been dispatched and would be deposited in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium as soon as they arrived, in a day or two.
His Excellency Carathéodory Efendi stated that His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, his august Sovereign, had also signed the ratifications and that they had been dispatched. His Excellency called attention to the reservation that his Government had made concerning the use of Turkish characters in the cases specified in Article XXXIV of the General Act; that reservation had been communicated to all the signatory Governments, and no objection to it had been raised.
The Representatives of the Powers acknowledged Their Excellencies' statements.
His Excellency Prince Ouroussoff stated that His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, his august Sovereign, had signed the act of ratification; however, His Excellency thought it advisable to postpone the deposit until such time as the execution of the General Act would be definitively ensured.
His Excellency Edwin H. Terrell stated that he was not officially authorized to speak at this meeting since he had not received any instructions from his Government in the matter. He had gone to this meeting only in response to the courteous invitation that had been sent to him.
However, he thought he could say that the question of the ratification of the Brussels General Act was still pending before the Senate of the United States, which was not now in session, but would meet early in December.
His Excellency added, unofficially, but merely for the information of the Representatives of the Powers, that, wishing to show its deep interest in the success of that great work, the Government of the United States had concluded an agreement with the State of the Congo[1] for the express purpose of making it possible for the other Signatory Powers to ratify the Brussels General Act.
There was read the following letter from His Excellency the Minister of the French Republic at Brussels to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium:
"Brussels, July 1, 1891.—Your Royal Highness: —I have the honor to confirm to Your Excellency the information that I gave orally to Baron Lambermont yesterday: After a lengthy discussion which lasted through the sessions held on the 24th and 25th of last month, the Chamber of Deputies of France decided to postpone the authorization to ratify 'the General act' and the 'Brussels Declaration' of July 2, as well as the Protocol of February 9 last. His Majesty's Government was aware of the part that the Cabinet had played in this serious discussion; it was certainly not the fault of its efforts that the conclusion was not entirely different. Furthermore, Your
- ↑ A treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, between the United States and the Congo, was signed at Brussels Jan. 24, 1891 (TS 60), post.
