206 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
admitting their claim to exclusive rights in those waters to be unten- 
able. Lord Salisbury, however, will again endeavour to obtain assur- 
ances on the subject from the Government of the United States. 
As regards the rumours which have reached this country by tele- 
graph from Victoria, British Columbia, of the clearance of Canadian 
vessels for Behring’s Sea, manned with armed Irlian crews, I am to 
state that Lord Salisbury will be prepared to submit the matter to the 
Law Officer of the Crown, should the rumours in question be confirmed, 
but that if the vessels are armed, not for the purpose of attack, but for 
the purpose of resistance to illegal seizure on the high seas, it would 
seem difficult to justify any interference with them on the part of Her 
Majesty’s cruizers. 
In conclusion, I am to suggest, for Lord Knutsford’s consideration, 
that, in reply to Mr. Gourley’s inquiry as to ‘“* what measures Her 
Majesty’s Government intent adopting for the purpose of arriving at 
an amicable solution of the Alaskan Fisheries disputes,” it might be 
stated that the question is now under the consideration of the two Gov- 
ernments concerned, but that it would be premature at this moment to 
say more than that Her Majesty’s Government have no reason to 
doubt that a satisfactory arrangement will be arrived at. 
Iam, &e. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
No. 105, 
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.— (Received March 26.) 
DOWNING STREET, March 24, 1888. 
Sir: With reference to my letter of yesterday’s date respecting a 
question to be asked in the House of Commons upon the subject of the 
alleged clearance of Canadian sealing vessels for the Behring’s Sea 
with armed Indian crews, [ am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit 
to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, a copy of a telegram 
which has this day been received from the Governor-General of Canada. 
IT am to request to be informed of the answer which Lord Salisbury 
would wish to be returned to the Governor-General in regard to the 
latter part of his telegram. 
Lam, We. 
(Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON. 
{inclosure in No. 105.—Telegraphie.] 
The Marquis of Lansdowne to Lord Knutsford. 
Orrawa, March 22, 1888. 
Thave received your telegram of the 22nd. The press has published rumour re- 
ferred to, but it is not credited here, or confirmed by information, private or official. 
It is, however, of great importance, in order toavoid injury to fishing interest 
186 and risk of further complications, to obtain from United States Government 
explicit statement of its intentions as to sealers found in behlring’s Sea this 
scason. 
