MODUS VIVENDI OF 1892. 351 



CORRBSPONDHNCB RELATIVE TO THE MODUS VIVENDI OF 1892. 



Mr. Blame to Sir Julian Paunccfote. 



Department of State, 



Washin(jto7i, February 9, 1802. 

 Sir : I have beon inforraed by tlie American seal Commissioners tliat 

 in an informal meeting with their British colleagues on yesterday the lat- 

 ter expressed an unwillingness to enter upon conferences of any other 

 than an ofidcial character, and they therefore proposed that their joint 

 conferences be postponed until after the Arbitration convention shall 

 have been signed. 



I beg to state to you that the Government of the United States is 

 very anxious to expedite as much as possible the consideration of the 

 important questions submitted to the Commissioners, and in view of the 

 fact that it regards the Arbitration convention as substantially agreed 

 upon, the American Commissioners have been instructed to make known 

 to the British Commissioners their readiness to formally arrange the 

 joint conference and proceed without further delay to the discharge of 

 the duties assigned to them. 

 I have, etc.; 



Jathes G. Blaine. 



Sir Julian Fauncefote to Mr. Blaine. 



British Legation, 

 Washington, February 11, 1892. 



Sir: I had the honor to receive yesterday your note of the 9th in- 

 stant, in which you state that you have been informed by the American 

 seal Commissioners that in an informal meeting with their British col- 

 leagues on the 8th instant, tlie latter expressed an unwillingness to enter 

 upon conferences of any other than an official character, and they there- 

 fore proposed that their joint conferences be postponed until after the 

 Arbitration convention has been signed. 



The British Commissioners, to whom I communicated your note, have 

 informed me that at the preliminary conference of the Commissioners 

 on the 8th instant they discussed with their colleagues what work of a 

 preparatory character could be got through at once. The meeting was 

 informal, according to the couditions laid down in the last paragraph 

 in your note to me of the 4th instant, and it was arranged by the four 

 Commissioners to hold a second i)reliminary conference this day at tlie 

 State Department at 3 o'clock, at which they could discuss certain 

 matters, which they had undertaken to consider in the interval, and 

 other preparatory work. 



In consequence of your note of the 9th instant, the British Commis- 

 sioners hope at the conference to-day to arrange with their colleagues 

 that the joint conference shall proceed to business formally. 

 1 have, etc., 



Julian Paunceeote. 



