ALASKA. 
land, Sir Julian Pauncefote, G. C. M. G., K. C. B., Her Majesty’s envoy 
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States; 
Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, 
which were found to be in due and proper form, have agreed to and concluded 
the following articles : 
Article I. 
The questions which have arisen between the Government of the United 
States and the Government of Her Britannic Majesty concerning the juris¬ 
dictional rights of the United States in the waters of Bering Sea, and con¬ 
cerning also the preservation of the fur seal in, or habitually resorting to, the 
said sea, and the rights of the citizens and subjects of either country as regards 
the taking of fur seal in, or habitually resorting to, the said waters, shall be 
submitted to a tribunal of arbitration, to be composed of seven arbitrators, 
who shall be appointed in the following manner, that is to say: Two shall be 
named by the President of the United States; two shall be named by Her Brit¬ 
annic Majesty; His Excellency the President of the French Republic shall be 
jointly requested by the High Contracting Parties to name one; His Majesty 
the King of Italy shall be so requested to name one; and His Majesty the King 
of Sweden and Norway shall be so requested to name one. The seven arbi¬ 
trators to be so named shall be jurists of distinguished reputation in their 
respective countries; and the selecting powers shall be requested to choose, if 
possible, jurists who are acquainted with the English language. 
In case of the death, absence, or incapacity to serve of any or either of the 
said arbitrators, or in the event of any or either of the said arbitrators omitting 
or declining or ceasing to act as such, the President of the United States, or Her 
Britannic Majesty, or His Excellency the President of the French Republic, or 
His Majesty the King of Italy, or His Majesty the King of Sweden and Nor- 
wav, as the case may be, shall name, or shall be requested to name forthwith 
another person to act as arbitrator in the place and stead of the arbitrator 
originally named by such head of a State. 
And in the event of the refusal or omission for two months after receipt of 
the joint request from the High Contracting Parties of His Excellency the 1 res¬ 
ident of the French Republic, or His Majesty the King of Italy, or His Majesty 
the King of Sweden and Norway, to name an arbitrator, either to fill the orig¬ 
inal appointment or to fill a vacancy as above provided, then in such case the 
appointment shall be made or the vacancy shall be filled in such manner as the 
High Contracting Parties shall agree. 
