GREAT Britain's willingness to protect seals. 239 



because " tbe Canadian Government objected, " and that lie " assigned 

 no otlier reason whatever. " 



In view of tlie observations contained in Lord Salisbury's disijatcli 

 of the 20tli of June, of wliich a copy is inclosed in my last preceding- 

 note of this date, his lordship deems it unnecessary to discuss at any 

 greater length the circumstances Avhich led to an interruption of the 

 negotiations of 1888. 



With regard, however, to the i^assage in your note of the 4th instant 

 above referred to, his lordship wishes tne to call your attention to the 

 following statement made to him by Mr. Phelps, the United States, 

 Minister in Loudon, on the od of April, 1888, and which was recorded 

 in a dispatch of the same date to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington : 



" Under the i)eculiar political circumstances of America at this mo-" 

 raent," said Mr. Phelps, ''with a generl election impending, it would 

 by of little use, and indeed hardly practicable, to conduct any negotia- 

 tion to its issue before the election had taken x^lace." 

 I have, etc., 



Julian Pauncefote. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote. 



Department of State, 



Washington, July 2, 1890. 



Sir : Your note of the 27th ultimo, covering Lord Salisbury's reply 

 to the friendly suggestion of the President, was duly received. It was 

 tlie design of the President, if Lord Salisbury had been favorably in- 

 clined to his i^roposition, to submit a form of settlement for the consid- 

 eration of Her Majesty's Government which the President believed 

 would end all dispute touching piivileges in Behring Sea. But Lord 

 Salisbury refused to accept the proposal unless the "President should 

 '■'■ forthtoith^'' accept a formal arbitration, which his lordship prescribes. 



The President's request was made in the hope that it might lead to a 

 friendly basis of agreement, and he can not think that Lord Salisbury's 

 proposition is responsive to his suggestion. Besides, the anssver comes 

 so late that it would be impossible now to proceed this season with the 

 negotiation the President had desired. 



An agreement to arbitrate requires careful consideration. The United 

 States is perhaps more fully committed to that form of international 

 adjustment than any other power, but it can not consent that the form 

 In which arbitration shall be undertaken shall be decided without full 

 consultation and conference between the two Governments. 



I beg further to say that you must have misapprehended what I said 

 touching British claims for injuries and losses alleged to have been in- 

 flicted upon British vessels in Behring Sea by agents of the United 

 States. My declaration was that arbitration would logically and neces- 

 sarily include that point. It is not to be conceded, but decided with 

 other issues of far greater weight. 



I have the liouor to be, sir, etc., 



James G. Blaine. 



