160 INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



It would be a great feather in Mr. Hay's cap, and also for that of Sir Michael, if such 

 a modus for 1904 was agreed upon as was that of 1891. 



I have never said a word to Mr. Hay about this particular matter and the securing 

 in 1891 of that modus vivendi which I urged in my report of 1890. I do not know 

 whether I ought to. If you think it proper and will serve as a useful side light, I 

 venture to ask that you see Mr. Hay and talk it over with him, for, really, the more I 

 think of it the more I am inclined to believe that Sir Michael can easily do again 

 what his distinguished predecessor did in the premises, and for which action he was 

 highly rewarded by his Government, in spite of the bitter opposition of the Canadians. 

 With every regard for you, I am, faithfully, your friend, 



Henry W. Elliott. 



Hon. John A. Kasson, Washington, D. C. 



THE SWORN PROOF ENCLOSED TO JOHN HAY BY MR. KASSON MAY 12, 1903, OF THE 

 SUBORNATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY THE SEAL CONTRACTORS, 1890- 

 1891. 



Washington, D. C, December 10, 1901, 



During a call made upon Mr. John A. Kasson this morning and for the purpose of 

 understanding fully what the High Joint Commission did about the fur-seal question 

 before it was strangled by the Boundary dispute February 22, 1899, Mr. Kasson said 

 to me that I ought to reduce to writing that account which I had given him of the 

 adoption of my modus vivendi of 1891-1893; this account to be sealed and not broken 

 during the life of the British ambassador, the other party, James G. Blaine, being 

 dead. 



I therefore make the following statement, which will constitute a complete sequel 

 to my diary notes of what took place between Mr. Blaine and myself prior to my 

 interview with Sir Julian. 



Wednesday, April 22, 1891: After due reflection and in spite of the fact that I had 

 never met the British minister, I resolved this morning to call upon him and put 

 the question directly to him whether or no he had refused to entertain any proposi- 

 tion for a modus vivendi in Bering Sea for the protection of the fur seals, as he was 

 charged with doing by Charles Foster on the 13th instant (see preceding memoranda). 



I took the Connecticut Avenue street car on F, corner Tenth NW., and entered 

 the British Legation door at half past 10 o'clock in the morning; the servant took my 

 card, left me standing in the hall, returned in a few minutes saying that Sir Julian 

 was dressing and would see me when he came down. I was ushered into the office, 

 which opens directly from the hall, opposite the drawing-room. I had penciled on 

 my card the words '•concerning the fur seals of Alaska," so that he might know what 

 I was after. 



I was nut alone more than 10 or 15 minutes before Sir Julian came into the room, 

 and he greeted me with the greatest courtesy, saying that he had heard a great deal 

 about me ami that he had asked Secretary Blaine to introduce me several times. 



I replied, saying that I too had often asked Mr. Blaine to present me, but that he 

 had not done so. 



"I have called on you, Sir Julian, this morning on my own responsibility. I do 

 not come from Mr. Blaine. I have come lo make an inquiry which may be improper; 

 if it is, pardon me and give no answer, but I want to inform you that an order to kill 

 111) out) fur seals was given to the lessees of the seal islands on the 11th instant; that 

 this order to kill was based upon the refusal of your Government to unite with mine 

 in a modus vivendi whereby all killing on land and in the sea is to be suspended 

 during the coming season in Bering Sea. If this refusal of your Government to act 

 v ith mine is authentic, then I want to say to you from my full knowledge and under- 

 standing of the question that killing 60,000 young male seals on the Pribilof Islands 

 this summer means the absolute extermination of that life up there, and the shame 

 of this doing is upon your Government." 



Sir Julian's manner instantly changed as I spoke; his expression became one of 

 intense surprise; he answered in language substantially as follows, walking up and 

 down the end of the room where we were standing, alternately facing and partly 

 turning from me: 



"II is qoI trne: my Government has been trying to get Mr. Blaine to agree upon 

 some such plan ever since the opening of March, and it was not until the 7th day of 

 this month that he agreed to it. and I am expecting to hear by return post of the 

 acceptance by my Government of the modus vivendi. I posted the offer of Mr. Blaine 

 on the same day and immediately after he made it to me. Really, my dear sir, you 

 surprise me. I do not believe thai Mr. Blaine knows what he does want. I have 

 been having quite a time trying to find out." 



