158 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



and to-day, at my request, the Attorney- General has telegraphtd to 

 Pordand, Oregon, the nearest telegraph station to Sitka, in Alaska, in 

 order to expedite the furnishing of the desired papers. 



You will understand that my wish to meet the questions involved in 

 the instructions you have received from your Government is averred, 

 and that the delay has been enforced by the absence of requisite infor- 

 mation as to the tacts. 



The distance of the vessels from any land or the circumstances at- 

 tendant upon their seizure are unknown to me save by the statements 

 in your last note, and it is essential that such facts should be devoid of 

 all uncertainty. 



Of whatever information may be in the possession of Her Majesty's 

 Government I have, of course, no knowledge or means of knowledge, 

 but tills Department of the Government of the United States has not 

 yet been placed in possession of that accurate information which would 

 justify its decision in a question which you are certainly warranted in 

 considering to. be of grave importance. 



I shall diligently endeavor to procure the best evidence possible of 

 the matters inquired of, and will make due response thereupon when 

 the opportunity of decision is afforded to me. 



You require no assurance that no avoidance of our international ob- 

 ligations need be apprehended. 

 I have, etc., 



T. F. Bayard. 



)Sir L. S. Saclcville West to 3Ir. Bayard. 



British Legation, 

 Washington, February 1, 1887. (Received February 2.) 

 Sir: With reference to your note of the 12th ultimo, I have the honor 

 to inform you that under date of the 27th ultimo the Marquis of Salis- 

 bury instructs me to inquire whether the information and papers rela- 

 tive to the seizure of the British schooners Oarolena, Onward, and Thorn- 

 ton have reached the United States Government. 



I have, etc. 



L. S. Sackville West. 



Mr. Bayard to Sir L. S. Sachvllle West. 



Department of State, 



Washington, February 3, 1887. 



Sir: I beg to acknowledge your note of yesterday's date, received 

 to-day. 



Upon its receipt 1 made instant application to my colleague, the At- 

 torney-General, in relation to the record of the judicial proceedings in 

 the cases of the three British vessels arrested iu August last iu Behring 

 Sea for violation of the United States laws regulating tlie Alaskan seal 

 fisheries. 



I am informed that the documents in question left Sitka on the 2Gth 

 of January, and may be expected to arrive at Port Townsend, in Wash- 



