17 



so strong' as to necessitate measures of self-defense for the vindication 

 of the rights of tlie United States and the protection of this valuable 

 fishery from destruction." 



Mr. Blaine's tone during this discussion (Sir Julian Pauncefote also 

 reported) was most friendly throughout, manifesting "a strong desire 

 to let all questions of legal right and international law disapx^ear in an 

 agreement for a close season, which ho believes to be urgently called 

 tor in the conunon interest." In reply to his observations^ the British 

 Minister, among other things, said: "As regarded the question of fact, 

 namely, the danger of extermination of the fur-seal sxjecies, and the 

 necessity for a 'close season,' there was, unfortunately, a conflict of opin- 

 ion. But if, upon a further and more complete examination of the evi- 

 dence. Her Majesty's Government should come to the conclusion that a 

 'close season' is really necessary, and if an agreement should be arrived 

 at on the subject, all differences on questions of legal rights would qiso 

 facto disappear." British Case, -Aj;j>,, Vol. Ill, py. 350, 351. 



In a subsequent letter, written in April, 1890 by Sir Julian Pauncefote 

 to Mr. Blaine, the former said: "It has been admitted, from the com- 

 mencement, that the sole object of the negotiation is the lyreservation 

 of the fur seal species for the benefit of manMnd, and that no consid- 

 erations of advantage to any particular nation, or of benefit to any pri- 

 vate interest, should enter into the question." U. 8. Case, App., Vol.1, 

 p. 201, 205. Under date of June '6, 1890, Sir Julian, writing to Mr. 

 Blaine, observed : "Her Majesty's Grovernment have always been willing, 

 without i)ledging themselves to details on the questions of area and 

 date, to carry on negotiations, hoping thereby to come to some arrange- 

 ment for such a close season as is necessary in order to preserve the 

 seal species from extinction, but the x^ro visions of such an arrangement 

 would always require legislative sanction so that the measures thereby 

 determined may be enforced." U. S. Case, App., Vol. I, p. 220. 



The Marquis of Salisbury, in a letter to Sir Julian Pauncefote of 

 June 20, 1890, inclosing, among other documents, a cox>y of the above 

 letter of Ax)ril 10, 1888, addressed to the British rex^resentatives at 

 Washington and St. Petersburg: "Her Majesty's Government always 

 have been, and are still, anxious for the arrangement of a convention 

 which shall 'provide ivhatever close time in ivhatever localities is necessary 

 for the preservation of the fur seal species." British Case, App., Vol. Ill, 

 p. 492; U. S. Case, App., Vol. I, p. 237, 

 1X492 2 



