336 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
that repeated rumours have of late reached Her Majesty’s Government that United 
States cruizers have stopped, searched, and even seized British vessels in Behring’s 
Sea outside the 3-mile limit from the nearest land. 
Although no official confirmation of these rumours has reached Her Majesty’s Goy- 
ernment, there appears to be no reason to doubt their authenticity. I am desired 
by the Marquis of Salisbury to inquire whether the United States Government are 
in possession of similar information, and further to ask that stringent instructions 
may be sent by the United States Government at the earliest moment to their offi- 
cers, with the view to prevent the possibility of such occurrences taking place. 
In continuation of my instructions, I have the honour to remind you that Her 
Majesty’s Government received very clear assurances last year from Mr. Bayard, 
then Secretary of State, that pending the discussion. of the general questions at 
issue, no further interference should take place with British vessels in Behring’s Sea. 
In conclusion, the Marquis of Salisbury desires me to say that Sir Julian Paunce- 
fote, Her Majesty’s Minister, will be prepared, on his return to Washington in the 
autumn, to discuss the whole question, and Her Majesty’s Government wish to point 
out to the United States Government that a settlement cannot but be hindered by 
any means of force which may be resorted to by the United States Government. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) H. G. EDWARDES. 
[Inclosure 2 in No. 214.] 
Mr. Blaine to Mr. Edwardes. 
Bar HARBOUR, MAINE, August 24, 1889. 
Srr: [have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, con- 
veying to me the intelligence “‘that repeated rumours have of late reached Her 
Majesty’s Government that the United States cruizers have stopped, searched, and 
even seized British vessels in Behring’s Sea outside the 3-mile limit from the nearest 
land.” 
And you add that, ‘“‘although no official confirmation of these rumours has reached 
Her Majesty’s Government, there appears to be no reason to doubt their authen- 
ticity.” 
Te eeply. I have the honour to state that the same rumours, probably based on 
truth, have reached the Government of the United States, but that up to this date 
there has been no official communication received on the subject. 
Jt has been, and is, the earnest desire of the President of the United States to 
have such an adjustment as shall remove all possible ground of misunderstanding 
with Her Majesty’s Government concerning the existing troubles in Behring’s Sea, 
and the President believes that the responsibility for delay in that adjustment can- 
not be properly charged to the Government of the United States. 
I beg you will express to the Marquis of Salisbury the gratification with which 
the Government of the United States learns that Sir J. Pauncefote, Her Majesty’s 
Minister, will be prepared, on his return to Washington in the autumn, to discuss the 
whole question. It gives me pleasure to assure you that the Government of the 
United States will endeavour to be prepared for the discussion, and that, in the 
opinion of the President, the points at issue between the two Governments are capa- 
ble of prompt adjustment on a basis entirely honourable to both. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) J. G. BLAINE. 
303 {Inclosure 3 in No. 214.] 
Mr. Edwardes to Mr. Blaine. 
BaR HarBour, August 25, 1889. 
Sir: I had the honour to receive yesterday your note, in which you have been good 
enough to inform me, with respect to the repeated rumours which have of late reached 
Her Majesty’s Government of the search and seizure of British vessels in Behring’s 
Sea by United States cruizers, that the same rumours, probably based on truth, have 
reached the United States Government, but that up to this date there has been no 
official communication received on the subject. 
At the same time, you have done me the honour to inform me that it has been, and 
is, the earnest desire of the President of the United States to have such an adjust- 
