Great Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, Austria, and
Turkey adopted this mutual agreement, and pledged
themselves to make it known to States not repre-
sented in the Congress, and invite their accession to it,
on two conditions, -- (1) That the Declaration should
be accepted as a whole, or not at all; and (2) That
the States acceding should enter into no subsequent
arrangement on maritime law in time of war without
stipulating for a strict observance of the four points.
On these conditions every maritime power was to be
invited to accede, and had the right to become a party
to the agreement. Accordingly nearly all the States
of Europe and South America, in course of time no-
tified their accession, and became, equakly with the
original members, entitled to all the benefits and sub-
ject to the obligations of the contract.

The government of the United States was also
invited to accede, and like the other Powers had
the right to do so by simple notification. Secretary
Marcy notified the French government, July 28, 1856,
that the President could not abandon the right to use
privateers, unless he could secure the exemption of
all private property, not contraband, from capture at
sea; but with that amendment the United States
would accede to the Declaration. The French govern-
ment made no objection to the Marcy amendment;
Russia favored it; Prussia, Italy, and the Netherlands
were friendly to it. Great Britain was understood to
oppose it.

Before the negotiation was fairly begun, President

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