298 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



Kamcliatka and tlie Icy Sea" on the otlior; raid so long as Eussia 

 drew tliat distinction it must apply to, and nnist absolutely decide, all 

 tlie contentions between the two countries as far as the waters of the 

 Behring Sea are concerned. To discuss this point fuithcr would, in the 

 opinion of the President, contribute nothing of value to the general 

 contention. 



In the opinion of the President Lord Salisbury is wholly and strangely 

 in error in making the following statement: 



Nor do they [the advisers of the President] reply, as a justiiication for the seizure 

 of British ships in the oi^en sea, upon the contention that tlie interests of Ihe seal 

 fisheries give to the United States Government any right for that puri>ose which, 

 according to international law, it would not otherwise possess. 



The Government of the United States has steadily held just the 

 reverse of the jiosition which Lord Salisbury has imputed to it. It 

 holds that the ownership of the islands upon which the seals breed, 

 that the habit of the seals in regularly resorting thither and rearing 

 their young thereon, that their going out from the islands in search of 

 food and regularly returning thereto, and all the facts and incidents 

 of their relation to the island, give to the United States a property in- 

 terest therein ; that this property interest was claimed and exercised 

 by Russia daring the whole period of its sovereignty over the land and 

 waters ot Alaska; that England recognized this property interest so 

 far as recognition is implied by abstaining from all interference wdth it 

 during the whole period of Russia's ownership of Alaska, and during 

 the first nineteen years of the sovereignty of the United States. It is 

 yet to be determined whether the lawless intrusion of Canadian vessels 

 in 188G and subsequent years has changed the law and equity of the 

 case theretofore prevailing. 



I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most 

 obedient servant, 



Jaime s G. Blaine. 



CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE MODUS VIVENDI OF 1891 

 AND TO THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR ARBITRATION.' 



Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine. 



British Legation, 

 WasMnf/fon, April W^ 1S91. 



Dear T.Ir, Blaine: I informed Lord Salisbury, in a private letter, 

 of your alternative suggestion for a modus vircndi ])ending the result 

 of the Behring Sea arbitration, namely, to stop all sealing both at sea 

 and on land. Lord Salisbury seems to approve of that alternative, and 

 he asks me whether, in case Her Majesty's Government should accept 

 it, you w(mld prefer that the proposal should come from tlunn. I 

 thought you would like to know Lord Salisbury's view of your projwsal 

 as early as possible, aiul that must be my excuse for troubling you with 

 this letter during your repose at Virginia Bea(;h. 



May I ask you to be so good as to let nu^ know, as soon as you con- 

 veniently can do so, what answer you woidd wish me to return t:) I^ord 

 Salisbury's inquiry 1? 



Hoping that you have already benetited by the change of air, T re- 

 main, etc., 



Julian Pauncefote. 



' The last notes of the preceding subdivisit>ii contain matter relating to arbitration. 



