Sir, Inclosure 2 in No. 155. Mr. Jenks to Mr. Bayard. Washington, September 3, 1888. I HAVE the honour to send you copies of letters of the 23rd and 25th ultimo, from Mr. Atkins, United States' Marshal for the District of Alaska, and to ask for an expression of views upon your the propriety of an immediate sale of the vessels mentioned by the Marshal on consideration of the statements he makes in relation to them. Sir, Inclosure 3 in No. 155. Mr. Atkins to Mr. Jenks. Seattle, Washington Territory, August 23, 1888. IN reference to the four condemned British vessels now in my custody, I have the honour to report: That the owners of the schooners "Anna Beck,' ""Grace," and "Dolphin" claim that the appraisement made at Sitka one year ago was at the time excessive, and that their value on account of the inclement climate of Alaska has in the meantime been constantly depreciating, and therefore decline to bond them at such appraisement, but request a new appraisement, which, if not granted, they desire the sale to proceed. The owner says, however, that he will furnish satisfactory bonds for the schooner "Anna Beck" at her present appraised value if it can be effected, subject to a final settlement of the matter and without the expense of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Having myself a practical knowledge of the value of such property, I fully coincide with the claimant that the valuation put on the schooners "Grace" and "Dolphin" at Sitka was excessive. The schooner "Ada" is owned and registered at Shanghae, China, and her owner, whoever he may be, has not yet made any claim or appearance. In the meantime, the vessels are remote from my district, thus greatly increasing the responsibility of their safe custody, and the expense thereof constantly increasing. I desire to be instructed, in case vessels are not soon sold or bonded, what further action to take in reference to returning to my district and leaving the vessels in charge of a special deputy. I have, &c. Sir, Mr. Atkins to Mr. Jenks. District of Alaska, Office of United States' Marshal, IN view of the present situation relative to the British vessels in my custody now moored at Port Townsend, Washington Territory, I beg leave to state as follows:That all of said vessels, owing to the length of time they have been out of commission, are in a dilapidated condition, and their depreciation in value is constant and rapid. That they are small in size, the combined tonnage of the four being only 249 tons. That the owner of the "Anna Beck," "Grace," and "Dolphin," Captain J. D. Warren, of Victoria, British Columbia, has notified me that he prefers that the "Grace" and "Dolphin" should be sold without further delay, and the " Anna Beck" also, unless he can bond that vessel without instituting an appeal to the Supreme Court, or making the journey to Sitka for that purpose. That if longer held in custody, they will have to be removed from Port Townsend to some place secure from the fall and winter winds, for permanent moorings. All of which will be attended by much greater expense comparatively than has heretofore been required for their safe custody. I do not hesitate to recommend that, in interest of all concerned, the vessels, if not bonded, should be sold without delay. It is my purpose soon to repair to Port Townsend, there to await Department orders. Sir L. West to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received October 1.) My Lord, Beverly (Massachusetts), September 15, 1888. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 1st instant, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the appeal in the case of the "W. P. Sayward," alluded to therein, has not yet even been docketed in the Supreme Court of the United States. Foreign Office, October 2, 1888. Sir, I am to request that, in laying Sir L. West's despatch before Secretary Lord Knutsford, you will move him to inform Lord Salisbury what reply should be returned to the inquiry of the United States' Secretary of State with regard to the sale of the vessels seized. I am, &c. (Signed) P. CURRIE. No. 158. Sir, Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received October 9.) Downing Street, October 8, 1888. WITH reference to your letter of the 2nd instant, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, copies. of telegraphic correspondence with the Governor-General of Canada respecting the bonding of the vessels seized last year in Behring's Sea. Lord Knutsford would be glad if instructions could be given by telegraph to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington to propose to the United States' Government the course recommended in Lord Stanley of Preston's telegram of the 6th instant. I am, &c. (Signed) ROBERT G. W. KERBERT. Inclosure 1 in No. 158. (Telegraphic.) Lord Knutsford to Lord Stanley of Preston. Downing Street, October 4, 1888. WITH reference to Mr. Bayard's note to Sir L. West of the 10th September relative to Behring's Sea seizures, what answer should be returned? (Telegraphic.) Inclosure 2 in No. 158. Lord Stanley of Preston to Lord Knutsford. October 6, 1888. RECOMMEND that United States' authorities be moved to authorize the reappraisement of "Grace" and "Dolphin," and in case of "Anna Beck" to accept proposed bonds of owner, subject to final settlement of matter. (Telegraphic.) No. 159. The Marquis of Salisbury to Lord Sackville. Foreign Office, October 10, 1888. IN reply to your despatch of the 13th ultimo, I request that you will move United States' Government to authorize reappraisement of "Grace" and "Dolphin,” and to accept proposed bond of owner, subject to final settlement of matter, in case of "Anna Beck.' No. 160. Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Foreign Office, October 10, 1888. Sir, I AM directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, on the subject of the British vessels seized in Behring's Sea. I am to state to you, in reply, for the information of Lord Knutsford, that a telegram has this day been sent to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, requesting him to move the Government of the United States to authorize the reappraisement of the "Dolphin " and "Grace," and to accept the proposed bond of the owner of the "Anna Beck," subject to a final settlement of the matter. I am, &c. Sir L. West to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received October 12.) My Lord, Beverly (Massachusetts), September 30, 1888. WITH reference to my despatch of the 13th instant, I have the honour to inclose copy of a further note which I have received from the Secretary of State, relative to the four British sealers condemned for taking seals in Behring's Sea, and requesting a decision in regard to the disposition of them. I have forwarded copy of this note to the Governor-General of Canada. I have, &c. (Signed) L. S. SACKVILLE WEST. Sir, Inclosure in No. 161. Mr. Bayard to Sir L. West. Department of Stute, Washington, September 27, 1888. RECURRING to the subject of the four British vessels condemned for taking seals illicitly in Behring's Sea in 1887, I have the honour to inform you that I have received from the Acting Attorney-General a letter, dated the 26th instant, inclosing copies of letters from the United States' Attorney for Alaska, and the United States' Marshal for Washington Territory, of the 7th and 10th instant respectively, in relation to the same matter. "Ada," The four vessels, the schooners "Grace," "Dolphin," "Anna Beck," and " have been transferred by the United States' Marshal for Alaska to the custody of the United States' Marshal for Washington Territory, and are now at Port Townsend, subject to instructions from the Department of Justice touching their sale or other disposition. The Department is informed that none of the vessels have been bonded, and that the owners of three of them have refused to take that step, on the ground that their appraisement was too high. As the season advances, the probability of realizing a fair price for the vessels will diminish, and the expenses incident to their retention by the Marshal are necessarily accruing. These considerations make it proper that a decision in regard to the disposition of the vessels should speedily be reached, and I have the honour to request that if it is desired to postpone the sale still further, the Department may be assured at an early day that an arrangement will be made whereby the vessels may be saved from becoming a loss. I have, &c. (Signed) T. F. BAYARD. No. 162. Sir, * Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Foreign Office, October 13, 1888. WITH reference to my letter of the 10th instant, I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, inclosing a note from Mr. Bayard, requesting a decision as to the disposition of the four sealing-schooners "Grace," "Dolphin," "Anna Beck," and "Ada." I am to request you to move Lord Knutsford to cause Lord Salisbury to be informed what reply should be returned as to the "Ada.” Her Majesty's Minister at Washington has been already communicated with by telegraph in regard to the other three vessels, as you were informed in my letter above referred to. Downing Street, October 20, 1888. I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, inclosing a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington,+ stating that the appeal in the case of the "W. P. Sayward" has not yet been docketed in the Supreme Court of the United States. In your letter of the 1st ultimo, it was stated that before taking any action on the Minute of the Canadian Government, inclosed in the despatch from Lord Stanley of Preston of the 26th July last, Lord Salisbury had instructed Her Majesty's Minister at Washington to state when the appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of the "W. P. Sayward" was likely to come on, and to report generally on the progress of the case. As it appears from the answer now received from Sir L. West that there is likely to be considerable delay in this case, Lord Knutsford would be glad to be informed whether, in Lord Salisbury's opinion, action should not now be taken on the Minute of the Canadian Privy Council referred to. I am, &c. (Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON. * No. 161. † No. 156. Sir, No. 164. Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received October 26.) Downing Street, October 25, 1888. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 8th instant respecting the bonding of certain vessels seized last year in Behring's Sea, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, for the information of the Marquis of Salisbury, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada on the subject. As the papers forwarded by Lord Stanley of Preston do not answer the question in Mr. Bayarl's note to Sir Lionel West, dated the 10th September last (inclosed in your letter to this Department of the 2nd instant), so far as concerns the schooner "Ada," Lord Knutsford has telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canada with reference to your letter of the 13th instant, asking what reply should be returned in regard to that vessel. My Lord, I am, &c. (Signed) Inclosure 1 in No. 161. JOHN BRAMSTON. Lord Stanley of Preston to Lord Knutsford. Government House, Ottawa, October 8, 1888. WITH reference to your telegram of the 4th instant, inquiring what answer should be returned to Mr. Bayard's note to Sir Lionel West of the 10th September with reference to the bonding of certain British vessels seized some time since in Behring's Sea, I have the honour to inclose herewith a copy of a despatch which I have to-day addressed to Sir Lionel West, covering a copy of an approved Minute of my Privy Council dealing with this subject. Government House, Ottawa, October 8, 1888. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 13th ultimo, covering copy of a note from the Secretary of State of the United States, with copies of correspondence accompanying it, relative to the bonding of the British ships "Grace,' Dolphin," and "Anna Beck," which were seized some time since in Behring's Sea. 29 66 I now beg to inclose copy of an approved Minute of my Privy Council in relation to this matter, from which it will be seen that my Ministers desire that the Government of the United States may be moved to authorize the reappraisement of the schooners "Grace" and "Dolphin," owing to the fact, which is duly set forth in the correspondence accompanying Mr. Bayard's note, that the appraisement made at Sitka more than a year since is regarded by the owners as having been excessive, and as having become still more so, consequent upon the exposure of these vessels to the inclement climate of Alaska. As regards the case of the "Anna Beck," the Minute recommends that the United States' Government may be requested to give instructions that the proposed bonds of the owner may be accepted, subject to a final settlement of this question. I have, &c. (Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. |
