APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 923 
ters dated the 4th and 6th February Mr. Blaine had pointed out to 
him that we could not proceed officially to the discharge of our duties 
or formulate our Reports until the Arbitration Convention was signed, 
but that he would interpose no objection to our holding preliminary 
and informal conferences. 
2. On the 8th February we accordingly held our first preliminary con- 
ference, and much preparatory work was got through. It was then 
arranged to hold a second conference on the 11th instant. 
3. The decision on Mr. Blaine’s suggestion that, pending the signa- 
ture of the Arbitration Convention, the meetings of the Joint Commis- 
sion were to be informal, we communicated to your Lordship on the 9th 
instant, in a telegram of which a paraphrase is inclosed herewith. 
4, On the 10th February, however, Sir J. Pauncefote received and 
communicated to us a further letter from the Secretary of State, dated 
the previous day, in which Mr. Blaine unexpectedly took up quite a 
new position, stating that the United States Commissioners had now 
been instructed to make known to us their readiness formally to arrange 
for a joint conference, and proceed without further delay to the dis- 
charge of the duties assigned to them. 
5. We ventured to suggest to Sir Julian Pauncefote that in view of 
the strong opinion expressed by Mr. Blaine in his letters of the 4th and 
6th February it might be well if notes were exchanged between the two 
Governments, declaring that all work and conferences of the Joint 
Commission undertaken before the signing of the Arbitration Conven- 
tion would be regarded by them as formal and efficient in character. 
6. On Thursday, the 11th instant, after consultation with Sir J. 
Pauncefote, we held the second conference, at which we communicated 
our respective powers, and decided to regard that and future meetings 
as formal pending the signing of the Arbitration Convention, and on 
the understanding that the respective Governments have so determined. 
7. We have now decided to meet de die in diem, and there seems to 
be every prospect of our progressing well with our work. 
8. The United States Government have very courteously provided 
accommodation for our conferences in rooms at the State Department. 
We have, &c. 
(Signed) GEORGE BADEN-POWELL. 
GEORGE M. DAwsSoNn. 
144 No. 219. 
Lord Stanley of Preston to Lord Knutsford.*—(Received February 24.) 
[Telegraphic.] 
OTTAWA, February 23, 1892. 
With reference to your telegram of the 16th instant respecting the 
modus vivendi in Behring’s Sea, my Ministers do not possess any intor- 
mation to show that a modus vivendi is necessary, or that it can be rea- 
sonably demanded. If, however, such information has reached Her 
Majesty’s Government, the Government of the Dominion would not 
oppose such a modus vivendt provided that it were confined to a zone of 
moderate limits, say, 25 miles, around the seal islands, and provided 
that it is accompanied by stringent restrictions against the killing of 
* Repeated to Sir J. Pauncefote. 
