790 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
zens of the United States. If there be an objection on the part of the United States 
Government to issuing an exequatur to a permanent Consul on the Seal Islands, Lord 
Salisbury suggests that they can under the Statute specially authorize the residence 
thereon of a British Agent during the present season. 
His Lordship will not insist on the condition that Russia shall be a party to the 
Agreement, but he must earnestly press the United States Government to extend the 
prohibition to their citizeus and vessels over the entire area of Behring’s Sea. In 
that case Her Majesty’s Government, on their part, will similarly extend the pro- 
hibition to British subjects and vessels. 
Lord Salisbury points out that, if seal-hunting bé prohibited on one side of a purely 
imaginary line drawn in the open ocean, while it is permitted on the other side of 
the line, it will be impossible in many cases to prove unlawful sealing, or to infer it 
from the possession of skins or fishing tackle. In conciusion, Lord Salisbury states 
that Her Majesty’s Government consider it a matter of great importance that the 
two Governments should agree on the terms of arbitration at the same time as on a 
modus vivendi. ‘The suspension of sealing is not a measure which they could repeat 
another year. 
No. 47. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.*—( Received June 18.) 
WASHINGTON, June 9, 1891. 
My Lorp: With reference to my telegram of the 6th instant, I have 
the honour to inclose copy of the note which I received on that day from 
the United States Government respecting the proposed modus vivendi 
in Behring’s Sea. 
I have, &e. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
27 {Inclosure in No. 47.] 
Mr. Wharton to Sir J. Pauncefote. . 
WASHINGTON, June 6, 1891. 
Sir: Iam directed by the President to say that he has received with great satis- 
faction the note of Lord Salisbury of to-day’s date in reply to my note of the 4th 
instant. He directs me to ask you to remind Lord Salisbury that the limitation of 
the killing of seals upon the islands is absolutely within the control of the United 
States, as a daily count is made by sworn officers, and to inform him that already, 
in order to insure such control pending these negotiations, the agents of the Treas- 
ury Department who have been dispatched to the Seal Islands, have been instructed 
to stop the killing when 7,500 have been taken, and to await the arrival of further 
orders; though ordinarily the taking of the seals on the islands does not begin until 
about the Ist July. The enforcement of. an agreed limitation being so fully in the 
control of the United States, the President is sure that Lord Salisbury will not ques- 
tion the absolute good faith of this Government in observing its stipulation to limit 
the catch to 7,500. This Government could not, of course, consent to any arrange- 
ment that implied such a doubt, or involved any foreign supervision on the islands. 
If the prompt and effectual recall of the fleet of Canadian sealers now at sea was 
as fully within the control of Great Britain, the President would not have suggested 
the provision for the arrest by either party of vessels violating the prohibition, but 
would have rested confidently in the assurance given by Her Majesty’s Government. 
But, in view of the fact that the evidence which the respective Governments will 
present to the Arbitrators (if that happy solution of the pending difficulties shall be 
attained) must be collected during the present season, and as the definitive Agree- 
ment for arbitration cannot be concluded contemporaneously with this Agreement, 
the President directs me to say that he is quite willing to agree that Her Majesty’s 
Government may send to the Seal Islands with a view to collecting the facts that 
may be involved in an arbitration, and especially facts relating to seal life and to 
* Substance telegraphed on June 6, 
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