Kasson to Evarts, April 9, 1878

No. 27. Mr. Kasson to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Your dispatch No. 24, covering the recent enactment of Congress respecting the coinage and use of silver money, was received on Saturday. On the following Monday (yesterday) I brought it to the attention of Baron Orezy, at the foreign office, in obedience to your instructions, handing to him the written invitation, of which a copy is herewith inclosed (A), and adding further verbal explanations of the policy adopted by the United States Government and the considerations which rendered an international conference expedient, and even necessary. As these remarks were only a development of the points made in my written note (A), it is not necessary here to repeat them. It should, however, be stated that the conversation touched one additional question, that of creating an international unit of money, containing an agreed quantity of the precious metal, (gold or silver,) and which should serve for all purposes of international commerce and account. He was most emphatic in the expression of his estimate of the immense economical advantages of such a standard unit.

Without committing himself upon the subject of the conference, he appreciated the views which are favorable to it, and remarked that according to usage the subject must be referred to the treasury department for their judgment. I expressed to him the gratification it would afford me to be able to give an early response to my government, and the interview was closed.

I have, &c.,