ORAL ARGUMENT OF JAMES C. CARTER, ESQ. 31 



And tliat disi)atcli is tlie same as the oue fioni tlie Marquis of Salis- 

 bury to Sir Kobert Morier, so that it did get from the Foreign OHice of 

 the British Governnu'iit to the Colonial Ofhce and the receii)t of it is 

 thus acknowledged. 



The dispatch continues: 



In reply, I am to inclose, for the. information of the Marqnis of Salishnry, a copy 

 of the extender of a telegram which was sent to the Governor-General of Canada, 

 on his Lordship's suggestion, inqniring- whether the Dominion Government were 

 aware of any objection to the proposed arrangement. 



I am also to inclose a copy of a dispatch from Lord Lansdowue, in the two con- 

 cluding i)aragraph8 of which he points out that the probable eifect of the proposed 

 close time on the operations of the Canadian sealers would be to exclude them com- 

 pletely from the rights which they have until lately enjoyed AvitJiout (question or 

 molestation. 



In these circumstances, it is probable that tlie United States jiroposals may not 

 be accepted by Canada without reserve, and Lord Knutsford would suggest that, 

 pending the receipt of the observations of the Dominion Government in response to 

 tlie invitation contained in his dispatch of the Sth March, referred to by Lord Lans- 

 downe, no final action should be taken in the matter. 

 1 am, etc., 



ROI5KUT G. W. Herijert. 



Lord -Knutsford to the Marquis of Lanndoivne. 

 [Inclosiirc 1 in N" 128.] 



Downing Street, April 21, 1SS8. 



My Lord, I have the honour to acquaint you that I have this day telegraphed to 

 you, with reference to your dispatch of the 9th instant, that negotiations are j)ro- 

 ceediug between Russia, the United States, and Great Britain with regard to the 

 establishment of a close time, during which it would be unlawful to kill seals at 

 sea, in any manner, to the north of the -iTth parallel of latitude l)ctween the coasts 

 of Russia and America, and in(juired wliether your Government was aware of au;' 

 objection to the proposed arrangement. 



I added tbat, of course, as regards Canadian waters, Canadian legislation would 

 be necessary. 



1 have, etc., Knutskord. 



We now perceive that the conclusion of the negotiations — 



Sir Charles Kussell. I beg pardon; but the dispatch referred to 

 from Lord Lansdowue was on tlie Dth of April. 



Mr. Carter. AVould you like to have nie read it? 



Sir Charles Kussell. It precedes the one you have read in point 

 of time. I do not wish, however, to put you to any inconvenience. 



Mr. Carter. This is the enclosure from Lord Lansdowue who was 

 the head of the Colonial Ottice in London: 



Thti Marquis of Lansdowue to Lord Knutsford. 



[luclosuro 2 in N" 128.— Extract.] 



Government House, Ottawa, April 9, ISSS. 



In reference to my despatch of the ;i9th March, I have the honour to inclose here- 

 with co]iy of a telegram, dated the 5th instant, from the Attorney-General of British 

 Coluniliiai to, Sir John iVIacdonald, acciuainting him that my telegram, of which a 

 C(q)y was sent to you in the above despatch, had been published in the ])rovincial 

 press as a warning to sealing-vessels, and that there was reason to believe that these 

 vessels had, in consequence of tlie intimation thus given, ceased to arm themselves 

 for the purpose of resisting the cruizers of the United States. 



I have forwarded to you by this mail copies of a telegram received from Sir L. 

 West in reference to the probable action of these cruizers during the present season, 

 and of a telegram addressed to him by me in re^ily. 



I observe that the information obtained by Sir Lionel West from Mr. Bayard, 

 which is the same as that connnunicated to me in your telegraphic despatch of the 

 6th instant, is merely to the effect that no orders have been issued by the United 

 States for the cajiture of British ships fishing in the Behring's Sea. I need scarcely 

 point out that this is not equivalent tp an assiu'ance that such vessels will not be 



