186 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



Tho general proposition rospcH'tfiilly RuLmitto*! in tliis iustrnction by my Govern- 

 ment, as well as tlie ol)vions and convincing reasons there set t'ortli in favor of its 

 a(lo]>tion by tlio friendly powers na,inc(l tlierein, will, I am sure, receive from your 

 excellency's Government the same earnest consi<leration as they have received from 

 the United States. 



As already indicated unofficially to the foreign office, I shall, in furtherance of the 

 ■wishes and instructions of my Government, be gratified and obliged if your excellency 

 will formally appoint any intnre time and place wheu and where I u'ay have the 

 honor to confer and discuss with your excellency, or any other repres^ui.ative of His 

 Imperial Majesty's Government, the subject of an agreement or special convention 

 between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan having reference to 

 the better i)rotectiou of the fur-seal fisheries in Bchriug Sea. 

 I avail, etc., 



Richard B, Hubbard. 



[Inclosurc 2 in No. 393. — Translation] 

 Count Ito Hirohumi io Mr. Huhhard. 



No. 8584.] Department of Foreigx Affairs, 



Tokio, October S, 1SS7. 



Sir: I have the honor to aclcnowledge the receipt of your excellency's note of the 

 6th instant, in which you are ])h'as((l to inclose the cojiy of a connnnnication from 

 the honorable the Secretary ot State in reference to the seal fisheries in BehringSea, 

 and, in pursuance of iustructi<ms contained in that dispatch, invite His Imperial 

 Majesty's Governraeut to enter into an arrangement with the Government of the 

 United States having for its object the protection of fur-seals in Beluing Sea from 

 indiscriminate destruction and eonse(|uent extermination. 



The unregulated and indiscriminate slaughter of the sea-otter as well as the fur- 

 seal on the coasts of Japan and in their conterniinons waters is a suliject which has 

 for many years engaged the serious attention of the lin})erial Gt)vernment. 



The experience of His Imperial Majesty's Government justifies the belief that the 

 end sought to be obtained can be best secured by mc^ans of a cooperative interna- 

 tional action, and they therefore cordially approve of the suggestion of the honorable 

 the Secretary of State. 



His Imperial Majesty's Government would be willing to enter into an arrangement 

 for the pvirpose indicated, but they would wish, for the reasons assigneil hy Mr. 

 Bayard in favor of the protection of the fur-seal in Beluing Sea, to extend the prii'ci]ile 

 of protection to the sea-otter as well as the fur-seal, and to enlarge the protected 

 zone so as to embrace the known habitat of that animal. 



I beg that you Avill bring this projiosal to the attention of the Government of the 

 United States, audi would sungest that this be done in advance of any negotiations 

 on the subject. 



I avail myself, etc., 



Count Ito Hirocumi. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. TInhhard. 



No. 171.] Department of State, 



Was]ii)i(iio)i, ]\l)r<')))]tcr 2J, ]<^S7. 



Sir: I liavo to aokiiowlodoe the receipt of yonr dispntclies Nos, 388 

 and o\y.>, dated, respectively, September -1) and October 10, and in 

 re])ly to express tlie satisfaction of this department at the favorable 

 ies[»onse of the Japanese (Jovernment to negotiate for the protection of 

 the seal nsluuies in IJehriug Sea. 



The Department hopes to be able, at an early day, to instrnct you 

 further on the snbje<;t. At present, owing doubtless to the shortness 

 of the time, few ri^plies have been received from foreign Governments 

 to the circular invitation of the United States in this regard. And it 

 is thought desirable to await for a time fuitlier responses, which might 

 att'ect tlu' coir.s<' of the lU'gotiations. 

 1 am, etc., 



T. F. Bayard. 



