INVESTIGATION OF THE EUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 161 



We then talked a few minutes about the condition of the seals, the attitude of the 

 Canadians, and of our lessees. He said that it was a case in which the testimony was 

 exceedingly conflicting, and that under the circumstances the only humane and wise 

 thing to do was to stop the killing for a season at least and look into the matter during 

 the meantime. He said that as far as he was concerned his sympathy was for the 

 seals and he would give them the benefit of every doubt. 



I then took my departure, having been with him about half an hour. 



Henry W. Elliott. 



THE RECAPITULATION OF THIS SUBORNATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY THE 



SEAL LESSEES 1890-1891. 



[Note for Hod. John H. Rothermel.] 



When John Hay asked me on June 20, 1903, to take this letter of mine, as written 

 to Hon. John A. Kasson, of May 10, 1903, with its recitation of the amazing revelation 

 of Mr. Blaine's malfeasance as made by Sir Julian Pauncefote, and inclosed to Mr. Hay 

 by Mr. Kasson, for this purpose, as stated by the latter, Mr. Hay said: " This is a matter 

 which I can not discuss with you. I know it is true and that makes any use of it at 

 this time and in this department impossible. It is best returned to you, and my 

 desire is that nothing be said in the premises at the present time and while this busi- 

 ness is pending between Canada and ourselves. 



Just think of this terrible revelation made by Sir Julian of Mr. Blaine's duplicity, 

 and worse, as Secretary of State, thus made to me, April 22, 1891 — think of it in the 

 light of the following facts, to wit: 



March 15, 1891. Sir Julian Pauncefote urges Mr. Blaine to agree upon a modus 

 vivendi for the coming season in Bering Sea, whereby no killing of fur seals shall be 

 done on the Seal Islands of Alaska by American citizens and no killing at sea shall 

 be permitted for British subjects; in the meantime both high contracting parties shall 

 carefully study the question and then agree upon a plan of proper resumption of seal 

 killing, etc. 



Mr. Blaine demurred and suggested a 25-mile zone of pelagic prohibition around 

 the Seal Islands instead; to this Sir Julian objected, saying that it was impracticable 

 and would not be easily enforced, etc. 



April 7, 1891. Sir Julian again urges Mr. Blaine to unite with his Government in 

 a total suspension of all killing of fur seals on the Pribilof Islands and in the sea of 

 Bering, during the coming season of 1891. Mr. Blaine agrees to do so if the Bi-itish 

 Government will notify him of its desire and willingness to do so. 



Sir Julian Pauncefote then mails to Lord Salisbury this proposal of Air. Blaine to 

 stop all killing on the Pribilof Islands during the season of 1891, if the British Govern- 

 ment will prohibit its subjects from all killing of fur seals at sea fin Bering Sea), during 

 this period aforesaid. This letter sent to New York and mailed by "special post" 

 on this day and date, April 7, 1891, to London. 



April 11, 1891, Secretary Blaine, without informing Sir Julian, violates this agree- 

 ment of April 7, 1891, as above cited; he gives to the lessees of the Seal Islands (D. O. 

 Mills, Isaac and Herman Liebes, Lloyd Tevis, and S. B. Elkins), a secret permit to 

 kill 60,000 seals on these islands, "if they can be found," during the season of 1891. 



April 13, 1891. Charles Foster. Secretary of the Treasury, admits when personally 

 interrogated by Hon. Wm. McKinley and Henry W. Elliott, that he has given this 

 order of permission to kill 60,000 seals, "because Blaine authorizes it, and has told 

 me that Salisbury is ugly and will not stop his people from killing." 



April 22, 1891. Sir Julian Pauncefote denies that his Government "is ugly," and 

 asserts that it is willing to stop the seal slaughter. 



April 24, 1891. Henry W. Elliott in a half column letter to the New York Evening 

 Post of to-day's issue, under caption of "Some Seal History," tells this story of Mr. 

 Blaine's duplicity and venality, as above cited; it is telegraphed all over the country, 

 briefly, and on — 



May 3, 1891. President Harrison vetoes or orders the cancellation of this secret and 

 infamous permit; he then orders steps to be Jaken in the State Department, which 

 result, June 14, 1891, in the modus vivendi being officially published, as originally 

 suggested by Henry W. Elliott, November 19, 1890, and Sir Julian, on April 7, 1891, 

 as stated above. 



Henry W. Elliott. 



Washington, D. C, May 2, 1912. 



(Hearing No. 10, -pp. 670-672, Apr. 24, 1912.) 

 53490—14 11 



