John Welsh to Assheton Cross, June 18, 1878

Mr. Welsh to Mr. Cross.

Sir: Referring to your note of the 11th instant upon the subject of the proposed conference in relation to the standards of currency, I have the honor to acquaint you that immediately upon its arrival, I transmitted a full copy of it by telegraph to Mr. Evarts, and this morning I have received his reply by cable, a copy of which I inclose herewith.

You will not fail to understand from this that my government considers that the willingness of Her Majesty’s Government, as expressed in your note, to attend a conference called by the United States Government to consider freely in all its bearings the subject of the standards of currency used in various countries, and the relations which exist or can be established between them, is quite in accordance with the invitation which I had the honor to transmit to the Earl of Derby on the 2d of April last, and that the attendance on the part of Her Majesty’s Government at such conference will import no further commitment in respect to the conference and its objects than was expressed in such willingness as communicated to me in your note of the 11th instant.

As this declaration on the part of Mr. Evarts is such a modification of the terms of the invitation as Her Majesty’s Government desires, I think that I may consider that Her Majesty’s Government has now accepted the invitation, and I shall be happy to learn at your early convenience whether the time and place proposed for the conference meet with your approbation, and beg to ask, also, that you will kindly send to me the names of the gentlemen whom you propose to appoint as delegates.

It will be particularly agreeable to the Government of the United States to know that the discussion of the important questions to be submitted to the conference will be aided by the intelligence and ability of such representatives as Her Majesty’s Government may think fit to appoint.

I have, &c.,