Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/932

 810 FRANCE

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The Franc of 100 centimes is of the value of 9|fZ. or 25-225 francs to the pound sterling.

Gold coins in common use are 20 and 10 franc pieces. The 20 franc gold piece weighs 6*4516 grammes 900 fine, and thus contains 5 "80645 grammes of fine gold. Silver coins are 5, 2, 1, and half franc pieces and 20- centime pieces. The 5-franc silver piece weighs 25 grammes '900 fine, and thus contains 22-5 grammes of fine silver. The franc piece weighs 5 grammes •835 fine, and contains 4175 grammes of fine silver. Bronze coins are 10 and 5 centime pieces.

There is a double standard of value, gold and silver, the ratio being theoretically 15^ to 1. Of silver coins, however, only 5-franc pieces are legal tender, and of these the free coinage has been suspended since 1876.

The present monetary convention between France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and Greece is tacitly continued from year to year, but may be denounced by any of the contracting States, and, if denounced, will expire at the end of the year, which commences on January 1, following the denunci- ation. According to its terms, the five contracting States have their gold and silver coins respectively of the same fineness, weight, diameter, and current value, and the allowance for wear and tear in each case is the same. The coinage of 5-franc pieces, both gold and silver, is temporarily suspended, and the issue of subsidiary silver is, with certain exceptions for special reasons, limited to 7 francs per head of the population of each State (but 6 francs for Greece). Each Government, in its public offices, accepts payments in the silver 5-franc pieces of each of the others, and in subsidiary silver to the amount of 100 francs for each payment. Each State engages to exchange the excess of its issues over its receipts of subsidiary silver for gold or 5-franc silver pieces, and at the termination of the convention each is bound to resume also its 5-franc silver pieces, and to pay in gold a sum equal to the nominal value of the coin resumed. [But see also under Italy.] The following are the total issues of the five States, authorised by the convention of 1897:— France, 394 millions of francs; Italy, 232-4; Belgium, 46-8; Switzerland, 28; Greece, 15.

The monetary system of the Union has been adopted, either wholly or partially, in Spain, Rumania, Bulgaria. Servia, Russia, Finland, and many of the South American States.

Gramme. . = 15'43 gr. tr. | MHre. . . = 39-37 inches.

Kilogra^nme. . = 2'205 lbs. av. | Kilometre. . = '621 mile.

Quintal Metrique. — 220^ ,, ,, Metre Cube\ _ 35.31 c^^ic ft.

Tonneau [Metric | Stere j '

Ton) . . = 2,205 lbs. I Hectare . . = 2*47 acres.

Litre, Liquid. = 1-76 pint. : Kilometre Carre, = -386 sq. mile.

TT, TJ^ (hicxwid. — 22 gallons.

nectohtreiy-^^\^. = 2-75 bushels. |

Diplomatic Representatives.

1. Of France in Great Britain.

Ambassador. — M. Paul Cambon, G.C. V.O.

Councillor. — M. A. de Fleuriau.

Second Secretaries. — M. F. C. Roux and M. Roger Cambnn.

Third Secretaries. --M. A. Tliierry and Comte de Montholon.