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.

The PRESIDENT.  The Delegate of Spain, Mr. PASTORIN, has withdrawn his amendment, and the Delegate of Sweden, Count LEWENHAUPT, has also withdrawn the amendment which he offered to the resolution of the Delegate of the United States, Mr. RUTHERFURD.  The resolution originally offered will now be read.

The Secretary then read the resolution, as follows: 

“Resolved, That from this meridian [i.e., the meridian of Greenwich] longitude shall be counted in two directions up to 180 degrees, east longitude being plus, and west longitude minus.”

Mr. SANDFORD FLEMING, Delegate of Great Britain, representing the Dominion of Canada.  I wish to offer some observations on the resolution before the Conference, but I am unable to separate the particular question from the general question.  To my mind, longitude and time are so related that they are practically inseparable, and when I consider longitude, my thoughts naturally revert to time, by which it is measured.  I trust, therefore, I may be permitted to extend my remarks somewhat beyond the immediate scope of the resolution.  I agree with those who think that longitude should be reckoned in one direction only, and I am disposed to favor a mode of notation differing in other respects from that commonly followed.

If a system of universal time be brought into use, advantages would result from having the system of time and the system of terrestrial longitude in complete harmony.  The passage of time is continuous, and, therefore, I think longitude should be reckoned continuously.  To convey my meaning fully, however, it is necessary that I should enter into explanations at some length.

Ten days back I ventured informally to place my views, with a series of recommendations on this subject, before the delegates.  I hope I may now be permitted to submit them to the Conference.