308 INVESTIGATION OF THE PUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OP ALASKA. 



all stockholders in the North American Commercial Co., or the agent 

 of theirs as lessees of the Seal Islands of Alaska. 



Upon this fraudulent and lying lessees' letters authority, and all 

 of those bogus worthless perjured affidavits signed by their own hired 

 men and tools, Charles Foster actually, three days after he had 

 received this rascally letter, reversed the ruling of his own agents 

 (the agents of Wm. Windom) and gave Elkins and Liebes a secret 

 permit to kill 60,000 seals on April 11 following. 



Can a better exhibition of turgid self-confessed, wicked, malfea- 

 sance in high official position be found ? 



In order that no question shall be raised or can be raised sensibly 

 as to the fact that Charles Foster did give that secret permit of 

 April 11, 1891, as above stated, I submit the letters of Mr. Foster, 

 who admits that malfeasance to me, after I had put the question 

 squarely up to him and while witnesses to the truth of it were then 

 living, and who stood ready to prove it, if Foster presumed to deny it. 



THE SUBORNATION OF THE STATE AND TREASURY DEPARTMENTS BY 



THE SEAL LESSEES. 



On the 2d of May, 1912, the following sworn statement was given 

 to the House Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Com- 

 merce and Labor, which exhibits, the improper influence possessed 

 and used by the lessees, to wit: 



NOTE FOR HON. JOHN H. ROTHERHEL. 



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 

 kdling, 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 British 

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



Sir Julian Pauncefote then mails to Lord Salisbury this proposal of Mr. 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 (in Bering Sea) during 

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

 ou 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 sives 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. 



