MESSAGE FROM THE 182 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WITH ACCOMPANYING SEA, INCLUDING ALL COMMUNICA- WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1890. 51ST CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 1st Session. Ex. Doc. No. 450. Vignaud 4-21-30 SEAL FISHERIES OF BEHRING SEA. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING A letter from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, touching the subjects in dispute between the Government of the United States and the Government of Great Britain in the Behring Sea, including all communications since March 4, 1889. JULY 23, 1890.-Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. To the House of Representatives: In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives, requesting me, if in my judgment not incompatible with the public interest, to furnish to the House the correspondence since March 4, 1889, between the Government of the United States and the Government of Great Britain touching the subjects in dispute in the Behring Sea, I transmit a letter from the Secretary of State which is accompanied by the correspondence referred to in the resolution. EXECUTIVE MANSION, BENJ. HARRISON. To the PRESIDENT: BAR HARBOR, MAINE, July 19, 1890. The official correspondence between the Government of the United States and the Government of Great Britain,-touching the seal fisheries of Behring Sea,—whose transmission to the House of Representatives you directed on the 11th instant, is herewith submitted. All communications since March 4, 1889, are included. A map will accompany my dispatch of June 30, 1890. I sincerely regret the delay in transmission. The correspondence is still in progress. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, JAMES G. BLAINE. LIST OF ACCOMPANYING PAPERS. No. 1. Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine, August 24, 1889. No. 5. Mr. Blaine to Mr. Edwardes, September 14, 1889. No. 6. The Marquis of Salisbury to Mr. Edwardes, October 2, 1889. No. 7. The Marquis of Salisbury to Mr. Edwardes, with an inclosure, October 2, 1889. No. 8. Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine, October 14, 1889. No. 9. Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote, January 22, 1890. No. 10. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, February 10, 1890. No. 11. Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote, with an inclosure, March 1, 1890. No. 12. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, with an inclosure, March 9, 1890. No. 13. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, with an inclosure, received April 30, 1890. No. 14. The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir Julian Pauncefote, with an inclosure, May 22, 1890. No. 15. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, May 23, 1890. No. 22. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, extract from telegram from the Marquis of Salisbury, received June 9, 1890. No. 23. Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote, June 11, 1830. No. 24. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, June 11, 1890. No. 25. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine with an inclosure, June 14, 1890. No. 26. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, June 27, 1890. No. 27. Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote, with map, June 30, 1890. No. 28. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, with an inclosure, June 30, 1890. No. 30. Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote, July 2, 1890. No. 1. Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. BAR HARBOR, August 24, 1889. SIR: In accordance with instructions which I have received from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I have the honor to state to you that repeated rumors have of late reached Her Majesty's Government that United States cruisers have stopped, searched, and even seized British vessels in Behring Sea outside of the 3-mile limit from the nearest land. Although no official confirmation of these rumors has reached Her Majesty's Government there appears to be no reason to doubt their authenticity. I am desired by the Marquis of Salisbury to inquire whether the United States Government are in possession of similar information, and further to ask that stringent instructions may be sent by the United States Government, at the earliest moment, to their officers, with the view to prevent the possibility of such occurrences taking place. In continuation of my instructions I have the honor to remind you that Her Majesty's Government received very clear assurances last year from Mr. Bayard, at that time Secretary of State, that pending the discussion of the general questions at issue no further interference should take place with British vessels in Behring Sea. In conclusion, the Marquis of Salisbury desires me to say that Sir Julian Pauncefote, Her Majesty's Minister, will be prepared on his return to Washington in the autumn to discuss the whole question, and Her Majesty's Government wish to point out to the United States Government that a settlement can not but be hindered by any measures of force which may be resorted to by the United States. I have, etc., H. G. EDWARDES. No. 2. Mr. Blaine to Mr. Edwardes. BAR HARBOR, August 24, 1889. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, conveying to me the intelligence "that repeated rumors have of late reached Her Majesty's Government that Ünited States cruisers have stopped, searched, and even seized British vessels in Behring Sea outside the 3-mile limit from the nearest land." And you add that, "although no official confirmation of these rumors has reached Her Majesty's Government, there appears to be no reason to doubt their authenticity." In reply I have the honor to state that the same rumors, probably based on truth, have reached the Government of the United States, but that up to this date there has been no official communication received on the subject. It has been and is the earnest desire of the President of the United States to have such an adjustment as shall remove all possible ground of misunderstanding with Her Majesty's Government concerning the existing troubles in the Behring Sea; and the President believes that the responsibility for delay in the adjustment can not be properly charged to the Government of the United States. I beg you will express to the Marquis of Salisbury the gratification with which the Government of the United States learns that Sir Julian Pauncefote, Her Majesty's minister, will be prepared, on his return to Washington in the autumn, to discuss the whole question. It gives me pleasure to assure you that the Government of the United States will endeavor to be prepared for the discussion, and that in the opinion of the President, the points at issue between the two governments are capable of prompt adjustment on a basis entirely honorable to both. I have, etc., No. 3. JAMES G. BLAINE. Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. BAR HARBOR, August 25, 1889. SIR: I had the honor to receive yesterday your note in which you have been good enough to inform me, with respect to the repeated rumors which have of late reached Her Majesty's Government of the search and seizure of British vessels in Behring Sea by United States cruisers, that the same rumors, probably based on truth, have reached |
