233 Mr. Blaine to Mr. Lincoln.. April 10 Traveling certificate issued to Louis Wagner by

242 Same to same...

251

Same to same..

the State of Minnesota: Incloses copies of correspondence relating to a similar case at Vienna. April 14 Taxation of American missionaries in Burmah: Asks for two additional copies of the printed document accompanying his No. 197 of the 20th

ultimo.

April 18 Traveling certificate issued to Louis Wagner by
the State of Minnesota: Incloses a copy of a
letter of the 11th instant from the governor of
Minnesota, stating that no more such papers
will be issued.

April 30 Passport for H. C. Quinby: Approves his refusal
to furnish Mr. Quinby an official blank form to
be used for the sole purpose of writing to a
newspaper. Mr. Quinby can see the blank
forms of applications for passports and the
printed instructions to applicants at the United
States consulate at Liverpool. Mr. Quinby's
actual status is only a matter of inference. He
has simply declined to make application for a
passport. Had he filled out the blank form of-
fered him, with a declaration of his intention
never to return to the land whose protection
he craves, it would have been easy to deal with
his application.

Same to same (telegram).... May 1 Boundary dispute between Great Britain and

Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine (telegram).

May

229

Same to same...

May

255

Venezuela: Instructs him to use his good of
fices with Lord Salisbury to bring about the
resumption of diplomatic intercourse between
Great Britain and Venezuela, and to propose to
Lord Salisbury an informal conference of repre-
sentatives of the three powers in Washington
or London.

5 Same subject: Lord Salisbury suggests that the
termination of diplomatic relations was due to
the action of Venezuela, and, with regard to a
settlement of the matter, he intimated a doubt
of the stability of the Venezuelan Government.
5 Same subject: Describes his interview of this
date with Lord Salisbury, in which he conveyed
to him the substance of Department's tele.
gram of the 1st instant. Lord Salisbury said that
he would consider the suggestion of a confer
ence after he had consulted the colonial office.
Incloses a copy of his note of this date to Lord
Salisbury, making the formal proposition that
an informal conference of representatives of
Great Britain, Venezuela, and the United
States be held either in Washington or London,
with a view to the resumption of diplomatic
relations between Great Britain and Venezuela.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Lincoln.. May 6 Boundary dispute between Great Britain and

Venezuela: Instructs him to do all in his pow.
er, consistently with an attitude of impartial
friendliness, to arrive at some agreement be
tween the two Governments, by which the rights
of each may be secured. Incloses copies of re-
cent communications from the United States
minister at Caracas and the Venezuelan minis-
ter at Washington, and of Senate document No.
226, first session, Fiftieth Congress, on the sub-
ject.
Boundary dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela: Incloses a copy of dispatch, No.
100 of the 3d instant from the United States
minister at Caracas, transmitting a sketch
map of the disputed boundary between British
Guiana and Venezuela.

Same subject: Has communicated to the Vene-
zuelan minister at Washington the substance
of Mr. Lincoln's No. 229 of the 5th instant and
sent a copy of it to the United States minister
at Caracas.

Same subject: Incloses a copy of a note of the
20th instant from the Venezuelan minister at
Washington.

332

334

335

335

337

337

337

339

339

340

340

249

Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine.. May 28

Same subject: Incloses a copy of a note of the
26th instant from Lord Salisbury, giving his
reasons for declining the offers of the good
offices of the United States in the matter.
June 25 Boundary dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela: Describes negotiations ending in
his presenting to Lord Salisbury this day Se
for Pulido, the Venezuelan minister, on special
mission to Great Britain.
July 9 Passport for H. C. Quinby: Mr. Quinby called
at the legation this day and presented his ap.
plication for a passport, said application stat
ing that he intended never to return to the
United States with the purpose of residing and
performing the duties of citizenship therein.
Mr. Lincoln declined to issue him a passport.
Incloses a copy of the application and of a let-
ter of April 9, 1891, from Mr. Quinby to the Bos-

Sept. 2

ton Post.

June 25 Services rendered by the British consul-general
at Tabriz, Persia, and the British minister to
Persia in the case of the murder of Mrs J. N.
Wright, the wife of an American missionary in
Persia. Instructs him to express to the for-
eign office the Department's high appreciation
of the services rendered by the said officers in
securing the arrest of the criminal. Incloses
extracts from No. 456 of May 24, and 459 of
June 3, 1890, from the United States minister
at Teheran.
Claim of William Webster against Great Britain:
In legation's No. 638 of December 10, 1887, Mr.
Phelps inclosed to the Department printed cop-
ies of a memorandum of Sir Robert Stout, gov
ernor of New Zealand, concerning the claims of
William Webster, a United States citizen, to
certain lands in New Zealand, in reply to a re-
port of the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the United States Senate. That committee,
after considering the reply, recommended the
claim to the President as worthy of considera-
tion and requested that it be made the subject
of further negotiation with the British Govern-
ment. Incloses a memorandum stating all the
facts in the case, and giving Department's rea-
sons for being unable to accept the conclusions
arrived at in Sir Robert Stout's memorandum.
Instructs him to present the claim to the British
Government.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Lincoln.. Oct. 22

Mr. White to Mr. Blaine.... Nov. 6

Chinese immigration from Canada and Mexico:
Instructs him to sound the British Government
as to its willingness to enter into negotiations
to the end of securing treaty stipulations for
the prevention of the entry into the United
States of Chinese laborers from Canada, and of
insuring a reasonable uniform application of
measures for the prevention of Chinese labor
immigration in the United States, Canada, and
Mexico.

Same subject: Gives the substance of his inter-
view of the 5th instant with Lord Salisbury. The
latter stated that the subject was entirely new
to him, and that, before expressing an opinion
on the subject, it would be necessary for him
to ascertain the views of the Canadian gov-
ernment.

340

341

342

344

344

Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. Aug. 24 Seizure of British sealing vessels in Behring Sea:

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Edwardes. Aug. 24

Rumors have reached the British Government
that United States cruisers have stopped,
searched, and even seized British vessels in Beh.
ring sea outside of the 3-mile limit from the
nearest land. Asks that stringent instructions
be sent to the United States officers, with a view
to prevent the possibility of such occurrences
taking place. Mr. Bayard last year assured the
British Government that, pending the discussion
of the several questions at issue, no further in-
terference should take place with British ves-
sels in Behring Sea. Sir Julian Pauncefote, on
his return to Washington, will be prepared to
discuss the whole question.

Same subject: The United States Government
has received no official information regarding
such seizures. It is the earnest desire of the
President to have such an adjustment as shall
remove all possible ground of misunderstanding
with the British Government concerning the
existing troubles in Behring Sea. He believes
that the responsibility for delay in the adjust-
ment can not properly be charged to the United
States Government. The latter will endeavor
to be prepared for the discussion of the whole
question when Sir Julian Pauncefote returns.

Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. Aug. 25 Seizure of British sealing vessels in Behring Sea:

Same to same..

Will communicate to his Government Mr.
Blaine's note of the 24th instant.

Sept. 12 Same subject: Asks for a reply to the request
contained in his note of the 24th ultimo, that
instructions be sent to Alaska to prevent the
possibility of the seizure of British ships in
Behring Sea.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Edwardes. Sept. 14

Same subject: A categorical reply to his request
that certain instructions be sent to Alaska
would be unjust to the United States Govern-
ment and misleading to the British Government.
The President prefers to remand the whole sub-
ject to the formal discussion agreed upon. Any
instructions sent to Behring Sea at the time of
the original request (August 24) would have
failed to have arrived there before the proposed
departure of the United States cruisers.
Seizure of British sealing vessels in Behring Sea:
The negotiations proposed by the United States
regarding a close time for the seal fishery
were suspended in consequence of objections
raised by Canada. Sir Julian Pauncefote will
be furnished with the requisite instructions, if
Mr. Blaine wishes to resume them.
Same subject: Incloses a copy of a dispatch of
August 26, 1889, from the governor-general of
Canada, and accompanying documents, rela-
tive to the seizure of the Canadian vessels
Black Diamond and Triumph by the
United States revenue cutter Rush in Be-
ring Sea in July, 1889. Mr. Bayard gave an
unofficial assurance that no more seizures of
of this character should take place pending
the discussion of the questions involved by the
two governments. Protests against them, and
considers them wholly unjustified by inter-
national law.

Seizure of British sealing vessels in Behring Sea:
The assurance to which Lord Salisbury re-
ferred in his dispatch of the 2d instant was given
unofficially to Lord Salisbury by the United
States minister in London, and by Mr. Bayard
to Sir Lionel West in April, 1888.

Same subject: The Canadian vessels arrested
were engaged in a pursuit which was, in itself,
"contra bonos mores," and involving a serious
and permanent injury to the rights of the Gov-
ernment and people of the United States. The
seal fisheries of Behring Sea are one of the most
valuable sources of revenue from the Alaskan
possessions. They were exclusively controlled

358

359

359

360

360

361

362

366

366

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BRITISH LEGATION AT WASHINGTON-Continued.

No.

From and to whom.

Date.

Subject.

Page.

by Russia, without interference, from their orig.
inal discovery until the cession of Alaska to the
United States in 1867. They were enjoyed by the
United States, without intrusion from any source,
from 1867 to 1886. Vessels from other nations
passing through Behring Sea had always ab
stained from the capture of seals in recognition of
the right held and exercised, first by Russia and
afterwards by the United States, and in recog
nition of the fact, now held beyond denial or
doubt, that the taking of seals in the open sea
rapidly leads to their extinction, because it in-
volves the destruction of the female in common
with the male. The United States Government,
through competent agents, by close obedience
to the laws of nature, and by rigidly limiting
the number to be annually slaughtered, suc-
ceeded in increasing the number of the seals
and the value of the fisheries. The company to
which the fisheries were leased sent the skins
to London to be dressed and prepared, and the
amount thereby earned by English laborers
since 1867 amounts in the aggregate to more
than $12,000,000. In 1886 certain Canad an ves
sels asserted their right to enter, and by their
ruthless course to destroy the fisheries. The
United States Government at once proceeded to
check this movement, and was surprised that
the British Government should immediately in-
terfere to defend and encourage the course of
the Canadians. So great has been the injury to
the fisheries from the irregular and destructive
slaughter of seals in the open waters of Behring
Sea by Canadian vessels that, whereas the Gov
ernment had allowed 100,000 seals to be killed
annually for a series of years, it is now compelled
to reduce the number to 60,000. The British Gov-
ernment defends the course of the Canadan ves-
sels on the ground that they are committing their
acts of destruction on the high seas, that is to
say, more than 3 marine miles from the shore
line. The British Government would hardly
abide by this rule if the attempt were made to in-
terfere with the pearl fisheries of Ceylon, which
extend more than 20 miles from the shore line,
and which have been enjoyed by England with-
out molestation ever since their acquisition;
nor would it permit destructive modes of fish-
ing on the Grand Banks, on the plea that the
vicious acts were committed more than 3 miles
from shore. The law of the sea, and the lib-
erty which it confers, can not be perverted to
justify acts which are immoral in themselves,
and which inevitably tend to results against
the interests and welfare of mankind. One step
beyond the position which the British Govern.
ment has taken in this matter, and piracy finds
its justification. The President awaits any
proposition for a reasonable adjustment that
the British Government may submit. He re-
gards the forcible resistance to which the
United States is constrained in Behring Sea as
demanded, not only by the necessity of defend-
ing the rights of the United States, but those,
also, of good morals and good government
throughout the world. The United States will
not withhold from any nation the privileges
which it demanded for itself when Alaska be-
longed to Russia, nor is it disposed to exercise
any less power or authority in those posses-
sions than it was willing to concede to Russia
when they were hers.

Seal fisheries in Behring Sea: The British Gov-
ernment is willing to adopt Mr. Blaine's sug-
gestion that the negotiations between Great
Britain, Russia, and the United States, regard-
ing the establishment of a close time for the
seal fisheries in Behring Sea, be resumed at
Washington.

370

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BRITISH LEGATION AT WASHINGTON—Continued.

Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Mar. 1
Pauncefote.

Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Mar. 9
Blaine.

Same to same....

Mar. 24

Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian
Pauncefote.

Mar. 26

Same to same...

Apr. 8

Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Apr. 30
Blaine.

Same to same....

Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian
Pauncefote.

May 15

Same subject: Incloses copies of evidence show-
ing that the killing of seals in the open sea tends
certainly and rapidly to the extermination of
the species.

Same subject: Incloses a memorandum prepared
by Mr. Tupper in reply to Mr. Blaine's note of
the 1st instant, and a note on the question of the
protection of the fur seal in the North Pacific, by
George Dawson.

Samoa Gives the substance of certain instruc-
tions which have been sent to the British con-
sul at Apia with regard to the execution of cer-
tain provisions of the general act of the Samoan
conference at Berlin.

Samoa: The instructions sent to the British con-
sul at Apia appear to agree with the proposi-
tion submitted to Mr. Blaine by the German
minister at Washington on the 2d instant and
with the telegraphic instructions sent to the
United States vice-consul at Apia on the 6th
instant.

Samoa: The President thinks that the appoint-
ment of a chief justice for Samoa by the King
of Sweden would tend to create greater har-
mony in Samoa than the appointment of that
officer by any one of the signatory powers.
Seal fisheries in Behring Sea: Mr. Tingle, the
United States agent, in 1887 reported that the
number of the seals was on the increase, and,
in 1888, that there were as many seals on the
rookeries as in 1887. Mr. Elliott affirms that
the natural increase of the far-seal species is
so rapid that Behring Sea itself could not con-
tain them if they were not preyed upon by
submarine foes. Mr. Tupper has shown in his
memorandum that the destruction of seals
caused by pelagic sealing is insignificant in
comparison with that caused by their natural
enemies, and he gives figures showing their
marvelous increase in spite of the depreda
tions complained of. Proposes that a mixed
commission of experts be appointed to make
investigations in the region of the seal fisheries,
as to whether any restrictions on pelagic seal.
ing are necessary for the preservation of the
fur-seal species, and, if so, as to the character
and extent of such restrictions; and that, pend.
ing such investigations, pelagic sealing be pro-
hibited in Behring Sea, the Sea of Ochotsk, and
the adjoining waters, during the months of May,
June, October, November, and December; and
that all sealing vessels be prohibited from ap.
proaching the breeding islands within a radius
of 10 miles. Incloses a draft of a preliminary
convention providing for the appointment of
such mixed commission, regulations, arbitra-
tion, seal-fishery line and a close time for the
seal-fisheries, etc. Incloses, also, an extract
from a pamphlet entitled "Fur-seal Fisheries
of the Pacific Coast and Alaska, "and affidavits
of certain seal hunters, showing that compara-
tively few of the seals wounded by spears or
firearms are lost.

May 10 Extradition: Incloses a copy of a dispatch of
April 1, 1890, from the governor-general of
India, in council, transmitting the forms of cer-
tificate proposed to be adopted in British India
in support of applications for the extradition
from the United States of fugitives from jus-
tice. Asks if such certificates will be accepted
as sufficient by the United States courts.
Extradition: The form of certificate inclosed in
Sir Julian's note of the 10th instant is in accord-
ance with that prescribed by the Department
for the use of the legation in London. Copies
of it will be sent to the United States consular
officers in those parts of the British dominions
in which they may be called upon to certify ex-
tradition papers. It is the best that could be
devised under the circumstances.

370

382

408

408

409

410

417

419