14 OKAL ARGUMENT OF HON. EDWARD J. PHELPS. 



I also seut a note to the Russian Ambassador, and an interview with him is arranged 

 for the 21st instant. 



The whole matter will receive my immediate and thorough attention and I hope 

 for a favorable result. Meauwhilo I would ask your cou.sideration of the manner in 

 which you would propose to carry out the regulations of these fisheries that may be 

 agreed upon by the countries interested. Would not legislation be necessary; and, 

 if so, is there any hope of obtaining it on the part of Congress? 



Another letter from the same to the same on the same page, of Feb- 

 ruary 25th, 1888, says: 



Referring to your instructions, numbered 782 of February 7, 1888, in reference to 

 the Alaska seal lisheries, and to my reply thereto, numbered 690, of February 18, I 

 have the honor to inform yon that I have since had interviews on the subject with 

 Lord Salisbury and with Mr. de Staal, the Russian Ambassador. 



Lord Salisbury assents to your proposition to establish, by mutual arrangement 

 between the Governments interested, a close time for fur-seals, between April 15 and 

 November 1, and between 160° of longitude west, and 170° of longitude east, in the 

 Behring Sea. 



He will also join the United States Government in any preventive measures it may 

 be thought best to adopt, by orders issued to the naval vessels in that region of the 

 respective Governments. 



I have this morning telegra4)hed you for additional printed copies of instructions 

 782 for the use of Her Majesty's Government. 



The Russian Ambassador concurs, so lar as his personal opinion is concerned, in 

 the propriety of the proposed measures for the protection of the seals, and has 

 promised to conuunnicate at once with his Government in regard to it. I have fur- 

 nished him with copies of instructions 782 for the use of his Goverumeut. 



Theu there is the rej^ly of Mr. Bayard on the 2ncl of March contin- 

 uing the subject. It need not be read; but I will read Mr. White's let- 

 ter. The Minister having returned home temporarily, the subject was 

 left in the hands of Mr. White, who became Charge, to carry out the 

 details which had been substantially agreed on; and Mr. White writes 

 to Mr. Bayard on April 7th, 1888. 



Referring to your instructions. * *^ * i bave the houor to acquaint you that I 

 received a private note from the Marquis of Salisbury this morning stating that at 

 the request of the Russian Ambassador he had appointed a meeting at the Foreign 

 Office next Wednesday, 11th instant "to discuss the question of a close time for the 

 seal lishery in Behring Sea," and expressing a hope that I would make it convenient 

 to be present, and I have replied that I shall be happy to attend. 



Then there is Mr. White's letter to Mr. Bayard on April 20th, 1888, 

 on page 179 of the same book. He speaks first of having met the Mar- 

 quis of Salisbury and M. de Staal and then says : 



M. de Staal expi'essed a desire, on behalf of his Government, to include in the area 

 to be protected by the convention the Sea of Okhotsk, or at least that portion of it in 

 which Robben Island is situated, there being, he said, in that region large numbers 

 of seals, whoso destruction is threatened in the same way as those in Behring Sea. 



He also urged that measures be taken by the insertion of a clause in the proposed 

 convention or otherwise, for prohibiting the importation, by merchant vessels, into 

 the seal protected area, for sale therein, of alcoholic drinks, firearms, gunpowder, 

 and dynamite. 



Lord Salisbury expressed no opinion with regard to the latter proposal, but, with 

 a view to meeting the Russian Government's wishes respecting the waters surround- 

 ing Robben Island, he suggested that, besides the whole of Behring Sea, the sea of 

 Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean north of north latitude 47° should be included in the 

 proposed arrangement. 



There you get (if Mr. White is correct and we shall see wliether he is 

 or not soon), the Southern line of this previously indicated area extended 

 to the west, and, by the apparent construction of the language, I should 

 think extended to the east — certainly to the west. And there is another 

 letter which I will refer to, about that. Then he says : 



I referred to the communications already made by Mr. Phelps on this subject to 

 Lord Salisbury, and said that I should be obliged to refer to you the proposals which 

 had just been made, before expressing an opinion with regard to them. 



