I.

Session of October 1, 1884.

The Delegates to the International Meridian Conference, who assembled in Washington upon invitation addressed by the Government of the United States to all nations holding diplomatic relations with it, “for the purpose of fixing upon a meridian proper to be employed as a common zero of longitude and standard of time-reckoning throughout the globe,” held their first conference to-day, October 1, 1884, in the Diplomatic Hall of the Department of State.

The following delegates were present: 

On behalf of Austria-Hungary—­

Baron IGNATZ von Schaeffer,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

On behalf of Brazil—­

Dr. Luiz Cruls,
Director of the Imperial Observatory of Rio Janeiro.

On behalf of Colombia—­

Commodore S. R. Franklin, U.  S. Navy,
Superintendent U. S. Naval Observatory.

On behalf of Costa Rica—­

Mr. Juan Francisco Echeverria,
Civil Engineer.

On behalf of France—­

Mr. A. Lefaivre,
Minister Plenipotentiary and Consul-General. 
Mr. Janssen, of the Institute,
Director of the Physical Observatory of Paris.

On behalf of Germany—­

Baron H. Von ALVENSLEBEN,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

On behalf of Great Britain—­

Captain Sir F. J. O. Evans,
Royal Navy.

Prof.  J. C. Adams,
Director of the Cambridge Observatory.

Lieut.-General STRACHEY,
Member of the Council of India.

Mr. SANDFORD FLEMING,
Representing the Dominion of Canada.

On behalf of Guatemala—­

M. MILES ROCK,
President of the Boundary Commission.

On behalf of Hawaii—­

Hon. W. D. ALEXANDER,
Surveyor-General.

Hon. LUTHER AHOLO,
Privy Counsellor.

On behalf of Italy—­

Count ALBERT DE FORESTA,
First Secretary of Legation.

On behalf of Japan—­

Professor KIKUCHI,
Dean of the Scientific Dep’t of the University of Tokio.

On behalf of Mexico—­

Mr. LEANDRO FERNANDEZ,
Civil Engineer. 
Mr. ANGEL ANGUIANO,
Director of the National Observatory of Mexico.

On behalf of Paraguay—­

Captain JOHN STEWART,
Consul-General.

On behalf of Russia—­

Mr. C. DE STRUVE,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. 
Major-General STEBNITZKI,
Imperial Russian Staff. 
Mr. J. DE KOLOGRIVOFF,
Conseiller d’Etat actuel.

On behalf of San Domingo—­