816 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
No. 80. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote. 
(Telegraphic. ] F 
FOREIGN OFFICE, July 5, 1891. 
I have received your telegram of yesterday, forwarding the proposal 
of the United States Government that the inquiries respecting seal life 
in Behring’s Sea should be conducted conjointly by the British and 
United States Commissioners. 
Her Majesty’s Government have already chartered a ship to convey 
the British Commissioners, and they could not now cancel the engage- 
ment. Instructions will, however, be sent to the British Commissioners 
to co-operate as much as possible on their arrival at the seal islands with 
the American Commissioners in their inquiries into the matters to be 
investigated. 
50 No. 81. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received July 6.) 
WASHINGTON, June 26, 1891. 
My Lorp: In my telegram of the 15th instant I had the honour to 
report the signature of the Agreement between Her Majesty’s Govern- 
ment and that of the United States for a modus vivendi during the pres- 
ent fur-seal fishery season in Behring’s Sea, and I added that Il was 
awaiting an appointment to proceed with the ‘discussion of the terms of 
arbitration. 
Immediately after the signature of the modus vivendi, I had requested 
the Acting Secretary of State (the Honourable William Wharton) to 
appoint an early day for resuming the above negotiations, and he 
promised to use all expedition for that purpose. 
The next day (the 16th) Mr. Wharton invited me to eall at the State 
Department, and to my surprise informed me that the President was 
compelled to devote the next few days to other urgent matters of State, 
and had made arrangements to leave Washington immediately after- 
wards for his sea-side residence at Cape May, but that he would return 
on the 23rd, and would be prepared to proceed with the remaining sub- 
jects of negotiation. 
I expressed my concern at this unexpected delay, which I feared 
might prevent the appointment of the Commission in time to commence 
its labours during the present fishery season. Ireminded Mr. Wharton 
of his assurances that the President was anxious to expedite the con- 
clusion of the Arbitration Convention in order that the Joint Com- 
mission should not lose this season, and I strongly urged that he should 
obtain authority to proceed with the negotiations during the absence 
of the President, whereby a whole week might be saved at a time when 
every day gained would be of importance. 
Mr. Wharton promised to report my observations to the President, 
and I called again at the Department of State on the 18th in the hope 
of obtaining a favourable reply to my proposal, but I was informed that 
my representations had been of no avail, and that the President would 
not consent to the negotiations being resumed until his return from 
Cape May. 
