PROPOSED INTERNATIOKAL MEASURES, 1890. 217 



popular ngitatioii. If tliis offer l>e aceeptod, tlio Prosidoiit l)olieves 

 rliat before auotlicr season shall open, the friendly relations existinji: 

 between the two countries Jind the nintual desire to continue them, will 

 had to treaty stipulations which shall be permanent, because just and 

 leonorable to all parties. 



I have, etc., 



James G. Blaine. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pavneefote. 



Department of State, 



WafiJirnf/tov, June 2^ 1800. 

 My Dear Sir Julian: I have had a i)roh>n.i;ed interview with the 

 President on the ni;itters upon which we are endeavoring to come to an 

 agreement touching the fur-seal question. The President expresses the 

 opinion that an arbitration can not be coucluded in time for this season. 

 Arbitration is of little value unless conducted with the most careful 

 deliberation. What the President most anxiously desires to know is 

 whether Lord Salisbury, in order to promote a friendly solution of the 

 question, will make for a single season the regulation which in 1888 he 

 offered to make pernuinent. The President regards that as the step 

 which will lead most certainly and most promptly to a friendly agree- 

 meut between the two Governments. 

 I am, etc., 



Jamiss G. Blaine. 



Sir Julian Faunccfote to Mr. Blaine. 



British Legation, 

 Washingfon, D. C, June 3, 1890. 



Dear Mr. Blaine: Li reply to your letter of yesterday evening, 

 touching the fur seal (piestion, I beg to state that I am in a position to 

 answer at once the inquiry "• Whether Lord Salisbury, in order to pro- 

 mote a friendly solution of the question, will make for a single season 

 the regulation which in 1888 he oifered to make permanent." 



The words which I quote from your letter have reference no doubt to 

 the proposal of the United vStates that British sealing vessels should 

 be entirely excluded from the Behring Sea during the seal-fishery season. 

 I shall not attempt to discuss here whether what took place in the course 

 of the abortive negotiations of 1888 amounted to an otter oji the part of 

 Lord Salisbury "to make such a regulation permanent." 



It will suffice for the present purpose to state that the further exam- 

 ination of the question which has taken place has satisfied His Lord- 

 shi}) that such an extreme measure as that proposed in 1888 goes far 

 beyond the requirements of the case. 



Her Majesty's Government are quite willing to adopt all measures 

 which shall be satisfactorily pioved to be necessary for the preservation 

 of the fur-seal species, and to enforce such jneasures on British subjects 

 by proper legislation. But they are not prepared to agree to such a 

 regulation as is suggested in your letter for the present lishery seasos, 

 as, apart from other considerations, there would be no legal power to 

 enforce its observance on British subjects and British vessels. 

 I have, etc. 



Julian Pauncefote. 

 28 



