Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-16
All Nations Represented at
Meeting For Discussion
and Revision of Trad e
Mark and Patent Laws.
DELEGATES GIVEN
PLENARY POWERS
Commissioners Authorized
BY Their Governments to
Negotiate and Sign Any
Treaties.

Washington, ID. g., May l5.-Ine
fourth congress Of revision" of the con-
ference of the international Union for
the Protection Of Industrial property
opened here today with representa-
tives of thirty-four nations attending
and Charlemenge Tower, former am
bassador to Germany, presiding as
permanent president.
This conference, which is expected
to last for six weeks, is not merely q
gathering for the discussion of prob
lens concerning patented and trade
marked articles of commerce. The
delegates have plenary powers from
their respective governments, author
izing them to negotiate and sign treat
les. The countries represented We're
given two years notice OF the meeting
and many important propositions have
been prepared for submission.
The United States, Great Britain,
France. the Netherlands, Sweden,
Switzerland and the international bu'
reau at Berne, will have matters to
present for consideration.
Speeches of welcome by Commits
sion OF Patents Moore, Secretary of
State Knox and Secretary Of the In
terror Fisher will be made at public
session OF the conference this after
noon.
While this meeting is called the
Fourth one Of revision" 1t is in real
ity the sixth meeting. The Interna-
tional Union was organized in Paris
in 1883. The second conference was in
Rome in 1885, the third in Madrid,
1891, and the fourth in Brussels in
%h1 OF h<a &C MI a MI q n a
1900. The delegates to the 1897 con-
gress were not empowered to sign the
treaties enacted, and therefore the
second Brussels conference was nee
essary.
The Nations Represented.
There are eighteen nations in addi-
ton to the United States now adherent
to the treaty of Paris and subsequent
conventions. All Of them early signi-
fed their intention to send delegates.
They are Belgium, Denmark, Great
Britain, Japan, Norway, Netherlands,
Switzerland, France, (Tunis. although
under France, sends separate dele
gation) Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Do
minican Republic Germany, Austria
Hungary, Mexico and Spain.
The following nations, which were
non-adherents to any Of the previous
conventions, but who accepted the in
vitation to attend this conference,
making 1t the first one at which every
nation has been represented, are the
Dominion of Canada, Chile, Costa
Rica, Greece, Hayti, Panama, Para
quay, Persia, Russia, Siam, Salvador,
Uruguay, Columbia, Ecuador Hon
duras, Liberia and Peru. These ma
tions are expected to become part
of the International Union at the
Washington congress. Until they do
they have no right to vote upon any
of the propositions but may discuss
them at will.
Commissioner Of Patents Edward
Bruce Moore, as head of the American
delegation automatically became presi-
dent Of the present, conference, but
according to custom he will after the
delivery of his speech Of welcome
place before the congress the name OF
one of the participants who will be
voted on by the delegates. The
other members of the American dele
cation are Charles H. Duell, of New
York, Frederick P. Fish of Boston,
Melville Church Of Washington, D. c.,
and Robert H. Parkinson of Chicago.
Many entertainments have been ar
ranged for the delegates to the confer
ence during the time the conference
q. .