302 Bird -Lore 



eSting and of such historical value as a record of the work of this Association 

 that it is given in full. 



No. 167. United States Legation, Tokio, January 12, 1905. 



To the Honorable John Hay, 

 Secretary of State, 



Washington, D. C. 



Sir: — I have the honor to report that, acting in accordance with your instruction No. 

 86 of November 11, I have this day had an interview with Baron Komura, the Minister 

 for Foreign Affairs, in which I asked him if he would take some measures to prevent the 

 despatch of expeditions from Japanese ports to destroy sea-fowl on the Midway and other 

 American Islands, and also if the Government of Japan would coo{>erate with that of the 

 United States in preventing, as far as possible, further destruction of sea-birds on the 

 islands of the North Pacific. 



Baron Komura stated in response to my remarks that he would at once cause instruc- 

 tions to be issued to have Japanese ship captains warned not to engage in the business of 

 destroying sea-birds on any of the American Islands. If, he said, after this warning they 

 continue to engage in the business, they do so at their own risk. At the same time, be 

 could not guarantee that they would obey the prohibition, as this class of men was com- 

 posed largely of lawless adventurers. A special prohibition would be issued to the firm 

 of Kametoki and Mijutane, Fujimi-cho yo, Yokahama, who are known to have been 

 responsible for several of the ventures. 



In regard to the general question of joining with the United States to protect the sea- 

 fowl, the Baron stated that there were ships of other nations engaged in the business, and 

 consequently nothing could be accomplished except by international agreement. He was 

 decidedly of the opinion that the matter was not of sufficient importance to warrant a 

 special international agreement. 



I have the honor to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



(Signed) Lloyd C. Griscom. 



Department of State, Washington, February 8, 1905. 

 The Honorable, The Secretary of the Interior. 



Sir: — Referring to this Department's letter of November 3 last, I have the honor to 

 enclose herewith for your information a copy of a despatch from the American Minister to 

 Japan, reporting an interview which he has had with the Japanese Minister for Foreign 

 Affairs, wherein the latter stated what steps would be taken by his Government to prevent 

 the further destruction, by Japanese subjects, of sea-birds on Midway Island and other 

 islands of the Hawaiian group. 



I have the honor to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



(Signed) John Hay. 



COPY OF NOTE OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO THE 

 AMERICAN MINISTER TO JAPAN 



The Minister for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to His Excellency, the 

 American Minister, and has the honor to state that the matter of the supervision of preda- 

 tory hunters of birds on the Midway Islands and other islands belonging to the United 



