344 DirLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



Sir Julian Paunccfote to Mr. Blaine. 



British Legation, 

 Washington, December 11, 1891. 



Sir : I liave the lioiior to inform yon that I telegraijhed to the Mar- 

 quis of Salisbury the substance of your note of yesterday respecting? 

 tlie sixth article of the proposed Behrino- Sea Arbitration agreement, and 

 that I have received a reply from his lordship to the following effect: 

 In view of the strong opinion of the President, reiterated in your Jiote 

 of yesterday, that the danger apprehended by Lord Salisbury, and ex- 

 plained in my note of the 8th instant, is too remote to justify the delay 

 which might be incurred by gaarding against it now, his lordship will 

 yield to the President's appeal and not press for further discussion at 

 this stage. 



Her Majesty's Government of course retain the right of raising the 

 l)oiut when the question of framing the regulations comes before the 

 Arbitrators, and it is understood that the latter will have full discretion 

 in the matter, and may attach such conditions.to the regulations as they 

 may a j^nori judge to be necessary and just to the two powers, in view 

 of the difficulty pointed out. 



With the above observations Lord Salisbury has authorized me to 

 sign the text of the seven articles and of the Joint Commission article 

 referred to in my note of the 23d ultimo, and it will give me much pleas- 

 ure to wait \\\Hn\ you at the State Dexjartment for that purpose at any 

 time you may appoint. 

 I have, etc., 



Julian Pauncefote. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote. 



Departjment of State, 



Washington, December I'd, 1891. 



Sir: I have the honor to advise you that I submitted your note of 

 the 11th instant to the I*resident. Alter mature deliberation he has 

 instructed me to say that he objects to Lord Salisbury's making any 

 reservation at all, and tliiit he can not yield to liini the rigiit to api)eal 

 to the Arbitrators to decide any point not embraced in the articles of 

 Arbitration. The President does not admit that Lord Salisbury can re- 

 serve the right in any way to afft^ct the decision of the Arbitrators. We 

 understand that the Arbitration is to proceed on the seven points which 

 are contained in the articles which you and I certify were the very points 

 agreed upon by the two Governments. 



For Lord Salisbury to claim the right to submit this new point to the 

 Arbitrators is to entirely change the Arbitration. The President niiglit 

 in like manner submit several questions to the Arbitrators, and thus 

 enlarge the subject to such an extent that it wcmld not be the same 

 arbitration to which w(^ have agreed. The President claims the right 

 to have the seven points arbitrated and respectfully insists that Lord 

 Salisbury sliall not change their meaning in any i)arti('ular. Tlie nmt- 

 ters to be arbitrated nnist be distinc-tly nnderstood l)efore the Arbitra- 

 tors are chosen.^ And after an arbitration is agreed to neither of the 

 parties can enlarge or contract its scox)e. 



