350 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
that time received from the Government of the United States any inti- 
mation of their intentions in this respect or any explanation of the 
grounds upon which this interference with the British sealers had been 
authorized. Mr. Bayard did indeed communicate to us unofficially an 
assurance that no further seizures of this character should take place 
pending the discussion of the questions involved between the two Gov- 
ernments. Her Majest)’s Government much regret to find that this 
understanding has not been carried forward into the present year; and 
that instructions have been issued to cruizers of the United States to 
seize British vessels fishing for seals in Behring’s Sea outside the limit 
of territorial waters. The grounds upon which these violent measures 
have been taken have not been communicated to Her Majesty’s Gov- 
ernment, and remain still unexplained. 
But, in view of the unexpected renewal of the seizures of which 
Her Majesty’s Government have previously complained, it is my duty 
to protest against them, and to state that, in the opinion of Her Maj- 
esty’s Government, they are wholly unjustified by international law. 
Iam, We. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Mr. Edwardes. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, October 2, 1889. 
Str: At the time when the seizures of British ships hunting seals 
in Behring’s Sea during the years 1886 and 1887 were the subjects of 
discussion, the Minister of the United States made certain overtures 
to Her Majesty’s Government with respect to the institution of a close 
time for the seal fishery, for the purpose of preventing the extirpation 
of the species in that part of the world. Without in any way admit- 
ting that considerations of this order could justify the seizure of vessels 
which were transgressing no rule of international law, Her Majesty’s 
Government were very ready to agree that the subject was one deserv: 
ing of the gravest attention on the part of all the Governments inter- 
ested i in those waters. 
The Russian Government was disposed to join in the proposed nego- 
tiations, but they were suspended for a time in consequence of 
316 objections raised by the Dominion of Canada, and of doubts 
thrown on the physical data on which any restrictive legislation 
must have been based. 
Her Majesty’s Government are fully sensible of the importance of 
this question, and of the great value which will attach to an interna- 
tional agreement in respect to it; and Her Majesty’s Representative 
will be furnished with the requisite instruetions in case the Secretary 
of State should be willing to enter upon the discussion. 
You will read this de spatel hand my previous despatch of the same 
date to the Secretary of State, and if he should desire it you are 
authorized to give him copies of them. 
Iam, &e. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
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