12 FUR SEALS OF ALASKA. 
Next comes the Joint High Commission appointed under the treaty 
with Great Britain. This question was one of the numerous ones sub- 
mitted. Mr. Chairman, you were a member of that Commission. I 
do not think that Iam going beyond the bounds of propriety in say- 
ing 
Mr. Tawney. You were also a member of that Commission? 
Mr. Fautxner. Yes, sir; I wasa member of the Commission. [To the 
committee. |—That this question was adjusted by that Commission with 
the exception of a few details, when the Commission, by reason of their 
disagreement upon the Alaskan boundary, was compelled to cease its 
work, the representatives of Canada and Great Britain refusing to 
pass upon any matter unless all the questions submitted were agreed. 
If it had not been for the position taken by their representatives, 
pelagic sealing would have been settled and disposed of in 1898, satis- 
factorily, I am satisfied, to both countries. 
Again, gentlemen, the next efforts to adjust this matter was during 
1902-3. Iam credibly informed—but I give you this upon informa- 
tion—that prior to the death of the British ambassador this subject 
had been under very active negotiations between him and the Depart- 
ment of State, and it had virtually been concluded when Embassador 
Herbert died. 
Mr. Grosvenor. Who was the representative of this Government? 
Mr. Fautxner. In that recent negotiation? 
Mr. Grosvenor. Yes—Mr. Hay, himself? 
Mr. Fautxner. Yes; I understand it was Mr. Hay, himself. 
The next movement was the action of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee, which passed a resolution in the early ork of the present 
session requesting the State Department to proceed at once with these 
negotiations. I understand that even prior to the passage of that res- 
olution the State Department had taken this question up, and J am 
informed that it is the purpose of the Executive Department to pro- 
ceed with the negotiations with the new British ambassador. This is 
the history of the negotiations relating to this subject by the two 
Governments. I admit that unforeseen misfortune has followed these 
efforts. The failure to agree on the boundary line between Canada 
and Alaska broke up the negotiations in 1898. The hope of the set- 
tlement of this question in 1903 was defeated by the death of Ambas- 
sador Herbert, leaving the question again open. That is its condition. 
When you examine the facts I do not think that the Governments in 
interest are subject to criticism for their failure to adjust this contro- 
versy. The Executive branch has fully appreciated the sentiment in 
the Congress. It realized that our lessees were only getting 17,000 
and 20,000 and 19,000 seals on the islands annually; that the pelagic 
sealers during those years were getting as high as 63,000 seals from 
this herd. _ 
Mr. Wrtx1ams. Do you know whether any negotiations are going 
on now between our State Department and Great Britain, or whether 
they have stopped those? 
Mr. Faurxner. I am informed they are in progress. 
Mr. Wiutrams. Do you know whether the Joint High Commission 
claims that that falls within their scope of duty? 
Mr. Fautkner. The Joint High Commission have nothing to do 
with it unless again convened. Like the treaty as to the Alaskan 
boundary, which was submitted to the Joint High Commission, it does 
