212 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



Sir Julian Faunccfotc to Mr. Blaine. 



Washington, May 23, 1890. 

 Sir: I liave tlie honor to inform you that a statement having ap- 

 peared ill the newspapers to the eliect that the United States revenue 

 cruisers have received orders to ])roceed to Behring Sea for the pur- 

 pose of preventing the exercise of the seal iisliery by foreign vessels in 

 nonterritorial waters, and that statement having been confirmed yes- 

 terday by yon, I am instructed by the ]\Ia]((nis of Salisbury to state to 

 you that a formal protest by Her Majesty's Government against any 

 such interference with liritish vessels will be forwarded to you without 

 delay. 



I have, etc., 



Julian Pauncefotl. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote. 



Department of State, 



Washinfjton, May 2G, 1890. 

 Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 

 23d instant, in which you inform me that Her Britannic Ma.jesty's Gov- 

 ernment will forjnally protest against certain action recently taken by 

 this Government for the protection of the Alaskan seal fisheries. 

 I have, etc., 



James G. Blaine. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote. 



Department of State, 



Washington, May 29, 1890. 



Sir: Your note of the 23d instant, already acknowledged, informs 

 this Government that you "have been instructed by the Marquis of 

 Salisbury to state that Her Majesty's Government would forward with- 

 out delay a protest" against the course which this Government has 

 found it necessary, nnder the laws of Congress, to i)ursuein the waters 

 of the Bering Sea. 



In turn, I am instructed by the President to protest a gainst the course 

 of the British Government in authorizing, encouraging, and protecting 

 vessels which are not only interfering with American rights in the 

 Behring Sea, but which are doing violence as well to the rights of the 

 civilized world. They are engaged in a warfare against seal life, disre- 

 garding all the regulations which lead to its protection and committing 

 acts which lead ultimately to its destruction, as has been the case in 

 every part of the wcn-ld where the abuses which are now claimed as 

 Britisli rights have been practiced. 



The President is surprised that such protest should be authorized by 

 Lord Salisbury, especially because the previous declarations of his 

 lordship would seem to render it impossible. On the 11th day of ISTo- 

 vember, 1887, Lord Salisbuiy, in an official interview with the Minister 

 from the United States (Mr. I'helps), cordially. agreed that "a code of 

 regulations should be adopteil for the i)reseryation of the seals in Belu'- 



