No. 4.To the diplomatic officers of the United States., July 30, 1880

No. 4. To the diplomatic officers of the United States.

Gentlemen: I have to state for your information that in pursuance of a joint resolution of Congress which was approved on the 14th of May last, the President has determined to call an international sanitary conference to meet at Washington, and to invite to join in the proposed conference the several powers having jurisdiction of ports likely to be infected with yellow fever or cholera, with a view of securing the adoption by the powers in question of an international system of notification as to the actual sanitary condition of ports and places under the jurisdiction of such powers, and of vessels sailing therefrom.

I inclose herewith a memorandum in which the circumstances which have induced this government to ask those of other nations to join in the proposed international sanitary conference are set forth, and which concludes with a statement of the specific propositions which the President would desire to submit to the conference.

In view of the urgent necessity which, according to the experience of this government, exists for prompt action in reference to this matter, I have to instruct you to lose no time in calling the attention of the government of ______ _______ to this subject by transmitting for its information a copy of the memorandum above mentioned, and by asking it at the same time to take into consideration the expediency of holding a conference of the character proposed, and requesting it to communicate its views on the subject to this government at as early a date as may be convenient.

You may add that it is thought by the President that such delegates as may be appointed by the several powers to attend the proposed conference should be authorized to conclude, if deemed expedient upon consultation, an international convention, in relation to any proper subjects for international sanitary regulations to be proposed for the consideration of the governments interested.

In order that the proposed conference, if agreed to by the several foreign governments interested in the subject, may be held at as early a period as practicable, the President deems it expedient to suggest the 1st day of January, 1881, as a suitable elate for the assembling or the conference in the city of Washington. In the event, however, that the government of ______ ______ should have occasion to prefer a different date for the meeting of the conference, this government will be ready to reconsider the question with a view to an alteration in the date.

I am, &c.,