454 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
No. 304. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote-—(Substance telegraphed.) 
FOREIGN OFFICE, March 15, 1890. 
Sir: Her Majesty’s Government have had under their consideration 
your despatches of the 7th and 11th ultimo, reporting the substance of 
conversations you had had with Mr. Blaine on the question of the 
claims for damages on account of seizures of British vessels by Amer- 
ican cruizers in Behring’s Sea, and on his proposal to refer the question 
of the liability of the United States Government to the decision of 
some eminent jurisconsult. 
I transmit, for your information and guidance, a copy of a letter from 
the Colonial ‘Office, containing Lord Knutsford’s observations on your 
Reports above referred to.* 
Tam, We. (Signed) SALISBURY. 
No. 305. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received March 17.) 
WASHINGTON, March 1, 1890. 
My Lorp: I have the honour to report that the Honourable Charles 
H. Tupper, the Dominion Minister of Marine and Fisheries, arrived 
here on the 25th ultimo, and on the 27th was presented by me to the 
Secretary of State. He was this day presented by Mr. Blaine to the 
Breatddn 
On the occasion of our visit to the Secretary of State we had some 
‘informal conversation with him as to the procedure to be followed in 
the tripartite negotiation. 
Mr. Blaine apparently considered that we should commence at once 
to discuss the limits of the proposed close season as regards its area 
and duration. 
I pointed out, however, that I deemed it essential, in the first place, 
to examine the evidence on which the United States Government base 
their contention as to necessity for a close season. 
Mr. Blaine objected that such an inquiry would cause a delay 
416 of several months, and that it was unnecessary, as the case for 
a close season had been established by the evidence of numer- 
ous United States officials and experts, and that the result of their 
researches and practical experience during the last twenty years had 
already been published to the world. 
I replied that their evidence had been ‘contested, and that, in my 
opinion, it was of the highest importance that a conclusion on the 
point should, if possible, be arrived at in the course of the present 
negotiation, for the satisfaction not only of my Government, but of all 
the other Governments who, if an arrangement should be concluded, 
will be invited to accede to it. 
IT urged that no delay would be occasioned, as I could not see any 
reason why we should not proceed provisionally and concurrently with 
the other questions involved, such as the area and duration of the close 
season, the consideration of which would be materially assisted by the 
inquiry I proposed. 
* No. 303. 
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