SEIZUEES OF 1889. 195 



CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SEIZURE OF BRITISH SEAL- 

 ING VESSELS IN BERING SEA IN 1889. 



3Ir. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. 



Bar Harbor, August 24, 18S9. 



Sir: In accordance with instructions which I have received from 

 Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I liave 

 tlie honor to state to you that repeated rumors have of hite readied 

 Her Majesty's Government that United States cruisers have stopped, 

 searched, and even seized British vessels in Behring; Sea outside of the 

 three mile limit from the nearest land. Although no official confirma- 

 tion of these rumors has readied Her Majesty's Government, there ap- 

 pears to be no reason to doubt tlieir authenticity. 



1 am desired by the Marquis of Salisbury to inquire whether the 

 United States Government are in possession of similar information, aud 

 further, to ask that stringent instructions may be sent by the United 

 States Government, at the earliest moment, to their officers, with the 

 view to prevent the possibility of such occurrences taking place. 



In continuation of my instruction I have the honor to remind you 

 tluit Her Majesty's Government received very clear assurances last 

 year from Mr. Bayard, at tliat time Secretary of State, tliat pending 

 the discussion of the general cpiestions at issue no further interference 

 should take place with British vessels in Behring Sea. 



In conclusion, the Marquis of Salisbury desires me to say that Sir 

 Julian Pauucefote, Her Majesty's Miinster, will be prepared on his 

 return to Washington in the autumn to discuss the whole question, 

 and Her Majesty's Government wish to point out to the United States 

 Government that a settlement can not but be liindered by auy meas- 

 ures of force Avhich may be resorted to by the United States. 

 I have, etc., 



H. G. Edwardes. 



Mr. Blaine to Mr. Edwardes. 



Bar Harbor, Aiujust 24^ 1889. 



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your commuid- 

 catiun of this date, conveying to me tlie intelligence " that repeated 

 rumors have of late reached Her Majesty's Government that United 

 States cruisers have stopped, searched, and even seized British vessels 

 in Behring Sea outside the 3 luile limit from the nearest land." And 

 you add that, "although no official confirmation of these rumors has 

 reached Her Majesty's Government, there appears to be no reason to 

 doubt their authenticity." 



In reply I have the honor to state that the same rumors, probably 

 based on truth, have reached the Government of the United States, but 

 that up to this date there has been no official communication received 

 on the subject. 



It has been and is the earnest desire of the President of the United 

 States to have such an adjustment as shall remove all possible ground 

 of uiisunderstanding with Her Majesty's Government <'((ncerning the 

 existing troubles in the Behring Seaj and the President believes that the 



