452 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
No. 300. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received March 5.) 
WASHINGTON, February 11, 1890. 
My Lorp: Withreference to my despatch of the 7th instant, I have 
the honour to report that I had a further interview this day with the 
Secretary of State, at his request, on the subject of the proposed arbi- 
tration. and provisional assessment of damages. 
Mr. Blaine said that it might be convenient if he were to put in writ- 
ing, informally, his views as to the question to be arbitrated, and the 
procedure to be followed in regard to the assessment of damages. 
He accordingly, in my presence, drew up a Memorandum, of which 
he afterwards handed me a copy. It is in the following terms: 
“The first question to be arbitrated is whether, under the cireum- 
stances existing at the time, the Government of the United States was 
justified in arresting and detaining the vessels that entered the Beh- 
ring’s Sea for the purpose of killing fur-seals in the open sea. 
‘In the event of the arbitrator finding that the Government of the 
United States was justified in arresting and detaining the vessels 
before described, the case would be finished. 
414 “Tn the event that the Government of the United States was 
found not to be justified, the second question would be the 
ascertainment of the amount of damages due to the Government of 
Great Britain. If that amount could not be amicably determined by 
the British Minister in Washington and the American Secretary of 
State, it would be left to the determination of the arbitrator, who 
should find the amount according to certain principles previously 
agreed to by both Parties.” 
I have, &e. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
No. 301. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salishury.—( Received March 5.) 
WASHINGTON, February 20, 1890. 
My Lorp: I have the honour to inclose an extract from the “ New 
York Herald” of yesterday stating that the Russian Government has 
confirmed the renewal of the lease of the Russian seal islands in 
Behring’s Sea to the Alaska Commercial Company. 
Iam, &e. 
(Signed ) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
{Inclosure in No, 301.] 
Extract from the New York Herald” of February 19, 1890. 
THE FUR-SEAL MONOPOLY.—RUSSIA RENEWS THE ALASKA COMPANY’S LEASE OF 
ISLANDS IN BEHRING’S SEA. 
[By Telegraph to the ‘‘ Herald.’’] 
San FRANCISCO, February 18, 1890. 
A private despatch received here to-day announces that the Imperial Russian 
Government has confirmed the renewal of the lease of the Russian seal islands in 
Behring’s Sea to the Alaska Commercial Company of this city. This action is under- 
