770 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
Nios, It: 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir EB. Malet. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, June 3, 1891. 
Str: Her Majesty’s Government have agreed to a proposal made by 
the United States Government for the suspension for one year of, seal 
hunting in the islands and waters of Behring’s Sea; and have expressed 
their readiness to enter into an Agreement whereby the two Govern- 
ments shall prohibit the killing of seals up to May 1892, and ‘shall 
undertake to use their best endeavours to prevent the infringement of 
the prohibition by their respective subjects and citizens or by vessels 
flying their respective flags, with the exception of a catch of 7,500 seals 
destined for the support of the Aleutian islanders in the service of the 
North American Commercial Company. 
The Russian Government have been invited to join in the Arrange- 
ment. 
It has been suggested that it would be desirable to obtain the con- 
currence of the German Government in the suspension of seal-taking 
on the ground that the German flag has appeared on fishing-vessels in 
the Behring’s Sea. According to the Report of the Canadian Minister 
of Marine for 1889, it appears that one such vessel was engaged in 
fishing during that year. 
I should wish you to ascertain whether the interest taken by the 
German Government in the seal fishery is such as to make it advisable 
to invite their concurrence in the suspension. 
Tan, We. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
No. 12. 
Sir Rk. Morier to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received June 4.) 
[ Telegraphic. } 
St. PETERSBURGH, June 4, 1891. 
I have this day communicated to M. de Giers a note in the sense of 
your Lordship’s telegram of the 2nd instant. I am informed that his 
Excellency has not yet heard from the United States Government on 
the subject. 
10 No. 13. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received June 4.) 
[Telegraphic. ] 
WASHINGTON, June 4, 1891. 
With reference to your Lordship’s telegram of the 2nd instant, con- 
taining the draft of a modus vivendi in Behring’s Sea, I have the honour 
to inform you that I have to-day received a reply to your Lordship’s 
proposal from the Acting Secretary of State, which is to the following 
effect: 
[See text of Mr. Wharton’s note of the 4th June in Sir Julian Pauncefote’s despatch 
of the 5th June, 1891: Inclosure in No. 40, infra.] 
