402 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
No. 253. 
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.—( Received December 10.) 
DOWNING STREET, December 10, 1889. 
Str: With reference to previous correspondence, I am directed by 
Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of 
Salisbury, a copy of a telegram from the Governor General of Canada, 
containing the views of his Government as to the proposed negotiations 
at Washington for the establishment of a close time for seals in Beh- 
ring’s Sea. 
As at present advised, Lord Knutsford is disposed to think that the 
conditions (b), (¢), (d), upon which the Dominion Government are will- 
ing to enter upon the negotiations, may be acceded to; and his Lord- 
ship trusts that the point referred to in (a) may prove capable of 
arrangement. 
I am to take this opportunity of transmitting to you, for Lord Salis- 
bury’s information, copies of the despatch and the telegram to which 
this message replies. 
Iam, &c. 
(Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON. 
[Inclosure 1 in No. 253.] 
Lord Knutsford to Lord Stanley of Preston. 
DOWNING STREET, November 23, 1589. 
My Lorp: Her Majesty’s Government have been informed that a proposal to renew 
at Washington the diplomatic negotiation commenced last year between the Govern- 
ments of the United States, Great Britain, and Russia, with a view to prevent the 
extermination of seals in Bebring’s Sea by their wholesale destruction during the 
breeding season, would be acceptable to the Government of the United States. 
In commencing negotiation it would be desirable to obtain, in the first place, an 
admission from the United States Government that they have no right to claim the 
Behring’s Sea as a mare clausum, and thus admission will of course remove a serious 
impediment which had embarrassed the discussion of the various questions at issue. 
Another point to be kept in view, would be the consent of the United States Govern- 
ment to give such directions as may be necessary for the prevention of any further 
seizures of Canadian vessels in the Behring’s Sea, though it may be observed that 
the negotiations ought to be satisfactorily concluded before April, until which month 
there would be no question of further seizures. 
With regard to the compensation payable on account of past seizures, there is 
reason to believe that the United States Government would propose that this subject 
should form a part of the general negotiations. 
I think I am right in concluding that the Dominion Government is now prepared 
to concur in any reasonable arrangement for the establishment of a close’season in 
Behring’s Sea, and I therefore anticipate that your advisers will agree with Her 
Majesty’s Government in thinking it expedient to commence the suggested negoti- 
ation at an early date, Her Majesty’s Minister being assisted during the negotiation 
by an officer or officers of the Canadian Government. 
You will understand that the conclusions which may be arrived at by the Repre- 
sentatives of the three Powers would be reported to their respective Governments 
for consideration, and would not be binding upon the subjects of any Power which 
has not accepted them. 
I have explained to the High Commissioner for Canada the general nature of this 
proposal, and I shall be glad to learn by telegraph that your Ministers agree with 
Her Majesty’s Government that Her Majesty’s Minister should be instructed to 
367 propose formally to the United States Government the resumption of the tri- 
partite negotiation at Washington in the event of his receiving satisfactory 
assurances from Mr. Blaine on the subject of the compensation claimed for British 
subjects, and the cessation of seizures. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) KNUTSFORD. 
