John Welsh to William M. Evarts, June 22, 1878
No. 178. Mr. Welsh to Mr. Evarts.
No. 98.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 73, of the 27th of April, last, I have the honor to acquaint you that on the 31st of May last I addressed a note to Lord Salisbury, a copy of which I inclose herewith, upon the subject of the invitation to Great Britain to join the bi-metallic conference which I had sent to Lord Derby on the 2d of April.
It was not until the 13th instant that I received from Mr. Cross, who is in charge of the department of foreign affairs in the absence of Lord Salisbury at Berlin, the formal reply of Her Majesty’s Government to this invitation.
I inclose herewith a copy of Mr. Cross’s note, although I have already transmitted it to you by cable.
On the 18th instant I received your telegram without date, communicating the President’s understanding that the attendance of the British Government at the conference would import no further commitment in respect to its objects than was expressed in the limitations stated in Mr. Cross’s note.
I immediately informed Mr. Cross of this by a letter, a copy of which I inclose, and I sent to him also a translation of your telegram.
Since then I have received no communication from him upon the subject.
I have, &c.,