180 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



I referred to tlie coiuinunications already made by Mr. Pliolpson tliis 

 subject to Lord Salisbury, aud said that I should be obliged to refer to 

 you the proposals which had just beeu made, before exijressing- an opiu- 

 ion with regard to them. 



I have accordingly the honor to ask for instructious in releience to 

 the same. 



Meanwhile the Marquis of Salisbury promised to have prepared a 

 draft convention for submission to the Kussian embassador and to 

 myself. I shall lose no time in forwarding to you a coi)y of this docu- 

 ment when received. 

 I am, etc., 



Henry White. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. WMtc. 



No. 8G4.] Department of State, 



Washington, May i, 1888. 



Sir: Your dispatch No. 725 of the 20th ultimo stating the result of 

 your iuterview with Lord Salisbury and the Russian end)assador rela- 

 tive to the x)rotection of seals in Behring Sea, and requesting- further 

 instructions as to their proi)osals, has been received. 



As you have already been instructed, the Department does not object 

 to the inclusion of the sea of Okhotsk, or so nuich of it as may bo neces- 

 sary, in the arrangement for the protection of the seals. Nor is it 

 thought absolutely necessary to insist on the extension of the close sea- 

 son till the 1st of November. 



Only such a period is desired as maybe requisite for the eiul in view. 

 But in order that success may be assured in the eftbits of the various 

 Governments interested in the protection of the seals, it seems advisa- 

 ble to take the 15th of October instead of the 1st as the date of the close 

 season, although, as I am now advised, the 1st of November would be 

 safer. 



The suggestion made by Lord Salisbury that it may be necessary to 

 brinj? other Governments than the United States, Great Britain, and 

 Russia into the arrangement has already been met by the action of the 

 Department, as I have heretofore informed you. At the same time the 

 invitation was sent to the British Government to negotiate a convention 

 for seal protection in Ik'hring Sea, a like invitation was extended to 

 various other powers, which have Avithout exception returned a favor- 

 able response. 



In order, therefore, that the plan may be carried out, the convention 

 ])roposed between the United States, Great Britain, and Russia should 

 contain a clause i)rovidingibr the subsequent adhesion of other powers. 



In regard to the suggestion of the Russian ambassador that the con- 

 vention be made to cover the question of the sale of firearms and 

 li(luor to the natives on the coast in question, I am comi)elled to think, 

 while in favor of restricting or prohibiting such sale, that it would be 

 advisal)le to regulate the subject sei^arately from the protection of the 

 seals. It is ])ossible that some GovernnuMits might readily assent to 

 the latter object, while indisposed to accede to the former, and in that 

 way lead to the defeat of the end first j)roi)Osed by this Gover.nuent. 

 I am, etc., 



T. F. Bayard. 



