210 



President Harrison refused his assent, and expressly denied the right 

 of the British Government to appeal to the Arbitrators to decide any 

 point not embraced in the articles of Arbitration. Mr. Blaine, speak- 

 ing for the President, announced his willingness to sign the articles of 

 agreement "without any reservation whatever." And the rejiresenta- 

 tive of Great Britain at Washington, by the direction of Lord Salis- 



two Governments as to tlie gravity of the injury caused to tlie fishery or as to any 

 other fact, the question in controversy shall be referred for decision to a British and 

 an American admiral, who, if they should be unable to agree, may select an umpire. 



" Lord Salisbury desires me to ascertain whether some provision of the above 

 nature would not meet the views of your Government." 



Mr. Blaine, under date of December 2, 1891, in reply: 



''The President is uuable to see the danger which Lord Salisbury apprehends of a 

 third nation engaging in taking seals regardless of the agreement between Great 

 Britain and the United States. The dispute between the two nations has now been 

 in progress for more than five years^ During all this time, while Great Britain was 

 maintaining that the Bering Sea was open to all comers at any time as of right, 

 not another European nation has engaged in sealing. 



"A German vessel once made its appearance in Bering Sea, but did not return, 

 being satisfied, I suppose, that at the great distance they have to sail, the Germans 

 could not successfully engage in sealing. Russia, whose interference Lord Salisbury 

 seems to specially apprehend, will not dissent from the agreement, because such dis- 

 sent would put to hazard her own sealing property in the Bering Sea. On the con- 

 trary, we may confidently look to Eussia to sustain and strengthen whatever agree- 

 ment Great Britain and the United States may conjointly ordain. 



"It is the judgment of the President, therefore, that the apprehension of Lord 

 Salisbury is not well grounded. He believes that, however the arbitration between 

 Great Britain and the United States may terminate, it will be wise for the two 

 nations to unite in a note to the principal powers of Europe, advising them in full 

 of what has been done and confidently asking their approval. He does not believe 

 that, with full explanation, any attempt will bo made to disturb the agreement. 

 If, contrary to his firm belief, the agreement shall be disturbed by tbe interference 

 of a third power, Great Britain and the United States can act conjointly, and they 

 can then far better agree upon Avhat measure may be necessary to prevent the 

 destruction of the seals than they can at this time. 



"The President hopes that the arbitration between Great Britain and the United 

 States will be allowed to proceed on the agreement regularly and promptly. It is 

 of great consequence to both nations that the dispute be ended, and that no delay 

 be caused by introducing new elements into the agreement to which both nations 

 have given their consent." 



Sir Julian Paunceforte, December 8, 1891: 



" The Marquis of Salisbury, to whom I telegraphed the contents of your letter of 

 the 2d instant on the subject of the sixth article of the proposed Bering Sea Ai-bi- 

 tratiou agreement, is uuder the impressiou that the President has not rightly under' 



