APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 905 
_ No. 183. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote. 
{Telegraphic.] 
FOREIGN OFFICE, December 11, 1891. 
In reply to the inquiry in the last paragraph of your telegram of the 
10th instant, I have to inform you that you are authorized to sign the 
Articles providing for the Behring’s Sea Arbitration and Joint Com- 
mission, as already settled, subject to the understanding explained in my 
telegram of the 7th instant. 
No. 184. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received December 15.) 
(Telegraphic. ] 
WASHINGTON, December 14, 1891. 
I addressed a note to Mr. Blaine on receipt of your Lordship’s tele- 
gram of the 11th instant, as proposed in the last paragraph of my 
telegram of the 10th instant. 
Following reply has just been received: 
[See Inclosure 1 in Sir J. Pauncefote’s despatch of December 15: Inclosure 1 in 
No. 192, infra. ] 
I will of course let Mr. Blaine know that, pending further instruc- 
tions, I cannot sign. 
No. 185. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote. 
{Telegraphic.] 
FOREIGN OFFICE, December 16, 1891. 
I have received your telegram of yesterday. 
Owing to the difficulties ‘of carrying on negotiations by telegraphic 
communication, I am afraid that the President of the United States 
has imperfectly understood my meaning. 
At his request I have consented to defer any further discussion for 
the present as to the course to be pursued in the event of the Regula- 
tions determined on by the Arbitrators for the preservation of the seal 
species being evaded by means of a change of flag. 
It was necessary in so doing that I should guard myself against the 
supposition of having narrowed by that consent the rights which 
accrue to the litigants or the Arbitrators under the Arbitration Agree- 
ment. But I did not, as the President appears to think, make a reser- 
vation in my last communication, or use that word. That a reservation 
may be operative in respect to an Agreement, it must have the assent 
of both parties to that Agreement, and I have not asked for any suck 
assent in the present instance of the United States Government, 
