MODUS VIVENDI OF 1891 AND ARBITRATION. 347 



8ir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine. 



British LEGATioi<r, 

 Washington, January 30, 1892. 

 Sir: All the details of tlie Beliring Sea Arbitration Laving row been 

 finall}^ settled by the understanding- arrived at as to the Governments 

 who shall be invited to select the three foreign Arbitrators, I have the 

 honor to request yon to be good enough to infoim me whether you are 

 prepared to x>roceed at once to the preparation and signature of the 

 formal Arbitration convention and of the Joint Commission agreement, 

 in accordance with the text of the articles to be inserted therein which 

 was signed by us on tbe 18th December last. 

 I have, etc., 



Julian Pauncefote. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote. 



Department of State, 



Washington, February 4, 1892. 



Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 

 30th ultimo, in which yon refer to the settlement which has been reached 

 in completion of the details of the Behring Sea Arbitration, and inquire 

 whether I am ])repared to proceed at once to the preparation and sig- 

 nature of the formal Arbitration convention and of the Joint Commission 

 agreement, in accordance with the text of the articles to be inserted 

 therein which was signed by us on the IStli December last. 



In reply I have the pleasure to hand you a copy of the text of the 

 Arbitration convention, including the text of the Joint Commission 

 agreement, as agreed upon in conferences held since the 30th ultimo, 

 and I am instructed by the President to say that I hold myself in readi- 

 ness to meet you fortlnvith, in order that we may at once proceed to 

 the signature of said convention. 



I have, etc. 



James G. Blaine. 



Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote. 



Department of State, 



Yiashington, February 4, 1892. 



Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the President has this day 

 appointed and commissioned Tliomas Corwin Mendenhall and Clinton 

 Hart Merriam to act as Commissioners on the part of the Government 

 of the United States, in accordance with the agreement which I signed 

 with you on December 18, lSi)l, to investigate and report conjointly 

 with Commissioners to be appointed by the British Government, upon 

 the facts having relation to the preservation of seal life in Behiing 

 Sea, and the measures necessary for its protection and preservation, 

 with a view to the submission of their conclusions to the Board of Arbi- 

 trators whose constitution has already been agreed ux^on by us. 



Until the convention for arbitration shall have been signed the Com- 

 missioners will not be expected to agree uxjou or formulate any report, 



