PROPOSED TNTETiNATTONAL MEASURES, 1890. 213 



inc: Sea from (lostrnction at improper times, by iini)roper means, l);v the 

 citizens of eitlier ooiiiitry." And Lord Salishnry snji'oested tlnit Mr. 

 IMielps "should obtain from his Government and submit to liim (Lord 

 Salisbury) a slcetcli of a system of regulations wliich would be adequate 

 for the puri)ose." Furtlier interviews were held during the following 

 nnmth of February (ISSS) between Lord Salisbury and the American 

 Minister, and between Lord Salisbury and the American Minister ac- 

 companied by the Russian embassador. In answer to Lord Salisbury's 

 request Mr. Phelps submitted the "regulations" which the Govern 

 ment of the United States desired; and in a dispatch of February 25 

 Mr. Phelps communicated the following to Mr. Bayard, Secretary of 

 State: 



Lord Salisbury assents to yonr proposition, to fstablisli bymutnal arrangoment he- 

 t-\vei'n the goverumeuts interested, a close time for fur seals, between April 15 and 

 November 1, and between 160 degrees of longitude west and 170 degrees of longi- 

 tude east in the Beliriug Sea. And he will cause an act to be introduced into Parlia- 

 ment to give effect to this arrangement so soon as it can be pre[)ared. In his opinion 

 there is no doubt that the act will be ])assi'd. 



Jle will also join the United States tiovernmeut in any preventive measures it may 

 be thought best to adopt, by orders issued to the naval vessels of the respective govr 

 ernraents in that region. 



Early in April (18S8) the Eussian ambassador, Mr, de Staal, advised 

 the American charge "that the Russian Government would like to have 

 the regulations which might be agreed upon for the Behring Sea ex- 

 tended 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." 



On the IGth of April, at Lord Salisbury's invitation, the Russian am- 

 bassador and Mr. White, the American charge (Mr. Phelps being absent 

 from London) met at the foreign office "for the purpose of discussing 

 with Lord Salisbury the details of the proposed conventional arrange- 

 ment for the protection of seals in Lehring Sea." 



" With a view to meeting the Russian Government's wishes respect- 

 ing the waters surrounding Robben Island, his lordship suggested that 

 beside the whole of Bering Sea those portions of the Sea of Okhotsk 

 and of the Pacific Ocean north of north latitude 47, should be included 

 in the proposed arrangement. His lordship intinmted furthermore, 

 that the period proi)osed by the United States for a close time, from 

 April 15 to November 1, might interfere with the trade longer than 

 absolutely necessary for the protection of seals, and he suggested Oc- 

 tober 1, instead of a month later, as the termination of the period of 

 seal protection." Furthermore, Lord Salisbury " promised to have a 

 draft convention prepared for submission to the Russian ambassador 

 and the American minister." 



On the 23d of April the American charge was informed by Lord 

 Salisbury that "it is now proposed to give effect to a seal convention 

 by order in council, not by act of Parliament." It was understood that 

 this course was pro]iosed by Lord Salisbury in order that the regula- 

 tions needed in Behring Sea might be promptly applied. 



You will observe, then, that from the 11th of November, 1887, to the 

 23d of April, 1888, Lord Salisbury had in every form of speech assented 

 to the necessity of a close season for the protection of the seals. 



The shortest period which he named was from the 15th of Ai)ril to 

 the 1st of October — five and one-half months. In addition, his lordship 

 suggested that the closed sea for the period named should include the 

 whole of the Behring Sea and should also include such i)ortion of the 

 Sea of Okhotsk as would be necessary to i)rotect the Russian seal fish- 



