*

telegram from Sir J. Pauncefote, stating that he has communicated the amount of the Behring's Sea claims to Mr. Blaine, who proposes to assess them provisionally, and then to refer the question of the liability of the United States Government to arbitration.

I am to state that Lord Salisbury proposes, with Lord Knutsford's concurrence, to authorize Sir J. Pauncefote to commence at once the tripartite negotiations and the assessment of damages, leaving the question of arbitration in suspense until the results of both proceedings are known.

I am, &c.

(Signed) P. CURRIE.

No. 283.

Sir,

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote.

Foreign Office, February 10, 1890.

I HAVE received your telegram of the 8th instant, stating that you have communicated to Mr. Blaine the amount claimed on account of the seizures of Canadian vessels, and that his Excellency states that such a sum could only be paid on the award of an arbitration, followed by a vote of Congress. You add that he is willing to assess the claims provisionally, leaving the question of the liability of the United States' Government to be eventually decided by arbitration.

I have to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government are willing to proceed in accordance with Mr. Blaine's suggestion, and that you are authorized at once to commence negotiations for a tripartite Agreement respecting the establishment of a close season, and the assessment of damages sustained on account of the seizure of the vessels. I am, &c.

(Extract.)

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received February 11.)

Downing Street, February 11, 1890. WITH reference to previous correspondence, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, forwarding a Minute of the Dominion Privy Council on the subject of the Notice published by the United States' Government calling for tenders for the lease of the Alaskan seal fisheries.

Although, as suggested by the Canadian Government, the granting of such a lease as that referred to would be calculated to complicate the contemplated negotiations, Lord Knutsford is disposed to think that the issue of the Notice need not be held to preclude the commencement of those negotiations, and his Lordship desires me to suggest that a copy of this despatch should be sent to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, with instructions to communicate it to the United States' Government, if he sees no objection.

My Lord,

Inclosure 1 in No. 284.

Lord Stanley of Preston to Lord Knutsford.

Government House, Ottawa, January 20, 1890. WITH reference to the proposals made by Mr. Bayard for a close season for seals in Behring's Sea, which was dealt with by my Government in the Orders in Council, copies of which were forwarded in my despatches of the 3rd August, 1888, and of the 11th November, 1889, I have the honour to forward herewith, for your Lordship's information, a copy of an approved Minute of the Privy Council, embodying a Report of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, in regard to an advertisement recently issued by the Secretary of the Treasury for the United States, calling for tenders for the exclusive privilege of taking seals on the Islands of St. Paul and St. George of the Pribylov group in the Behring's Sea for a term of twenty years from the 1st May, 1890.

Your Lordship will observe that my Government is apprehensive that a lease such as that contemplated in the advertisement, under which the monopoly which has existed for the past twenty years would be continued regardless of any close season, may interfere with the proposed negotiations for a close season.

Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor-General in Council on the 13th January, 1890.

ON a Report dated the 4th January, 1890, from the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, submitting in connection with the Minutes of Council of the 14th July, 1888, and 4th November, 1889, approved by his Excellency the Governor-General, upon the subject of the protection of fur-seals in the Behring's Sea, the appended advertisement recently issued by the Secretary of the Treasury for the United States of America, calling for tenders to be received up to the 23rd January instant for the exclusive privilege of taking fur-seals on the Islands of St. Paul and St. George, of the Pribylov group, in the Behring's Sea, commonly known as the Seal Islands, for a term of twenty years from the 1st May, 1890.

The Minister observes, in reference to the Honourable Mr. Bayard's proposal for international action in the establishment of a close season for seals in the Behring's Sea, extending from the 15th April to the 1st November, that the present advertisement would indicate on the part of the United States' authorities the intention to continue that monopoly of the seal industry which has existed for the past twenty years, regardless of any close season applicable to the breeding grounds or rookeries of the seals.

The Minister notices that the only important difference between the terms of the proposed lease and those in the lease held by the Alaska Commercial Company, expiring in May 1890, is the limitation in the number of seals to be annually killed, which is stated to be 60,000, instead of 100,000, for the first year, the number to be fixed by the Treasury Department for succeeding years.

The Minister desires to point out that the months open to the lessees of the breeding grounds for killing operations, during the next twenty years, are June, July, September, and October, or four of the months in the middle of the close season proposed by the Honourable Mr. Bayard on behalf of the United States' authorities.

It has already been contended by your Excellency's advisers that the dates then proposed by the Honourable Mr. Bayard were fixed to practically exclude from fishing. operations all vessels likely to frequent these waters for that purpose.

The Minister observes that in support of the Honourable Mr. Bayard's proposal, it was contended that the British and other sealers were in the habit of killing and wounding the cow-seals with their young, and that therefore the necessity for the close season proposed by him was all the greater in the interest of the fishery; but upon this it may be said that the British vessels seized or expelled from the Behring's Sea, almost without exception, entered that sea, in the month of July, or during the height of the killing season of the Alaska Commercial Company, and as the female seals (according to the United States' authorities) repair to the rookeries in June and July, where they soon after bring forth their young, the opportunity for sealing-vessels to kill females with pup in the open waters of the Behring's Sea must be very rare.

The Minister is of opinion that the attention of Her Majesty's Government should be called to this state of facts, and that they be informed that your Excellency's advisers are under the apprehension that the said lease may interfere with the proposed negotiations for a close season for Behring's Sea.

The Committee concurring, advise that your Excellency be moved to forward a copy of this Minute to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of Her Majesty's Government.

All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval.

(Signed)

Appendix.

[See Inclosure in No. 268.]

JOHN J. MCGEE,

Clerk, Privy Council.

No 286.

Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.--(Received by telegraph, February 11.)

My Lord,

Washington, February 11, 1890.7 I COMMUNICATED the substance of your Lordship's telegram to Mr. Blaine late yesterday evening, and he consented to your Lordship's proposal to commence the tripartite negotiation and the assessment of damages at once.

He said, at the same time, that he would communicate with the Russian Minister here on the subject and inform me of the result, with a view to common action by your Lordship and himself in inviting Russia to participate in the negotiations.

I have, &c.

Lord Knutsford to Lord Stanley of Preston.—(Received at Foreign Office, February 12.)

(Telegraphic.)

Downing Street, February 12, 1890. INSTRUCTIONS sent to Minister at Washington to commence negotiations for establishment of a close season, and provisionally for assessment of claims for damage; he will also be directed to communicate with you as to fixing time for Representative of Dominion Government to assist you at Washington:

No. 288.

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote.

Sir, Foreign Office, February 12, 1890. WITH reference to my despatch of the 28th ultimo, I have to request that you will bear in mind that all proposals from the United States' Government for the settlement of the Behring's Sea question should be received by you ad referendum.

I am, &c. (Signed)

SALISBURY.

Sir,

No. 289.

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote.-(Substance telegraphed.)

Foreign Office, February 13, 1890.

I TRANSMIT to you herewith copy of a telegram from the Governor-General of Canada relative to the Behring's Sea negotiations;* and I have to request you to communicate with the Governor-General of Canada with a view to settling the date on which the Representative of the Dominion, who will assist you in the negotiations, should arrive in Washington.

I am, &c.

No. 290.

Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received by telegraph, February 14.)

My Lord,

Washington, February 13, 1890. ** MR. BLAINE informed me to-day that M. de Struve, the Russian Minister here, has telegraphed to his Government to inquire whether they consent to his taking part in the negotiations on the subject of a close time for seals in Behring's Sea.

He hopes that your Lordship will, on your side, invite the Russian Government to participate in the proposed negotiations.

I have, &c.

Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.-(Received by telegraph, February 14.) My Lord,

Washington, February 13, 1890. WITH reference to your Lordship's telegram of to-day, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I have written to the Governor-General of Canada and have requested him to be prepared to send a Canadian Agent to Washington, in order to assist me in the forthcoming negotiations on the subject of a close time for seals in Behring's Sea.

I will not fail to telegraph to him as soon as I learn that the Russian Government have consented to participate in the negotiations.

I have, &c.

Sir,

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote.

Foreign Office, February 14, 1890. WITH reference to your despatch of the 9th ultimo, I transmit herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Colonial Office,* covering a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, forwarding a Minute of the Dominion Privy Council on the subject of the Notice published by the United States' Government calling for tenders for the lease of the Alaska seal fisheries.

No. 293.

I am, &c.

Sir,

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir R. Morier.-(Substance telegraphed.)

Foreign Office, February 14, 1890.

I HAVE to inform your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government have agreed with that of the United States that it is desirable to resume the negotiations, which ceased in 1888, between Great Britain, Russia, and the United States for the establishment of a close time for seals in the Behring's Sea.

I should be glad if your Excellency would invite the Russian Government to give instructions to their Representative at Washington to take part in negotiations for the

purpose.

* No. 284.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

SALISBURY.

No. 294.

Sir R. Morier to the Marquis of Salisbury.*—(Received by telegraph, February 23.)

My Lord,

St. Petersburgh, February 23, 1890.

ON receipt of your Lordship's telegram of the 14th instant, instructing me inquire of the Russian Government whether they would consent to their Minister at Washington taking part in the negotiations respecting a close time for seal-fishing, which Her Majesty's Government and the United States' Government are anxious to resume, I at once addressed a note to M. de Giers in this sense.

I have now the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of the reply which I have received from M. de Giers, stating that the Russian Minister at Washington has been instructed by telegraph to take part in the negotiations as desired by your Lordship.

M. l'Ambassadeur, Saint-Pétersbourg, le 9 (21) Février, 1890. J'AI reçu la note que votre Excellence a bien voulu m'adresser en date du 3 (15) courant au sujet de la reprise des négociations, interrompues en 1888, relativement à la fixation de la période durant laquelle la chasse aux otaries serait défendue.

Le Cabinet Impérial étant vivement désireux de mettre une fin aux discussions et aux malentendus, auxquels l'absence de tout règlement à ce sujet est de nature à donner lieu, le Ministre de Russie à Washington vient d'être autorisé par télégraphe à prendre part aux négociations en question.

En me faisant un devoir d'informer votre Excellence de ce qui précède, je saisis, &c.

(Translation.)

(Signé)

GIERS.

M. l'Ambassadeur,

St. Petersburgh, February 9 (21), 1890.

I HAVE received the note which your Excellency was good enough to address to me on the 3rd (15th) instant, on the subject of the resumption of the negotiations, broken off in 1888, relative to the fixture of a period during which the hunting of fur-seals should be prohibited.

The Imperial Cabinet earnestly desire to put an end to the discussions and misunderstandings to which the absence of any regulation on the subject is calculated to give rise, and the Minister of Russia at Washington has accordingly been authorized by telegraph to take part in the negotiations in question.

While making it my duty to communicate the above to your Excellency, I avail, &c.

No. 295.

(Signed)

GIERS.

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

Sir, Downing Street, February 22, 1890. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 6th instant, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, forwarding the claim for compensation in the case of the British schooner "Minnie," which was seized by the United States' Revenue cruizer "Richard Rush" in Behring's Sea last year. This claim completes the list of claims on account of these seizures.

I am, &c. (Signed)

JOHN BRAMSTON.

* Substance sent to Sir J. Pauncefote by telegraph, February 22.