OEAL ARGUMENT OP HON. EDWARD J. PHELPS. 13 



comment upon it and protest against it by Canada (wliich I shall allude 

 to hereafter) he did not put himself for a moment with the United 

 States upon any other ground than this — that time was wanted, but 

 that the convention would ultimately be carried into effect. I shall 

 prove this by reading some few of the letters that bear directly upon 

 that point, so that it will be seen exactly how Great Britain, in a man- 

 ner most honourable to herself, and to the statesman who had charge, of 

 her Foreign Affairs, met this proposal of the United States. 



The letter of November 12th 1887 from the United States Minister 

 to Mr. Bayard at page 171 of the 1st Volume of the United States 

 Appendix, states the Minister's account, and is the first thing that 

 appears in the correspondence to show what took place. He says : 



Referring to your instructions numbered 685, of Angnst 19th 1887, I have now to 

 say that owing to the absence from London of Lord Salisbury. Secretary of State 

 for Foreign Affairs, it has not been in my power to obtain his attention to the sub- 

 ject until yesterday. 



I had then an interview with him, in which I proposed on the part of the Govern- 

 ment of the United States that by mutual agreement of the two (Toverniiients a code 

 of regulations should be adopted for the preservation of the seals in IJehring Sea 

 from destruction at improper times and by improper means by the citizens of either 

 country; such agreement to be entirely irrespective of any questions of conflicting 

 jurisdiction in those waters. 



His Lordship promptly acquiesced in this proposal on the part of Great Britain, 

 and suggested that I should obtain from mj'^ Government andsul>mit to him a sketch 

 of a system of regulations which would be adequate for the purpose. 



I have therefore to request that I may be furnished as early as possible with a 

 draft of such a code as in your judgment should be adopted. 



I would also suggest that copies of it be furnished at the same time to the Minis- 

 ters of the United States in Germany, Sweden and Norway, Russia, France, and 

 .Japan, in order that it may be under consideration by the Governments of those 

 countries. A mutual agreement between all the Governments interested may thus 

 be reached at an early day. 



Mr. Bayard had to take time to answer the request of the British 

 Government as to what these Regulations should be. It was only 

 agreed at the first interview that a code should be adopted, and the 

 United States were invited to propose one. Here is a reply on Febru- 

 ary 7th from Mr. Bayard that covers three pages, and which will use- 

 fully repay perusal. I shall only be able to read some extracts from it. 

 The substance of the letter is to state these leading facts as they 

 now appear before you; the migration of the seals; the period of the 

 year; the great slaughter of the females and the death of the young; 

 the extermination to which it conducted, and various other considera- 

 tions, and embracing — this is the important point — a proposal for tliese 

 Eegulations. That is the substance of it. 1 will read this passage: 



The only way of obviating the lamentable result above predicted appears to be by 

 the United States, Great Britain, and other interested powers taking concerted action 

 to prevent their citizens or snljjects from killing fur-seals with tirearm.s, or destruc- 

 tive 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 

 April 15th and IS^ovember 1st. 



To prevent the killing within a marine belt of 40 or 50 miles from the islands 

 during that period would be ineffectual aa a preservative measure. 



And so forth. 



Then comes a letter from the United States Minister to Mr. Bayard, 

 on page 175, in which he says : 



I have received your instruction No. 782, under date of February 7, relative to the 

 Alaskan seal fisheries. I imniediat(dy addressed a note to Lord Salisbury, inclosing 

 for his perusal one of the printed co])ios of the instruction, and requesting an 

 appointment, for an early interview on the subject. 



