partment of State should be carefully considered with
a view to a judicious development and increased utility to our export
trade.

The interest taken by the various States forming the International Union
of American Republics in the work of its organic bureau is evidenced by
the fact that for the first time since its creation in 1890 all the
Republics of South and Central America are now represented in it.

The unanimous recommendation of the International American Conference,
providing for the International Union of American Republics, stated that
it should continue in force during a term of ten years from the date of
its organization, and no country becoming a member of the union should
cease to be a member until the end of said period of ten years, and
unless twelve months before the expiration of said period a majority
of the members of the union had given to the Secretary of State of the
United States official notice of their wish to terminate the union
at the end of its first period, that the union should continue to be
maintained for another period of ten years, and thereafter, under the
same conditions, for successive periods of ten years each.

The period for notification expired on July 14, 1899, without any of the
members having given the necessary notice of withdrawal. Its maintenance
is therefore assured for the next ten years. In view of this fact and of
the numerous questions of general interest and common benefit to all of
the Republics of America, some of which were considered by the first
International American Conference, but not finally settled, and others
which have since then grown to importance, it would seem expedient that
the various Republics constituting the Union should be invited to hold
at an early date another conference in the capital of one of the
countries other than the United States, which has already enjoyed this
honor.

The purely international character of the work being done by the
bureau and the appreciation of its value are further emphasized by the
active co-operation which the various Governments of the Latin-American
Republics and their diplomatic representatives in this capital are now
exhibiting and the zealous endeavors they are making to extend its
field of usefulness, to promote through it commercial intercourse, and
strengthen the bonds of amity and confidence between its various members
and the nations of this continent.

The act to encourage the holding of the P