APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 205 
schooners with armed Indian crews for the purpose of waging war 
upon American Revenue cutters, should their commanders attempt to 
molest them. 
The question also asks what measures Her Majesty’s Government 
intend adopting for the purpose of arriving at an amicable solution of 
the Alaskan Fisheries disputes. 
Lord Knutsford has telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canada 
to inquire into the truth of the report referred to in the question, but 
he would be glad if the Marquis of Salisbury would inform him of the 
answer which should be returned to that part of the question which 
relates to the measures to be adopted for a settlement of the Alaskan 
Fisheries dispute. 
Lord Knutsford would also be glad to receive Lord Salisbury’s opin- 
ion as to whether it would be legally justifiable, and, if so, advisable, 
to desire the commanders of Her Majesty’s ships to disarm any British 
sealing schooners sailing with such intention as is alleged in the report. 
Tam, &e. 
(Signed) R. H. MEADE. 
{Inclosure in No. 103.] 
Questions to be asked in the House of Commons, March 26, 1888. 
Mr. Gowrley,—To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is cor- 
rect, as reported by cable from Victoria, British Columbia, that a number of Cana- 
dian sealing schooners have been permitted to clear for Behring’s Sea with the inten- 
tion of prosecuting seal-fishing contrary to the regulations of the United States 
Alaskan authorities, carrying large Indian crews for the purpose of waging war 
upon American Revenue cutters, should their commanders attempt to molest them. 
And what measures Her Majesty’s Government intend adopting for the purpose 
of alriving at an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fiseries disputes. 
185 No. 104. 
Foreign Office to Colonial Office. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, March 24, 1888. 
Str: I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to acknowledge the 
receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, calling attention to a notice 
of a question to be asked by Mr. Gourley in the House of Commons on 
the 26th instant (1) in regard to the alleged clearing for Behring’s Sea of 
certain Canadian sealing schooners with armed Indian crews, for the 
purpose of waging war upon American Revenue cutters, should the com- 
manders of the latter attempt to molest them; and (2) as to the meas- 
ures which Her Majesty’s Government intend to adopt for arriving at 
an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fisheries disputes. 
With reference to the latter part of Mr. Gourley’s question, I am to 
request that you will state to Lord Knutsford that, although some 
delay is inevitable in pressing for an immediate settlement of the ques- 
tions which have arisen between this country and the United States in 
connection with the tur-seal fisheries in Behring’s Sea, there is no reason 
to believe that any further illegal seizures of British vessels will take 
place, especially as the United States Government have invited Her 
Majesty’s Government to negotiate a convention for a close time, thereby 
