INVESTIGATION OP THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 313 



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, 1S91: 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 not 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 and that he had asked Secretary Blaine to introduce me seA^eral 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 to 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 

 60,000 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 \mite 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 

 with 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 : 



"It is not true; 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 that Mr. Blaine knows what he does want. I have 

 been having quite a time trying to find out." 



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. 



"Tx:E LESSEES, D. O. MILLS, UNITED STATES SENATOR ELKINS, AND 

 ISAAC LIEBES, PARTICIPATE IN THE PROFITS OF THIS ILLEGAL 

 BILLING OF SEALS AND HAVE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THAT WORK. 



The interest which these lessees had in getting those 343,365 seal 

 skins is clearly established by an exhibit of their profit in the business, 

 as given antes, page 14. 



The question at once arises, Since these men have made a net gain 

 for themselves of $5,000,000, have they made that gain honestly? 



The answer, based upon the following facts of record, is that they 

 have not ; they have violated the law and regulations of the Govern- 

 ment, in order to get those seals; and, in so doing they have wrought 



