178 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



tion of the seals. On April 7 lie had had a,u interview on the subject 

 Avith M. de Sfcaal, fVoiu whom hw learned that the lliissian (lovernnient 

 wished to inclnde in the i)ropi)sed arrangement tliat i)art of Behring 

 Sea ill wiuch the Commander Isla ids are situated, and also the sea of 

 Okhotsk. Mr. White supposed that the Uuited States would not object 

 to this. 



3Ir. yVhite to Mr. Bayard. 



No. 720.] Legation oi-' the United States, 



London, A2)ril 7, 18S8. (Received April 17.) 



Sill: Referring to yonv instructions numbered 782 of February 7 and 

 810 of March 2, respecting the protection of seals iu Behriug Sea, I have 

 the honor to acquaint you that I received a private uote from the Mar- 

 quis of Salisbury this uiorning stating that at the request of the Rus- 

 sian embassador he had apiiointcd a meeting at the foreign ohice next 

 Wednesday, 11th instant, '' to discuss the (luestion of a close time for the 

 seal fishery iu Behring Sea," and expressing a hope that I would make 

 it comenient to be present, and I have replied that I shall be happy to 

 attend. 



Subsequently I saw M. de Staal, the Russian embassador, at his re- 

 quest. He referred to the intcrvievxs which Mr. Phelps had had with 

 him, of which I was, of course, cognizant, and stated that his full in- 

 structions on the subject would nijt reach London until to-night or to- 

 morrow, and that he was about to leave town until next Wednesday, 

 but meanwhile he could say that his Government would like to have the 

 regulations which might be agreed upon for Behring Sea extended to 

 that portion of the latter in which the Commander Islands are situated, 

 and also to the Sea of Okhotsk (in which Robben Island is situated). 



As both these ])laces are <mtside the limit laid down in your instruc- 

 tion numbered 782 (170° of longitude east iioni Greenwich), I have 

 thonght it best to send you the telegram; of which I inclose a coi>y here- 

 with> 



I am etc., 



Uenry White. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. White. 



[Telegram.] 



Department of State, 



Washington, April !), 1888. 

 Mr. Bayard stated, in re])ly to INIr. White's telegram of April 7, that 

 this Government did not object to the extension of the arrangement for 

 the protection of tlie fur-seal fisheries to the whole of Bcliring Sea. 



'For iuclusurc «ui; ntqtra^ p. 177. 



