546 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
With regard, however, to Mr. Blaine’s remarks that in 1888 [had 
494 abruptly closed the negotiations because ‘ the Canadian Govern- 
ment objected,” and that “I assigned no other reason whatever,” 
L should wish you to call Mr. Blaine’s attention to the statement of 
Mr. Phelps recorded in my despatch to Sir L. West of the 3rd April, 
1888, that “under the peculiar political circumstances of America at 
this moment, with a general election impending, it would be of little 
use, and, indeed, hardly practicable, to conduct any negotiation to its 
issue before the election had taken place.” 
lam, We. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
No. 370. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Murquis of Salisbury.—( Received June 24.) 
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1890, 
My Lorp: With reference to my telegram of to-day, I have the 
honour to inclose herewith copy of a Memorandum which I gave to 
Mr. Blaine at our interview of yesterday on the subject of the inability 
of Her Majesty’s Government to exclude British vessels from the high 
seas without legislative sanction. 
Ihave, &e. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
{Inclosure in No. 3870.) 
Memorandum. 
Lord Salisbury regrets that the President of the United States should think him 
wanting in conciliation, but his Lordship cannot refrain from thinking that the 
President does not appreciate the difficulty arising from the law of England. 
It is entirely beyond the power of Her Majesty’s Government to exclude British or 
Canadian ships from any portion of the high seas, even for an hour, without legisla- 
tive sanction. 
Her Majesty’s Government have always been willing, without pledging themselves 
to details on the questions of area and date, to carry on negotiations, hoping thereby 
to come to some arrangement for such a close season as is necessary in order to pre- 
serve the seal species from extinction, but the provisions of such an arrangement 
would always re juire legislative sanction, so that the measures thereby determined 
may be enforced. 
Lord Salisbury does not recognize the expressions attributed to him. He does not 
think that he can have used them, at all events in the context mentioned, 
No. 371. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received June 25.) 
{Telegraphie. ] 
- WASHINGTON, June 25, 1890. 
Although I have not yet received the Secretary of State’s promised 
reply to your Lordsliip’s despatch of the 22nd ultimo, and though he 
refuses to proceed with the negotiations until that reply is delivered, 
I am informed that he has announced his intention of leaving for the 
north in the course of next week. 
