The Chair begs leave to announce that, in the regular order of business, the first matter before the Conference to-day would have been the proposition of the Delegate of Great Britain, Mr. Sandford Fleming, that a committee be appointed to consider a report upon the resolution offered by him yesterday. The Chair understood, however, from Mr. Fleming this morning that he had no desire to press that proposition, and, therefore, it may be considered as withdrawn.
The question then would be upon the amendment offered by the Delegate of Spain, Mr. Juan Pastorin, and if that amendment be withdrawn upon the amendment offered by the Delegate of Sweden, Count Lewenhaupt. The Chair understands that both of those gentlemen desire to withdraw their propositions temporarily, and, in that event, the first action to be taken will be upon the resolution offered by the Delegate of the United States, Mr. Rutherfurd.
Mr. Rustem Effendi, Delegate of Turkey. In voting yesterday in favor of the resolutions proposed by the Hon. Delegate of the United States, I wish to have it well understood that my vote does not bind my Government. I am, indeed, obliged to vote against any proposition which would tend to bind it in any way, for I desire to leave it free to act in the matter.
I engage to submit to my Government the result of our deliberations and to recommend their adoption, but that is all. In other words, I have only voted "ad referendum," and I ask that my statement be entered in the protocol.
The President. The Chair would inform the Delegate who has just spoken that the same statement was made by several delegates at a former meeting of the Conference.
M. Janssen, Delegate of France. I believe that the very correct doctrine just enunciated by the Delegate of Turkey, Mr. Rustem Effendi, is the one adopted by all the members of the Congress, and that we have all voted "ad referendum."
The President. The Chair so understood the general sense of the Conference as expressed at one of our former meetings, when many of the delegates made the same declaration.
Mr. Antonio Batres, Delegate of Salvador. Mr. President, I could not be present yesterday, on account of illness, and I now request permission to register my name in favor of the resolution adopting the meridian of Greenwich as the prime meridian.
The President. The Delegate of Salvador, Mr. Batres, informs the Chair that he was not able to be present yesterday, on account of illness, and he desires that his name may be recorded as voting for the meridian of Greenwich. If there be no objection to the request of the Delegate to Salvador, his vote will be so entered.
No objection being made, the President instructed the Secretary to make the proper entry in the protocol.