APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 335 
Mr. Blaine at once asked me to address to him a note containing the 
substance of your Lordship’s instructions. He said that he was unable 
to give a reply until he had consulted with the President, but he prom- 
ised that I should receive one to the note I was to address to him at a 
very early date. 
All that he could say to me then was that similar rumours had reached 
the United States Government, which were probably authentic, although 
no official confirmation had been given to them, and he could say to me, 
in further reply tomy communication, that he was of opinion that there 
was little divergence in the views of the two Governments on the points 
at issue. 
On the termination of my interview with Mr. Blaine, I dispatched to 
your Lordship a telegram informing you of what had taken place, and 
then, in accordance with Mr. Blaine’s request, I addressed to him a note, 
a copy of which I have the honour to inclose. 
In the afternoon of the same day I met Mr. Blaine, and he told me 
that he had addressed a letter to me containing the reply he had made 
to me-earlier in the day. I had the honour to forward to your Lord- 
ship by telegraph the substance of this reply, a copy of which is here- 
with inclosed. 
This reply, as your Lordship will see, commences by saying that 
rumours of the search and seizure of British vessels in Behring’s Sea 
by United States cruizers have reached the United States Govern- 
ment, and that although no official confirmation of those rumours has 
been received by them, they appear to be based on truth. 
Mr. Blaine then goes on to say that it has been and is the earnest 
desire of the President of the United States to have such an adjust- 
ment as shall remove all possible ground of misunderstanding with 
Her Majesty’s Government concerning the existing troubles in the 
Behring’s Sea, and that the President believes that the responsibility 
for delay in that adjustment cannot be properly charged to the Govern- 
ment of the United States, and he begs me to express to your Lordship 
the gratification with which the Government of the United States 
hears that Sir J. Pauncefote will be prepared on his return to Wash- 
ington in the autumn to discuss the whole question. 
Mr. Blaine concludes his letter by saying that he has pleasure in 
assuring me that the Government of the United States will endeavour 
to be prepared for the discussion, and that, in the opinion of the Presi- 
dent, the points at issue between the two Governments are capable of 
prompt adjustment on a basis entirely honourable to both. 
I acknowledged Mr. Blaine’s letter in a note, a copy of which is here- 
with inclosed (Inclosure No. 3), informing him that I should lose no 
time in bringing his reply to the knowledge of Her Majesty’s Govern- 
ment, who, while awaiting an answer to the other inquiries I had the 
honour to make to him, would, I felt confident, receive with much sat- 
isfaction the assurances which he had been good enough to offer to me. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) H. G. EDWARDES. 
302 {Tnclosure 1 in No. 214.9 
Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. 
3AR Harbour, August 24, 1889. 
Str: In accordance with instructions which I have received from Her Majesty’s 
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to state to you 
