224 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
No. 130. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir L. West.—( Substance telegraphed.) 
FOREIGN OFFICE, April 29, 1888. 
Sir: With reference to Lord Lansdowne’s despatch of the 21st 
March,* respecting the Behring’s Sea question, a copy of which was 
forwarded to you by his Excellency, I have to request that you will pro- 
pose to the United States Government that the limit of time fixed for 
the prosecution of the appeals in regard to the seizures of British 
202 sealing-vessels should be extended by consent for such a period 
as may allow of the claims in question being settled by diplo- 
matic negotiation without prejudice to the ultimate legal remedy by 
appeal if such negotiation should not be successful. You should also 
propose that the vessels and skins should be in the meanwhile at once 
released on security. 
The stipulation made by the American Court that the sureties should 
be American citizens resident in the States is objected to by some 
of the Canadian defendants, but this condition appears to me to be 
reasonable. 
Iam, We 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
No. 131. 
Sir L. West to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received April 30.) 
WASHINGTON, April 19, 1888. ° 
My Lorp: Upon the receipt of your Lordship’s telegram of the 17th 
instant I addressed a note verbale to Mr. Bayard, copy of which is 
inclosed, in order to ascertain whether the United States Government 
would agree to a Commission to inquire into the claims of British seal- 
ing-vessels seized and warned off by the United States authorities in 
Behring’s Sea. I handed this note myself to Mr. Bayard, who read it, 
and remarked that from what had passed in the Fisheries Conference 
he had. been led to believe that these claims would be held over. He 
would, however, answer my communication. 
I have, &e. 
(Signed) L. S. SACKVILLE WEST. 
[Inclosure in No. 131.] 
Note Verbale. 
Her Majesty’s Government have just received the particulars of the claims for 
compensation on account of British sealers seized and warned off by the United 
States authorities in Behring’s Sea. A just assessment of these claims appears to 
them difficult, without investigation and verification, and they therefore wish to 
ascertain whether the United States Government would be disposed to agree to a 
Commission which should be restricted to inquiring in each case whether compensa- 
tion is due, and the amount of such compensation. 
WASHINGTON, April 18, 1588. 
*See No. 114. 
