The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-14
EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY OF ALL
NATIONS,
To be holden Ina London In 1851.
PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, !
March IL, 1850.

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, Z
March IL, 1850.
Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Promotion
Of the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all
Nations, To be holden in London in the year 1851,
after careful consideration Of the arrangements TO be
made for the admission of the productions Of for
eign countries TO the Exhibition have directed the
publication Of the following statement for the nfor
nation and guidance of Foreign Exhibitors.
The Commissioners have already given notice
that however large may be the building that is to
be erected II Is necessary that they should
To themselves ample powers of selection and rejec
ton in respect of the articles which may be for
wardcd for exhibition. The necessity for making
some provision for limiting the extent and defining
the character Of the Exhibition, is too obvious 70
need any comment; but the mode in which the
powers thus reserved should be exercised, partcu-
larry with reference TO the productions of foreign
countries, IL matter requiring very serious deb-
Grafton.
The Commissioners have felt that il would be de-
sirable, far possible 10 prevent any persons
from sending hither articles which cannot be adj
mtted, rather than 10 reject the articles after their
arrivalin London. They feel also that the delicate
and responsible task Of deciding the admission
or rejection Of articles destined for exhibition by
foreign contributorsOught not 10 be imposed upon
any English tribunal but should be referred TO one
having the confidence Of the exhibitors themselves
and standing entirely free from possible imputa-
tons Of national Partially. They accordingly pro-
pose to admit 20 exhibition such foreign articles
only may be forwarded TO them by the Central
"
country They will communicate 10 such Central
Authority the amount Of space which can be al
lowed 70 the productions Of the country for which it
acts, and will also state the conditions and lmta-
tons which may from time TO time be decided on
with respect TO the admission Of articles. All ar
ticles forwarded by such Central Authority will
then be admitted, provided they do not require a
greater aggregate amount OF space than that as
signed 10 the productions Of the country from which
they come and, provided also, that they do not
violate the conditions and limitations Of which due
notice shall have been given. II will rest with the
Central Authority in each country to decide upon
the merits Of the several articles presented for
hibition, and TO take that those which
are such as fairly represent the industry OF their
fellow countrymen.
Her Msjesty's Commissioners will consider that
10 be the Central Authority in each case which IL
stated 70 be 20 by the Government Of its country.
Having once been put in communication with a
Central Authority IN any country, they must de-
cline, absolutely and entirely, any communication
with private and unauthorized individuals; and
should any such be addressed 10 them, they can
only refer Il 10 the Central Body. This decision il
ossentially necessary, in order 10 prevent eonfu'
SION.
No articles Of foreign manufacture, to vhomso.
ever they may belong, or wheresoeyer they may be
can be admitted for exhibition, unless they come
with the sanction Of the Central Authority Of th,
country Of which they arc the produce The Com
ni-siOners do not insist upon such articles being il
al cases actually forwarded by the Central Author
ity, though they consider that this would generally
llc the satleaCtOry arrangement; but ~ ~
dispensabe that the sanction Of such authority
should in all cases be expressly given, and that ]
h. held responsible for the fitness Of such article
fsr exhibition, and for not authorizing the exhibi
ton Of greater quantity than can be accommO
dated in the space assigned 10 the productions o
the country in question.
With regard 10 the amount Of space that can b
given, the Commissioners propose at once 10 com
nunicate with each foreign country IL must b
obvious that the difficulty Of fixing the amount il
each Gaze IL extreme, a. the Commissioners have 4
consider not only the extent and population o
each country, but the nature Of the articles il pro
duccs, the quantities IL is likely 70 send; which 0
course involves, among other considerations, III
question OF proximity aad VI the facilities for trans
mission 10 England The productions sent will II
some cases be bulky, and will require a large
amount Of space than the produce likely 20 com
from other countries, though the latter may b
much the more valuable. ID thus becomes iupos
sible. in the absence Of information from eac
country, 10 lay down rules which shall not be ope
~ objection. At the same time, the Commission
ere feel that IL IL better At TO give defnii
and tangible shape 90 their proceedings, by layin
down something in the nature OF rule, howeve
arbitrary, than 70 postpone The attempt I'll the
are in possession OF information which cannot :
collected for avery long time. They have there
fore resolved that they will allot One-half Of "a
total amount Of space at their command 20 the pre-
auctions Of Great Britain and her colonies, and wi
divide the remaining half among the other nation
of the world; communicating 20 each country IN
space they propose 10 set aside for lis productions
and requesting information as TO the mode in whic
IL IL proposed that such space should lie filed. Il
case the Central Authority in any country shoul
be Of opinion that the space allotted the produc
tons OF that country u greater than il will require
the Commissioners have 10 request that this opinio
may be communicated 10 them, il is obviou
that IL would not appear well If a large yscan
space should be left in the department assigned I
any country If, ON the other hand any countr
requires than the space proposed, this al-
should be stated, as il may be in the power Of n
Commissioners TO give additional room, In Il
event Of having received notifications from 9TH
countries that portion u the space assigned
them will not be occupied.