ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT
BRITAIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECISION OF THE
TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION CONVENED AT PARIS,

WITH

OTHER INFORMATION CALLED FOR BY SAID RESOLUTION.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1895.

Senate resolution of January 8, 1895, transmitting information relating to the enforcement of the regulations respecting fur seals, adopted by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain in accordance with the decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration convened at Paris, with other information called for by said resolution.

FEBRUARY 11, 1895.-Read, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate:

On the 8th day of January I received a copy of the following Senate resolution:

Resolved, That the President be requested, if not incompatible with the public interests, to communicate to the Senate all reports, documents, and other papers, including logs of vessels, relating to the enforcement of the regulations respecting fur seals adopted by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain in accordance with the decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration convened in Paris and the resolution (regulations?) under which said reports are required to be made, as well as relating to the number of seals taken during the season of 1894, by pelagic hunters and by the lessees of the Pribilof and Commander islands; also, relating to the steps which may have been taken to extend the said regulations to the Asiatic waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, and to secure the concurrence of other nations in said regulations; and further, all papers not heretofore published, including communications of the agent of the United States before said tribunal at Paris, relating to the claims of the British Government on account of the seizure of the sealing vessels in Bering Sea.

In compliance with said request I herewith transmit sundry papers, documents, and reports which have been returned to me by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the Navy, to whom said resolution was referred. I am not in possession of any further information touching the various subjects embodied in such resolution.

It will be seen from a letter of the Secretary of the Navy, accompa nying the papers and documents sent from his Department, that it is impossible to furnish at this time the complete log books of some of the naval vessels referred to in the resolution; but I venture to express the hope that the reports of the commanders of such vessels herewith submitted will be found to contain in substance so much of the matters recorded in said log books as are important in answering the inquiries addressed to me by the Senate.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

February 11, 1895.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

To the PRESIDENT:

The Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution adopted by the Senate on the 8th ultimo, requesting the President,

if not incompatible with the public interests, to communicate to the Senate all reports, documents, and other papers, including logs of vessels, relating to the enforcement of the regulations respecting fur seals adopted by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, in accordance with the decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration convened at Paris, and the resolution (regulations?) under which said reports are required to be made, as well as relating to the number of seals taken during the season of 1894 by pelagic hunters and by the lessees of the Pribilof and Commander islands; also relating to the steps which may have been taken to extend the said regulations to the Asiatic waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, and to secure the concurrence of other nations in said regulations; and further, all papers not heretofore published, including communications of the agent of the United States before said tribunal at Paris, relating to the claims of the British Government on account of the seizure of the sealing vessels in Bering Sea, has the honor to lay before the President copies of all reports, documents, and other papers found of record in the Department of State relating to the subjects embraced in the resolution.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

W. Q. GRESHAM.

Washington, February 6, 1895.

1

2

Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr.
Gresham (telegram).
Mr. Gresham to Sir Julian
Pauncefote (telegram).

3 Mr. Gresham to Mr. Bayard (telegram).

1893.
Aug. 22
Aug. 22
Sept. 12

4 Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham. Sept. 13

5 Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham. Sept. 13

6. Mr. Gresham to Mr. Bayard. Sept. 13

7

8

9

Lord Rosebery proposes to lay before Parliament
Bering Sea award.
Sees no reason why award should not be laid be-
fore Parliament.
Relative to immediate adoption of regulations.
Concurrent legislation before next sealing sea-
son indispensable. If no seals to be killed on
land, concurrence of Russia should be had if
possible.

Has asked for an interview with secretary of
state for foreign affairs to lay before him neces-
sity of proceeding without delay to agree upon
the regulations.

Had interview with secretary of state for foreign
affairs. Expressed his willingness to act
promptly. Suggests British ambassador emi-
nently qualified to conduct arrangements on
behalf of his Government. Lord Rosebery wait.
ing for a letter from Sir Charles Tupper.
Regulations should be agreed upon and orders
issued before next sealing season begins, in
order to make award effective. Fears Cana-
dians and Americans will transfer ownership
of vessels to citizens or subjects of other pow
ers, avoiding the effect of regulations. Sug.
gests speaking to Lord Rosebery on this point,
and also as to how other powers are to be ap
proached for their adhesion to the regulations.

Mr. Gresham to Mr. Bayard Sept. 16 Suggests propriety of his endeavoring to obtain an
(telegram).

Mr. Gresham to Mr. Bayard. Sept. 19

Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham. Sept. 19

10

Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham Sept. 20 (telegram).

11

12

agreement for carrying into effect the regula
tions. Calls attention to the neccessity for
prompt action.

Incloses copies of final decision of the Tribunal
of Arbitration with the recommendations made
by the tribunal to the two Governments.
Sir Charles Tupper preparing a memorandum on
Bering Sea award, delayed by arrears of busi-
ness. Has every confidence that an effective
execution of the award will be agreed upon in
a short time.

In an interview with Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs to-day he fully responds to
President's wishes for prompt action in
executing Bering Sea award.

Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham. Sept. 20 Interview with Lord Rosebery to-day; pressed

Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham. Sept. 30

13

14

upon him importance of prompt and active co-
operation; he expressed his desire to cooperate.
He desires that Sir Julian Pauncefote should
be employed in carrying out the decisions and
recommendations of the tribunal on behalf of
Great Britain.

Refers to temporary arrangement of May, 1893,
between Russia and Great Britain; limit of
30,000 seals agreed to on Russian islands; rea-
sonable figure to adopt for catch of Pribélof
Islands. Asks for expression of views on
restriction of seal catch on these islands.
Acknowledges No. 11. President still prefers
negotiations be conducted in London.
Incloses copy of letter from Hon. E. J. Phelps
commenting on the award made by the arbitra-
tors, and of suggestions by Mr. James C. Car-
ter on certain branches of the subject.
Negotiations for carrying out award. Asks how
the wishes of the minister for foreign affairs
that they be conducted in Washington will be
received.

16 Mr. Gresham to Mr. Bayard. Oct. 18 Replies to No. 12, suspension of seal catch. The

President still adheres to his purpose of having
the negotiations conducted in London.