No discussion arose upon this resolution, and it was adopted.
Commander Sampson, Delegate of the United States, then offered the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the meetings of this Congress be open to interested visitors."
Mr. Lefaivre, Delegate of France, stated that he considered this a subject of grave importance; that this was an official and confidential body; scientific, it was true, but also diplomatic; that it was empowered to confer about matters with which the general public have now nothing to do; that to admit the public to the meetings would destroy their privacy and subject the Conference to the influence of an outside pressure which might prove very prejudicial to its proceedings, and that he would object to this resolution absolutely.
No further discussion being had, the President, after a viva voce vote of doubtful result, ordered the roll to be called, when the following States voted in the affirmative:
| Colombia, | Costa Rica, |
| Guatemala, | Paraguay, |
| Salvador, | Spain. |
| Venezuela, |
And the following States in the negative.
| Austria-Hungary, | Brazil, |
| France, | Germany, |
| Great Britain, | Hawaii, |
| Italy, | Japan, |
| Mexico, | Russia, |
| San Domingo, | Sweden, |
| Switzerland, | United States. |
The President then announced that the ayes were 7 and the noes 14, and that the resolution was therefore lost.