690 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
in answer to your Lordship’s inquiry he said he would prefer that the 
proposal, which seemed to him very fair, should come from Her Majesty’s 
Government. 
He added that he wished, however, before going any further, to com- 
muniecate the proposal by telegraph to-day to the President, who is 
absent from Washington. 
bo 
No. 4. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received April 27.) 
[Telegraphice. ] 
WASHINGTON, April 27, 1891. 
Mr. Biaine informed me to-day that the President had suggested a 
small reservation in the proposed modus vivendi to the effect that per- 
mission should be given to the Company to kill a small number of seals 
sufficient to compensate them for the support of the natives in their 
employ during the modus vivendi, but he did not appear to insist strongly 
on it. 
As, however, he will not agree to put the arrangement in force until 
the terms of the arbitration are settled, I fear it may only be applied 
when it is too late to be of any service. 
A full report of the interview above mentioned will be found in my 
despatch of this day’s date, which I am sending by mail to-morrow. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received May 5.) 
[Telegraphic.] 
WASHINGTON, May 5, 1891. 
Behring’s Sea. With reference to my telegrain of the 27th ultimo, 
IT have the honour to inform your Lordship that I forward by messen- 
ger to-day copy of a note from Mr. Blaine which I received last night, 
containing a lengthy justification of the reservation made by the Pres- 
ident, and submitting for communication to your Lordship the follow- 
ing detailed proposal for a modus vivendi for the season of 1891: 
1. The United States authorities to issue orders limiting the num- 
ber of seals to be killed on the islands to 7,500 solely in order to pro- 
vide for the support of the resident natives, who number 300 souls. 
Pending the result of the arbitration, all seal-killng for commercial 
purposes to be prohibited. 
2. The United States Government to guarantee to Great Britain 
that no seals shall be killed in any part of the open waters of Beh- 
ring’s Sea by any person on board of any vessel flying the United 
States flag, or by any United States citizen on board of any vessel 
flying any other flag. 
3d. Mutatis mutandis, a similar guarantee to be given by Her Majesty’s 
Government as regards British subjects and vessels. 
"4, The above prohibitions to continue in force up to the Ist May, 
1892, before which date the Arbitrators are to render to both Govern- 
meuts their final award, 
