930 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
I rejoice that the proposal I then made is now to be carried out, and I cordially 
unite in the hope, expressed in your note under reply, that the result of the labours 
of the Joint Commission will promote an equitable and mutually satisfactory adjust- 
ment of the questions at issue. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE, 
[Inclosure 5 in No. 226.] 
Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote. 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 9, 1892. 
Sir: [have been informed by the American Seal Commissioners that, in an informal 
meeting with their British colleagues yesterday, the latter expressed an unwilling- 
ness to enter upon conferences of any other than an official character, and they there- 
fore proposed that their joint conferences be postponed until after the Arbitration 
Convention shall have been signed. 
I beg to state to you that the Government of the United States is very anxious to 
expedite as much as possible the consideration of the important questions submitted 
to the Commissioners; and in view of the fact that it regards the Arbitration Con- 
vention as substantially agreed upon, the American Commissioners have been 
instructed to make known to the British Commissioners their readiness to formally 
arrange the joint conference and proceed without further delay to the discharge of 
the duties assigned to them. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) JAMES G. BLAINE, 
[Inclosure 6 in No, 226.] 
Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine. 
WASHINGTON, February 11, 1892. 
Sir: I had the honour to receive yesterday your note of the 9th instant, in which 
you state that you have been informed by the American Seal Commissioners that, in 
an informal meeting with their British colleagues on the 8th instant, the latter 
expressed an unwillingness to enter upou conferences of any other than an official 
character, and they therefore proposed that their joint conferences be postponed 
until after the Arbitration Convention has been signed. 
The British Commissioners, to whom I communicated your note, have informed me 
that, at the preliminary conference of the Commissioners on the 8th instant, they 
discussed with their colleagues what work of a preparatory character could be got 
through at once. The meeting was informal, according to the conditions laid down 
in the last paragraph of your note to me on the 4th instant; and it was arranged by 
the Commissioners to hold a second preliminary conference this day at the State 
Department, at3 o’clock, at which they could discuss certain matters which they had 
undertaken to consider in the interval, and to do other preparatory work. 
150 In consequence of your note of the 9th instant, the British Commissioners 
hope, at the conference to-day, to arrange with their colleagues that the joint 
conference shall proceed to business formally. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
No. 227. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received March 1.) 
WASHINGTON, February 18, 1892. 
My Lorp: With reference to my preceding despatch of to-day, relat- 
ing to the Behring’s Sea Joint Commission, I have the honour to inclose 
copies of an informal note which I received from Mr. Blaine on the 12th 
