvaloff's mission thought to have been
successful; the meeting of the congress proba-
ble interest manifested in our ability to main-
tain 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 hostili-
ties, discussed.

Hungary accepts invitation to monetary confer

ence.

June 5 Suggesting that the recognition of Roumanian in
dependence should be conditioned upon the ac-
cordance 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 ex-;
penses 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 re-
lations. 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.

July 13

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July 13
July 24
Aug. 3

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 re-
main in force: Roumania, independence granted,
with full treaty-making power: Servia, existing
treaties in force: Montenegro, independence
granted, but commercial association with Aus-
tria 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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Trade with Brazil: We import largely from, but
export little to Brazil; American products are
shipped to, and sold in, England, reshipped to
Brazil, and resold at advanced rates; steamship
lines established with Europe, but none with
the United States; the need of such line indi.
cated; the Emperor favors its establishment.
Contract for monthly steamers to the United States
entered into: Mail subsidy of $100,000 for ten
years granted by Brazil; the question deter-
mined by the intervention of the Emperor; in-
creased steam communication with Brazil recom-
mended to attention of Congress.

Resignation of the ministry: Parliament not in
session; temporary appointments to be made;
American influence extending.

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June 7

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57

Arrival of the City of Rio: Ceremonies upon the
occasion of the visit of the Emperor and empress;
return cargo, 37,000 sacks of coffee, valued at
$700,000; the largest and most valuable single
cargo ever shipped from Brazil.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Borges.. Apr. 30 Requesting a letter commending the commander

July 17

of the Madeira River surveying party to the con-
sideration of the authorities of Para.
Inviting suggestions relative to a common mode
and form of procedure respecting consular cer-
tifications to port clearances.

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1878. Jan. 24

Ceremonies upon the delivery of the awards of the
Centennial Exposition.

80

Commander Rodgers's action respecting the Punta
Arenas revolt approved; no more convicts to be
sent to that settlement; claims commission ap
pointed.
Jan. 31 Adjournment of Congress; commercial depression
continues; state of the finances unsatisfactory;
deficits, for 1876, $2,000,000; for 1877, $3,000,000;
probable deficit for current year, $2,000,000;
bonds issued to meet deficits; commission of in-
quiry appointed.

Mar. 1

Inquiry as to the effect upon our relations with
Chili of her notice of 1849 to terminate certain
clauses of the treaty of 1832; the present a fa-¦
vorable time for the negotiation of a commercial
treaty.

Mar. 9 Probability of the submission of the Argentine
boundary question to the arbitration of the King
of the Belgians.

The effect of the notice of 1849 is full and complete
in respect of all clauses of the treaty of 1832,
except those relating to peace and friendship:
Should Chili favor the negotiation of a new
treaty, power to negotiate will be granted.
Account of the earthquake of May 9, 1877
Congress opened by the President: Financial state-
ment unsatisfactory; income tax, and increase of
duties, recommended; imports and exports show
a falling off: work upon the code, and upon
coast and interior surveys, progressing satisfac-
torily; public education liberally maintained.
Pitcairn's Island, and its population

CHINA.

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