APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 203 
183 [Translation.] 
Lonpon, February 24 (March 7), 1888. 
DEAR LORD SALISBURY: I have had the honour to receive the letter 
which you were good enough to address to me on the 3rd March respect- 
ing the proposal made by the Government of the United States of 
America with the object of settling the question of seal-hunting in Beh- 
ring’s Sea. 
Your Exeellency having acquainted me of the desire of Her Britannic 
Majesty’s Government to have the co-operation of Russia in the arrange- 
ments to be concerted for the preservation from ruin of an important 
branch of industry, I shall lose no time in informing the Imperial Gov- 
ernment, and I shall ask M. de Giers to furnish me with the necessary 
instructions in case the Imperial Goveriment should authorize me to 
take part in the negotiations on the subject in question. 
Receive, &c. 
(Signed) STAAL. 
No. 100. 
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.—(Received March 13.) 
DOWNING STREET, March 12, 1888. 
Str: In reply to your letter of the 3rd instant, I am directed by Lord 
Knutsford to acquaint you, for the information of the Marquis of Salis- 
bury, that he thinks it will be necessary to consult the Canadian Gov- 
ernment on the proposal to establish a close time for seals in Behring’s 
Sea before expressing a final opinion upon it. 
A copy of your letter and its inelosure bas been forwarded to the 
Governor-General with a view to obtaining an expression of the views 
of his Ministers upon it. 
JT am to add that Lord Knutsford is inclined to view the proposal of 
the United States Government with favour, but that he presumes that 
it will be made quite clear, should Her Majesty’s Government assent 
to it, that such assent will not be taken as an admission of the claims 
of the United States in Behring’s Sea, which have formed and still 
form the subject of controversy. 
Tam, Se. 
(Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON. 
No. 101. 
Foreign Office to Colonial Office. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, March 17, 1888. 
Str: I have laid before the Marquis of Salisbury your letter of the 
12th instant, relative to the proposals of the United States Government 
for the establishment of a close season for the fur-bearing seals which 
frequent Behring’s Sea. 
By his Lordship’s direction I transmit herewith for your information 
copies of the correspondence, marked in the margin,* which has recently 
* Nos. 98, 99, and 102. 
