fur seals with fire-arms or other destructive weapons north of 50° of north latitude, and between 160° of longitude west and 170° of longitude east from Greenwich, during the period intervening between the 15th April and the 1st November.

I expressed to Mr. Phelps the entire readiness of Her Majesty's Government to join in an Agreement with Russia and the United States to establish a close time for seal-fishing north of some latitude to be fixed.

Sir,

No. 97.

Foreign Office to Colonial Office.

Foreign Office, March 3, 1888.

I AM directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit herewith, for the information of Secretary Sir H. Holland, a copy of a letter from the United States' Minister in London,* inclosing a copy of a despatch addressed to him by Mr. Bayard on the 7th ultimo, in which attention is called to the necessity for the adoption of measures for protecting the fur seals in Behring's Sea.

I am at the same time to inclose a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to Sir L. West, repeating the substance of what passed at an interview between Lord Salisbury and Mr. Phelps on this question on the 22nd ultimo.

I am to request that in laying these papers before Sir H. Holland, you will move him to furnish Lord Salisbury with any observations he may have to offer on the subject.

My dear Ambassador,

No. 98.

The Marquis of Salisbury to M. de Staal.

Foreign Office, March 3, 1888. I INFORMED you a short time ago that the Government of the United States had proposed negotiations with the object of regulating the catching of fur seals in Behring's Sea.

It would be a source of satisfaction to me if the Russian Government would authorize your Excellency to enter into a discussion of the matter with Mr. Phelps and myself, and I should be greatly obliged if you would communicate on the subject with M. de Giers and inform me of the decision at which his Excellency may arrive.

I have, &c.

M. de Staal to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received March 8.)

Cher Lord Salisbury, Londres, le 24 Février (7 Mars), 1888. J'AI eu l'honneur de recevoir la lettre que vous avez bien voulu m'adresser en date du 3 Mars au sujet de la proposition faite par le Gouvernement des États-Unis d'Amérique en vue du règlement de la question de la chasse aux phoques dans la mer de Behring.

Votre Excellence m'ayant fait part du désir du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Britannique de voir la Russie concourir aux arrangements à concerter pour préserver de la ruine une branche d'industrie importante, je m'empresserai d'en informer le Gouvernement Impérial en priant M. de Giers de me munir des instructions nécessaires pour le cas où le Ministère Impérial m'autoriserait à m'associer aux négociations sur l'objet en question.

Veuillez, &c.

* No. 93.

(Signé)

† No. 96.

STAAL.

(Translation.)

Dear Lord Salisbury,

London, February 24 (March 7), 1888.

I HAVE had the honour to receive the letter which you were good enough to address to me on the 3rd March respecting the proposal made by the Government of the United States of America with the object of settling the question of seal-hunting in Behring's Sea.

Your Excellency having acquainted me of the desire of Her Britannic Majesty's Government to have the co-operation of Russia in the arrangements to be concerted for the preservation from ruin of an important branch of industry, I shall lose no time in informing the Imperial Government, and I shall ask M. de Giers to furnish me with the necessary instructions in case the Imperial Government should authorize me to take part in the negotiations on the subject in question.

Receive, &c.

Nɔ. 100.

(Signed)

STAAL.

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received March 13.)

Downing Street, March 12, 1888.

Sir, IN reply to your letter of the 3rd instant, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to acquaint you, for the information of the Marquis of Salisbury, that he thinks it will be necessary to consult the Canadian Government on the proposal to establish a close time for seals in Behring's Sea before expressing a final opinion upon it.

A copy of your letter and its inclosure has been forwarded to the Governor-General with a view to obtaining an expression of the views of his Ministers upon it.

I am to add that Lord Knutsford is inclined to view the proposal of the United States' Government with favour, but that he presumes that it will be made quite clear, should Her Majesty's Government assent to it, that such assent will not be taken as an admission of the claims of the United States in Behring's Sea, which have formed and still form the subject of controversy.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

JOHN BRAMSTON.

No. 101.

Sir,

Foreign Office to Colonial Office.

Foreign Office, March 17, 1888.

I HAVE laid before the Marquis of Salisbury your letter of the 12th instant, relative to the proposals of the United States' Government for the establishment of a close season for the fur-bearing seals which frequent Behring's Sea.

By his Lordship's direction I transmit herewith for your information copies of the correspondence, marked in the margin,* which has recently passed on this subject; and I am to request that in laying these papers before Lord Knutsford you will call his attention to the instructions given to Sir L. West to inform the United States' Secretary of State that, in acting upon the invitation conveyed in Mr. Bayard's despatch to Mr. Phelps of the 7th ultimo, Her Majesty's Government do not admit the rights of jurisdiction exercised by the United States' authorities in Behring's Sea during the fishing seasons of 1886-87 and 1887-88, and that the presentation of claims on account of the wrongful seizures of British vessels engaged in the seal-fishing industry will not be affected by such action.

Sir,

No. 102.

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir L. West.

Foreign Office, March 17, 1888. SINCE forwarding to you my despatch of the 22nd ultimo I have been in communication with the Russian Ambassador at this Court, and have invited his Excellency to ascertain whether his Government would authorize him to discuss with Mr. Phelps and myself the suggestion made by Mr. Bayard in his despatch of the 7th February, that concerted action should be taken by the United States, Great Britain, and other interested Powers, in order to preserve from extermination the fur seals which at certain seasons are found in Behring's Sea.

Copies of the correspondence on this question which has passed between M. de Staal and myself is inclosed herewith.*

I request that you will inform Mr. Bayard of the steps which have been taken, with a view to the initiation of negotiations for an Agreement between the three Powers principally concerned in the maintenance of the seal fisheries. But in so doing, you should state that this action on the part of Her Majesty's Government must not be taken as an admission of the rights of jurisdiction in Behring's Sea exercised there by the United States' authorities during the fishing seasons of 1886-87 and 1887-88, nor as affecting the claims which Her Majesty's Government will have to present on account of the wrongful seizures which have taken place of British vessels engaged in the seal-fishing industry.

No. 103.

I am, &c.

Sir,

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received March 22.)

Downing Street, March 22, 1888.

I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, a copy of a notice of a question to be asked in the House of Commons on Monday next by Mr. Gourley, respecting the alleged clearing for Behring's Sea of Canadian sealing schooners with armed Indian crews for the purpose of waging war upon American Revenue cutters, should their commanders attempt to molest them.

The question also asks what measures Her Majesty's Government intend adopting for the purpose of arriving at an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fisheries disputes.

Lord Knutsford has telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canada to inquire into the truth of the report referred to in the question, but he would be glad if the Marquis of Salisbury would inform him of the answer which should be returned to that part of the question which relates to the measures to be adopted for a settlement of the Alaskan Fisheries dispute.

Lord Knutsford would also be glad to receive Lord Salisbury's opinion as to whether it would be legally justifiable, and, if so, advisable, to desire the commanders of Her Majesty's ships to disarm any British sealing schooners sailing with such intention as is alleged in the report.

I am, &c.

Question to be asked in the House of Commons, March 26, 1888.

Mr. Gourley, To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is correct, as reported by cable from Victoria, British Columbia, that a number of Canadian sealing schooners have been permitted to clear for Behring's Sea with the intention of prosecuting seal-fishing contrary to the regulations of the United States' Alaskan authorities, carrying large Indian crews for the purpose of waging war upon American Revenue cutters, should their commanders attempt to molest them.

And what measures Her Majesty's Government intend adopting for the purpose of arriving at an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fisheries disputes.

Nos. 98 and 99.

No. 104.

Foreign Office to Colonial Office.

Sir, Foreign Office, March 24, 1888. I AM directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, calling attention to a notice of a question to be asked by Mr. Gourley in the House of Commons on the 26th instant (1) in regard to the alleged clearing for Behring's Sea of certain Canadian sealing schooners with armed Indian crews, for the purpose of waging war upon American Revenue cutters, should the commanders of the latter attempt to molest them; and (2) as to the measures which Her Majesty's Government intend to adopt for arriving at an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fisheries disputes.

With reference to the latter part of Mr. Gourley's question, I am to request that you will state to Lord Knutsford that, although some delay is inevitable in pressing for an immediate settlement of the questions which have arisen between this country and the United States in connection with the fur-seal fisheries in Behring's Sea, there is no reason to believe that any further illegal seizures of British vessels will take place, especially as the United States' Government have invited Her Majesty's Government to negotiate a Convention for a close time, thereby admitting their claim to exclusive rights in those waters to be untenable. Lord Salisbury, however, will again endeavour to obtain assurances on the subject from the Government of the United States.

As regards the rumours which have reached this country by telegraph from Victoria, British Columbia, of the clearance of Canadian vessels for Behring's Sea, manned with armed Indian crews, I am to state that Lord Salisbury will be prepared to submit the matter to the Law Officers of the Crown, should the rumours in question be confirmed, but that if the vessels are armed, not for purposes of attack, but for purposes of resistance to illegal seizures on the high seas, it would seem difficult to justify any interference with them on the part of Her Majesty's cruizers.

In conclusion, I am to suggest, for Lord Knutsford's consideration, that, in reply to Mr. Gourley's inquiry as to "what measures Her Majesty's Government intend adopting for the purpose of arriving at an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fisheries disputes," it might be stated that the question is now under the consideration of the two Governments concerned, but that it would be premature at this moment to say more than that Her Majesty's Government have no reason to doubt that a satisfactory arrangement will be arrived at.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.

No. 105.

Sir,

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received March 26.)

Downing Street, March 24, 1888. WITH reference to my letter of yesterday's date respecting a question to be asked in the House of Commons upon the subject of the alleged clearance of Canadian sealing vessels for the Behring's Sea with armed Indian crews, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, a copy of a telegram which has this day been received from the Governor-General of Canada.

I am to request to be informed of the answer which Lord Salisbury would wish to be returned to the Governor-General in regard to the latter part of his telegram.

I am, &c. (Signed)

JOHN BRAMSTON.

Inclosure in No. 105.

The Marquis of Lansdowne to Lord Knutsford.

(Telegraphic.) Ottawa, March 22, 1888. I HAVE received your telegram of the 22nd. The press has published rumour referred to, but it is not credited here, or confirmed by information, private or official. It is, however, of great importance, in order to avoid injury to fishing interest and risk

of further complications, to obtain from United States' Government explicit statement of its intentions as to sealers found in Behring's Sea this season.

No. 106.

Count Piper to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received March 27.)

EN se référant à la note verbale en date du 11 Octobre dernier, par laquelle M. le Marquis de Salisbury a exprimé le désir de connaître si le Gouvernement du Roi accepterait l'invitation qui lui avait été adressée par le Gouvernement des États-Unis à entrer dans un arrangement concernant la pêche aux phoques dans la mer de Behring, le Comte Piper a l'honneur, d'ordre de son Gouvernement, de lui communiquer ci-joint la réponse que le Comte Ehrensvärd a fait parvenir à ce sujet au Ministre des États-Unis à Stockholm. Londres, le 24 Mars, 1888.

(Translation.)

WITH reference to the note verbale of the 11th October last, in which the Marquis of Salisbury expressed the wish to know if the King's Government would accept the invitation addressed to them by that of the United States to come to an arrangement concerning the seal fishery in Behring's Sea, Count Piper has the honour, by order of his Government, to communicate to Lord Salisbury the inclosed reply which Count Ehrensvärd has addressed to the United States' Minister at Stockholm on the subject. London, March 24, 1888.

Inclosure in No. 106.

Count Ehrensvärd to the United States' Minister at Stockholm.

Le 15 Mars, 1888.

PAR une lettre en date du 17 Septembre de l'année passée Vous avez bien voulu, au nom de Votre Gouvernement, inviter les Royaumes-Unis à entrer dans un arrangement avec les États-Unis pour la préservation des phoques dans la mer de Behring.

La chasse aux phoques dans ces parages n'étant, jusqu'à présent, que d'un intérêt minime pour les Royaumes-Unis, le Gouvernement de Roi a cru ne pas devoir prendre part activement à ces pourparlers, lesquels il suivra toutefois avec toute l'attention que mérite l'affaire. Il sera ainsi heureux d'apprendre que les pourparlers engagés entre les Puissances intéressées en première ligne à ce sujet aient pu aboutir à un arrangement international, et que la faculté d'adhérer à l'entente serait, le cas échéant, réservée aux autres Puissances.

IN a letter dated the 17th September of last year You were good enough, in the name of Your Government, to invite the United Kingdoms to enter into an arrangement with the United States for the preservation of seals in Behring's Sea.

As the hunting of seals in those regions is at present but of very slight interest to the United Kingdoms, the Government of the King have not thought it their duty to take an active part in these negotiations, though they will be glad to follow them with all the attention which the matter deserves. They will also be glad to learn that the negotiations between the Powers chiefly interested have successfully resulted in an international arrangement, and that liberty will be reserved to the other Powers to join in such an arrangement should they desire to do so.

Receive, &c.

(Signed)

EHRENSVÄRD.