“Resolved, That the Conference proposes to the Governments here represented the adoption of the meridian passing through the centre of the transit instrument at the Observatory of Greenwich as the initial meridian for longitude.”

The PRESIDENT.  The Conference has heard the resolution.  Any remarks are now in order.

Mr. SANDFORD FLEMING, Delegate of Great Britain.  I think, sir, the resolution goes a little too far at a single leap.  I beg leave, therefore, to move an amendment in harmony with the resolution, at the same time leaving it to be settled by a subsequent resolution, whether the zero be at Greenwich or at the other side of the globe.

“That a meridian proper, to be employed as a common zero in the reckoning of longitude and the regulation of time throughout the world, should be a great circle passing through the poles and the centre of the transit instrument at the Observatory of Greenwich.”

Prof.  ADAMS, Delegate of Great Britain.  Mr. President, I desire merely to state, in reference to the amendment brought forward by one of our delegates, that the remaining delegates of Great Britain are by no means of the opinion expressed in that amendment, and that it is their intention, if it should come to a vote, to vote against it.

The proposition to count longitude from a point 180 degrees from the meridian of Greenwich appears to them not to be accompanied by any advantage whatever.  On the contrary, it must lead to inconvenience.  You do not, by adopting the meridian opposite Greenwich, get rid of the nationality of the meridian.  If there is objection to the meridian of Greenwich on account of its nationality, the meridian of 180 degrees from Greenwich is subject to the same objection.  The one half is just as national as the other half.

The PRESIDENT.  The chair would say that no specific meridian is mentioned in the amendment.

Prof.  ADAMS, Delegate of Great Britain.  That is true, but, at the same time, it should be said that the meridian described is ambiguous.  It is the meridian that passes through the poles and the centre of the transit instrument of the Observatory of Greenwich.  That is the language of the amendment.  But it is intended to apply to only one-half of the great circle passing through the poles, that is to the distant half of the meridian rather than to the nearer half.  Unless it defines which half it is intended to take, the amendment is ambiguous, and it is not proper to be voted on.

Mr. MILES ROCK, Delegate of Guatemala.  Mr. President, It may be well to hear the words of the original resolution, in order that we can clearly see the relation of the amendment to that resolution.

The original resolution of the Delegate of the United States was then read.

Baron VON ALVENSLEBEN, Delegate of Germany.  Mr. President, I think that in this amendment offered by the Delegate of Great Britain two questions are mixed up together.  The first thing for us to do is to fix upon a prime meridian; the second thing to settle is the question whether the adoption of a universal day is desirable or not.  If we adopt this amendment, these two questions are involved in one vote.  Therefore, I think that they should be divided, for they are not appropriate in the form in which they are presented.