[Inclosure 3 in No. 388.] Copies of telegrams. [Captain Sieward to the British embassy at St. Petersburg.] VLADIVOSTOCK, August 9, 1888. Sealing schooner Araunah, of Victoria, was set during heavy fog and calm by eurrent within 6 miles of southern extreme of Copper Island when seized by Russian Merchantman Alexander. Left here with crew, among them twelve Vancouver Indians, unprovided. Please advise. SIEWARD, Master. [From British embassy, St. Petersburg, August 13, 1888, to Sieward, Vladivostock.] Your telegram received. Steps will be taken with least delay possible. [From Sieward to British embassy, August 15, 1888.] Will forward protest, sworn to before consul at Nagasaki. Also, all documents pertaining to seizure. Please advise, if necessary to protest here; also, if other steps required here. Owners names Hall & Gœpel, Victoria. [Reply, August 17, 1888.] Your case has been brought to the notice of Russian Government, who have telegraphed to inquire into it. You might protest locally. Forward all documents here. DEHRING, British Chargé d'Affaires. SUPPLEMENT D. Papers relating to the negotiations for the conclusion of treaties for the protection of fur-seals in Behring Sea. No. 5. Mr. Coleman to Mr. Bayard, No. 498. September 1, 1887. GREAT BRITAIN. No. 6. Mr. Phelps to Mr. Bayard. No. 982. October 23, 1888. (Extract from newspaper.) No. 38. Mr. Magee to Mr. Bayard. No. 118. March 20, 1888. No. 256.] FRANCE. No. 1. Mr. Bayard to Mr. Vignaud.* DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Recent occurrences have drawn the attention of this Department to the necessity of taking steps for the better protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea. Without raising any question as to the exceptional measures which the peculiar character of the property in question might justify this Government in taking, and without reference to any exceptional marine jurisdiction that might properly be claimed for that end, it is deemed advisable-and I am instructed by the President so to inform you to attain the desired ends by international co-operation. It is well known that the unregulated and indiscriminate killing of seals in many parts of the world has driven them from place to place, and, by breaking up their habitual resorts, has greatly reduced their number. Under these circumstances, and in view of the common interest of all nations in preventing the indiscriminate destruction and consequent extermination of an animal which contributes so importantly to the commercial wealth and general use of mankind, you are hereby instructed to draw the attention of the Government to which you are accredited to the subject, and to invite it to enter into such an arrangement with the Government of the United States as will prevent the citizens of either country from killing seal in Behring Sea at such times and places, and by such methods as at present are pursued, and which threaten the speedy extermination of those animals and consequent serious loss to mankind. The ministers of the United States to Germany, Sweden and Norway. Russia, Japan, and Great Britain have been each similarly addressed on the subject referred to in this instruction. I am, etc., No. 2. T. F. BAYARD. No. 490.] Mr. McLane to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, October 22, 1887. (Received November 11.) SIR: Referring to your No. 256, of August 19, instructing Mr. Vignaud to draw the attention of the French Government to the necessity of taking steps for the better protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behr ing Sea with a view of obtaining its co-operation with the United States in measures intended to reach that end, I have to state that Mr. Flou *Identic instructions were sent to our ministers to Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Russia, and Sweden and Norway. rens is willing to consider favorably any project of international arrangement you may be disposed to submit concerning the matter. I inclose herewith a translation of a note received from Mr. Flourens which explains his view. The note of September 17, to which he refers, is simply an acknowledgment. I have, etc., ROBERT M. MCLANE. [Inclosure with No. 490.-Translation.] Mr. Flourens to Mr. McLane. PARIS, October 21, 1887. SIR: Mr. Vignaud was good enough to inform me on the 31st of August last that the United States Government was desirous of consulting with the principal nations interested, with the view of making regulations in regard to the seal fisheries in Behring Strait. Referring to my communication of the 17th September last, I have the honor to inform you that, although the industry in question has not been engaged in by French ship-owners up to the present time, the Government of the Republic is not the less disposed to confer for that purpose with the Government of the United States and to examine any draught of an international convention which may be communicated to it by the Cabinet at Washington. I will be obliged to you if you will be kind enough to transmit this reply to the American Government. Accept, etc., No. 3. FLOURENS. No. 271.] Mr. Bayard to Mr. McLane. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge your No. 490, of the 22d ultimo, transmitting copy of a note of the 21st of October from Mr. Flourens, informing this Government of the willingness of the French Republic, though there are not many French ships engaged in the seal fisheries, to confer with us or to examine any draught of a convention intended to regulate those fisheries in Behring Straits. This response of the French Government to our invitation is very satisfactory, and in due time further instructions on the subject will be sent SIR: I inclose herewith, for your information, two printed copies of an instructiont of this date to E. J. Phelps, esquire, United States min * Identic instructions were sent to the United States ministers to Germany, Russia, and Sweden and Norway. For this instruction see infra, No, 8, H, Ex. 1, pt. 1-115. ister at London, in response to a dispatch from him, in which it was stated that Lord Salisbury had expressed acquiescence in a proposal made by me for an agreement between the United States and Great Britain in regard to the adoption of concurrent regulations for the preservation of fur seals in Behring Sea from extermination by destruction at improper seasons and by improper methods by the citizens of either country. I am, etc., T. F. BAYARD. No. 498.] GERMANY. No. 5. Mr. Coleman to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED States, Berlin, September 1, 1887. (Received September 17.) SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note I have to-day addressed to the foreign office in execution of your instruction No. 246, of the 19th ultimo, relating to the necessity of measures being adopted for the better protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea. I have, etc., CHAPMAN COLEMAN. [Inclosure with Mr. Coleman's No. 498.] Mr. Coleman to Count von Berchem. No. 311.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, The undersigned, chargé d'affaires ad interim of the United States of America, has the honor, acting under instructions from his Government, to inform Count von Berchem, under secretary of state in charge of the imperial foreign office, that recent occurrences have drawn the attention of that Government to the necessity of taking steps for the better protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea. Without raising any question as to the exceptional measures which the peculiar character of the property in question might justify the Government of the United States in taking, and without reference to any exceptional marine jurisdiction that might properly be claimed for that end, it has been deemed advisable to seek to attain the desired ends by international co-operation. It is well known that the unregulated and indiscriminate killing of seals in many parts of the world has driven them from place to place, and by breaking up their habitual resorts, has greatly reduced their number." Under these circumstances and in view of the common interest of all nations in preventing the indiscriminate destruction and consequent extermination of an simal which contributes so importantly to the commercial wealth and general use of mankind, the Government of the United States has instructed the undersigned to present the subject to the attention of the Imperial Government, and to invite it to enter into such an arrangement with the Government of the United States as will prevent the citizens of either country from killing seals in Behring Sea at such times and places, and by such methods as at present are pursued, and which threaten the speedy extermination of those animals and consequent serious loss to mankind. The undersigned begs to add that he has been informed by his Government that the ministers of the United States to Sweden and Norway, Russia, France, Great Britain, and Japan have been each similarly addressed on the subject referred to, and avails himself, etc. CHAPMAN COLEMAN. |