282 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
If this be not done the seal rookeries will be open to every one, and 
the herds of seals will not last three years. No Government would 
wish for this result. On the contrary, it is understood that other Gov- 
ernments are more than willing that the seals should be protected. 
The United States Government have but to be firm, positive, and 
unmistakable in their policy. 
Mr. Dingley also spoke strongly in favour of the Bill, the most note- 
worthy portion of his speech being that in which he refers to the claim 
of Russia, before the cession by her of Alaska to the United States, to 
exclusive jurisdiction in the Behring’s Sea, to the controversy that took 
place between Russia and the United States when the former attempted 
to extend that jurisdiction, and to the Treaties between Russia and the 
United States and between Russia and Great Britain, whereby the 
rights of Russia were recognized to control the Behring’s Sea north 
of 55°, 
Several amendments were offered to the Bill, which was ultimately 
recommitted, the last stage it reached before Congress expired. 
As I had the honour to report to your Lordship, in my despatch of 
the 23rd ultimo, the House seeing that Mr. Dunn’s Bill could not possi- 
bly pass before the closing of Congress, added an amendment to the 
Senate bill (which was ultimately accepted, and the Bill was passed) in 
the shape of an addition of a section 3 of the same import as section 2 
in Mr. Dunn’s Bill, and it has been in response to this amendment of 
the House that the President has issued his Proclamation of the 22nd 
March. 
T have, Xe. (Signed) H. E. EDWARDES. 
No. 193. 
Foreign Office to Colonial Office. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, April 18, 1889. 
Str: I have laid before the Marquis of Salisbury your letter of the 
10th instant, in which you call attention to the Proclamation issued by 
President Harrison on the 22nd ultimo for the protection of the fur seals 
in Behring’s Sea, and to the Act recently passed by the United States 
Congress on which that Proclamation is based. 
In view of the previous action of the United States authorities on the 
spot, and of the meaning which may be attached by the Government of 
the United States to the words “all the dominion of the United States 
in the waters of Behring’s Sea,” employed in section 3 of the Act, Lord 
Knutsford suggests that an intimation should be made to that Govern- 
ment, that Her Majesty’s Government cannot require the masters of 
British vessels, when fishing in Behring’s Sea beyond the 3-mile limit, 
to recognize the law of the United States. 
In reply, I am to request that you will state to his Lordship 
254 ~=that Sir J. Pauncetote, who has been appointed to succeed Lord 
Sackville as Her Majesty’s Representative at Washington, left 
London for his post on the 15th instant. 
It would, in Lord Salisbury’s opinion, be advisable to wait until he 
has had ‘time to examine into the question on the spot, and to report 
upon the situation, before making any communication to the United 
States Gover nment on the subject. 
1 am, We. 
(Signed) T. H. SANDERSON, 
