No. 2.
Mr. McLane to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of the United States,
Paris, October 22, 1887. (Received November
11.)
No. 490.]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 Behring 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. Flourens
[Page 1825]
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.,
[Inclosure with No.
490.—Translation.]
Mr. Flourens to Mr. McLane.
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.,
